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Smart-Builder: Glass Design/Configuration Software

OverviewCase StudyScenarios3D Design Gallery

Case Study
Return On Investment Analysis

Case Study

The following case study of a fictitious company ‘ABC Glass’ is based on the experience of a number of real-life companies.

ABC Glass sell and install bespoke glass showers locally. Quotes are provided by expert sales people based on phone calls, faxes or site visits for more complex showers. When a job is won a sales person visits the site to take exact measurements and then calculates and orders glass. The sales person also notes down a list of hardware required. When the glass arrives an installer takes it and the hardware to site and installs the shower. The job is then invoiced out by office staff.

Problems Solutions using Smart-Builder with the Smart-Shower module
1. Quotes cannot be provided when the sales people are out of the office. Office staff take messages but delays in quoting a prospective customer can mean the job is lost. 1. The simple to use system means that showers can be designed instantly. By providing accurate costing and producing 3D drawings Smart-Builder allows non draftsmen office staff to make professional looking quotes.
2. ABC Glass have had problems with glass ordered for raking showers not fitting which means expensive wastage. Because of this they have stopped quoting for showers with raked ceilings. 2. Smart-Builder automatically handles the complex calculations behind rakes or centreline adjustments allowing loft conversions and neo/quadrant showers to be designed confidently.
3. Even on simpler jobs the glass sizes are sometimes calculated wrong and the glass is unusable. This is regarded as unavoidable overhead. 3. Given accurate measurements Smart-Builder reliably produces exact glass sizes including cut-outs, mitres and rakes. This can eliminate wastage from incorrectly calculated and ordered glass.
4. Glass for complex showers often costs more than ABC Glass expect so they have started quoting substantially more for such showers. However, they win very few of these quotes. 4. Smart-Builder can calculate the glass and hardware cost for a complex 8 panel shower with 2 doors and transoms as easily as it can for a simple bath panel, making it easy to price competitively while maintaining a good margin.
5. Sometimes an installer arrives on site to install the shower and finds that the hardware list is missing items. This requires a time consuming trip back to the office. 5. As well as calculating glass sizes Smart-Builder also produces a complete hardware list, including cutting and mitring instructions if desired, meaning that the installer always knows what to take to site.
6. Office staff frequently take enquiries from customers about the status of their jobs and struggle to answer these questions, often requiring a mobile call to sales people or installers. 6. By adopting the Smart-Toolbox system ABC Glass could use glass order tracking and the easy but powerful drag and drop scheduling to ensure that everyone knows the status of current jobs.
7. ABC Glass are finding the market has shrunk slightly recently and their installers aren’t always busy. 7. Smart-Builder dramatically increases the volume and reliability of quoting which is particularly important in a competitive market. By freeing up time and removing the guesswork Smart-Builder enables a business like ABC Glass to win more business and improve its bottom line.
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Return On Investment Analysis

Trying to find ways to increase profitability is the goal of almost every business. Using ABC Glass as an example, we demonstrate how Smart-Builder’s range of software can improve your business profitability.

Without Smart-Toolbox Using Smart-Toolbox
Monthly Figures Total Total
Normal Quotes Made 60 60
Normal Quote Value [1] $1,500 $1,520
Normal Jobs Won [2] 40% $36,000 45% $41,040
Extra Quotes Made [3] 10
Extra Quote Value [4] $1,650
Extra Jobs Won 20% $3,300
Total Jobs Value $36,000 $44,340
Expected Glass Cost 20% $7,200 20% $8,868
Glass Wastage [5] 3% $216 1.5% $133
Actual Hardware Costs 20% $7,200 20% $8,868
Office Staff & Overhead [6] $10,000 $10,000
Installer Time Per Job [7] 8 h $4,800 7.8 h $5,265
Net Income $6,584 $11,206
Increase in Net Income 70%
  1. Can easily quote multiple options in a range of costs for a customer and also add extras such as mirrors in the same quote.
  2. More attractive and professional looking quotes give customers confidence in ABC Glass and significantly increase conversion percentages.
  3. Able to quote even less likely or more complex prospects because quoting is faster, can be done by less technical staff and automated glass and hardware calculations allow safely quoting more complex jobs.
  4. Able to quote more complex showers with confidence that the correct glass and hardware costs have been accounted for.
  5. Reduced glass wastage through avoiding calculation mistakes.
  6. Significant increases in quotes made and showers installed can be made just with existing office staff by increasing efficiency through faster quotes, blindingly fast re-quotes, computer calculations of glass and hardware sizes and costs, centralised records, measure and installation scheduling, computerised tracking of outstanding glass orders, etc.
  7. Installation drawing provides consistent and accurate information to installers on items to take to site and reduces time spent on repeat visits or phone calls to or from the office.
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