Laser cutting job shops know that providing accurate and timely quotes to customers is crucial for business growth.
Trying to do this manually can be tricky – and can often lead to pricing inconsistencies or errors. This is where implementing software for calculating, preparing, and sending quotes can really benefit your job shop.
But how do I match my existing prices with a whole new system?
This is a very common question, and it’s a fear that can mean job shops put off upgrades that could be saving them time and earning them more money.
In most cases, if you aren’t using quoting software, the pricing policy is not clear or consistent to begin with, especially with different estimators using different criteria in their calculations. This can lead to confusion and inconsistencies in pricing, which can negatively impact your business.
But this is actually an opportunity to re-think your pricing strategy and generate a consistent and logical pricing policy for the future. The pricing policy must be aligned with the strengths and weaknesses of the shop, facilitating winning attractive jobs and avoiding low-profit or jobs outside the strengths of the company.
Rethinking your pricing policy
The best time to re-think your pricing policy is when implementing a new quoting software. The software can help you analyze your pricing history and identify areas where you can improve your pricing strategy. By taking advantage of this opportunity, you can create a more effective pricing policy that will benefit your business in the long run.
You can also make sure you’re providing fair and competitive prices to your customers – because they tend to be discerning enough to know when they are getting an unfairly high price. I’ve even seen customers use a quoting software to see if their laser vendor was overcharging them!
In addition to helping you create a pricing policy that focuses on the best jobs for your business, a quoting software will bring a broad range of benefits, too, including:
- Speed – with just a few clicks, you can generate a quote and send it to a customer
- Reduced costs – with fewer errors, and lower hours invested in preparing quotes
- Consistency – with the same job always being quoted at the same price – no matter who is creating the quote
With all these advantages, implementing a quoting system can be a highly cost-effective way to grow your job shop and stay ahead of the competition.
Don’t let the fear of change hold you back from taking advantage of these benefits and improving your business.
To see all the latest features of ToolBox, by Tempus Tools, the leading quoting software designed specifically for laser cutting job shops, visit our Latest Features page.
Author: Felipe Lechuga, Director, Tempus Tools (pictured)
