Database Creation & Integration

Erp For SoftTech V6

The Brief

The client used an excellent CAD based software package for their quote-building for windows and doors. As good as V6 is for configuring the products, large and complex enquiries often meant huge duplication of work and could take many hours to price and print. The brief was to develop software to integrate into the V6 database but offer the ability to group quotes into enquiries to offer critical time saving tools. The client often receives large enquiries for huge residential sites. This means that multiple quotes (often dozens) have to be created for each enquiry. To accommodate this we created a table structure used for storing details of each enquiry such as customer, site reference etc. Once the enquiry has been logged it is allocated a unique Folder ID and quotes are assigned to them.

What Does The Solution Do?

Bulk Editing

With the suite of tools provided, estimators have the ability to affect changes across hundreds of frames with just a few clicks. A series of macros open each quote to be changed and updates the frame configuration.

Database Creation

The V6 database is complex by nature. We had to build a table structure into the database that allows the required functionality without compromising the integrity of the native database.

Research

Because of the complex nature of the V6 database, we had to design tables and queries to allow proper reporting of quotes, items and materials. This meant extensive research into the table structure and many days of query writing to get to grips with the native system.

PRODUCT CONFIGURATION

Once the enquiry has been logged, the estimator uses a new interface to configure the specification requested by the customer. This includes setting the options, finish, glass spec and glazing bars required for each frame type. We did this so that our macros can setup the full spec of every frame automatically when it is added. This saves approximately 2 minutes for every frame added to a quote. Given there are 5 full-time estimators adding frames all day, this equates to many hours saved every day.

SPECIFICATION CHANGE

Sometimes the customer changes their mind on the specification of their windows. On a large multi-plot enquiry it could take many hours opening each quote and item to change their spec. To combat this we developed a macro that can be triggered by estimators that opens every quote and updates the new specification from the enquiry to every frame AUTOMATICALLY. What’s more, this macro runs on a central server so the estimator can carry on working while this happens. The macro simply emails the estimator when the work is complete. This quite literally saves many days every month.

Admin Saved

95%

The biggest time saver of this system is the pricing module and configuration update facility. The pricing module saved up to a full day (PER ENQUIRY) over the previous method. The configuration update facility also took many hours of repetitive work and replaced it with a simple click of a button.

Message From Our Client

We engaged Foursquare Solutions to modernise the production software in our busy manufacturing business. After extensive business analysis they built a bespoke software package to complement our existing manufacturing software (SoftTech V6). This gave us the ability to manage quotes and sales leads all the way through production, despatch to invoicing without having to re-enter any information once quoted. A big benefit of this was a reduction in administration and data entry. The end result also gave us detailed production planning tools and the ability to closely monitor sales and margins.

They also worked well in partnership with our third party software supplier (SoftTech) to ensure the end product was complaint to their standards.

I would be happy to recommend Foursquare Solutions to any potential client and am confident they would be more than happy with the services provided by them.

Alan Shearer

General Manager

Howarth Timber (Windows & Doors) Ltd

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