Categories   >   Manufacturing Estimating Software
Last Reviewed: November 27th, 2024

Best Manufacturing Estimating Software Of 2024

What is Manufacturing Estimating Software?

Manufacturing Estimating Software is a digital tool designed to generate accurate manufacturing estimates. It identifies the costs of materials, labor, and other manufacturing components, making it a cost-effective solution for manufacturers fighting waste and striving for efficiency. The software's core functionalities include cost calculation, integration with production scheduling, and generating comprehensive reports. Progress in AI and automation has heralded advanced features like real-time cost updates. Manufacturing facilities, particularly those with complex production processes, benefit most from this software. However, its reliance on accurate data input can be a limitation; incorrect data can lead to inaccurate estimates. In summary, Manufacturing Estimating Software is an invaluable tool that can boost operational efficiency, contribute to significant time and cost savings, and ultimately enhance profitability. Its value lies in the precision and timely production of cost estimates, enabling informed decision-making in manufacturing processes.

What Are The Key Benefits of Manufacturing Estimating Software?

  • Enhanced Cost Accuracy
  • Improved Operational Efficiency
  • Reduced Waste
  • Seamless Calculation Processes
  • Real-time Data Updates
  • Time and Effort Savings
  • Comprehensive Cost Reports
  • Integration with Other Systems
  • Informed Decision-Making Support
  • Better Resource Allocation
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Overall

Based on the latest available data collected by SelectHub for 44 solutions, we determined the following solutions are the best Manufacturing Estimating Software overall:

Jobber
Jobber
Start Price
$19
Monthly, Single user
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Why We Picked Jobber

Jobber, a popular field service management software, caters to businesses operating on the go. It’s suitable for small or medium sized teams and larger companies with dispersed technicians, though the pricing structure may be less ideal for smaller start-ups. Its standout features include online booking, automated reminders and follow-ups, scheduling, dispatching and route optimization.

The software also facilitates email marketing through Mailchimp, enabling users to reach their client base effectively and even assisting in customer prospecting via Facebook and Instagram ads. Additionally, Jobber offers booking assistance through Google's Local Services Ads, allowing customers to schedule appointments directly through a Google search.

The mobile app enhances flexibility by allowing users to schedule jobs, create invoices and stay updated on schedule changes, client messages and booking requests with push notifications.

Users commend Jobber for its user-friendly interface, effective payment reminders and scheduling flexibility. However, some users report drawbacks, including limitations in the scheduling function, a learning curve, duplicate invoices and delays in customer support responsiveness. Additionally, Jobber is more expensive than some of its competitors.

Overall, Jobber is a comprehensive FSM solution providing a range of features for efficiency and better customer communication.

Pros & Cons

  • Getting Started: Generally, users found Jobber easy to set up and user-friendly.
  • Reduces Unpaid Invoices: Users found payment reminders helpful.
  • Customer Communication: Users enjoyed automated follow-ups for clients, reducing late responses and incomplete jobs.
  • Scheduling Flexibility: Users could easily add jobs and move schedules as needed, also enjoying the notes function for added transparency.
  • Scheduling Limitations: The scheduling function left some users wanting more types to choose from, like bi-weekly or monthly.
  • Navigating the App: Some users experienced a learning curve when setting up payments.
  • Mobile App Issues: Some users experienced duplicate invoices when using the mobile app.
  • Customer Support Responsiveness: Some customers reported waiting days to weeks for resolution from customer support.

Key Features

  • Scheduling: Jobber automatically schedules jobs based on your preferences, including service descriptions, estimated prices and time durations. Save time by empowering customers to book appointments online. Facilitate better employee schedule management by specifying the earliest availability and buffer times.  
  • Dispatching and Route Planning:  Assign last-minute jobs to the nearest team member, reducing wait times and increasing fuel efficiency. After selecting your starting point, Jobber maps out the most efficient routes with GPS tracking. Stay in the loop with instant notifications and turn-by-turn directions for new jobs or cancellations.  
  • Centralized Information: View on-site instructions, required job forms and checklists to avoid missed steps and ensure effective job completions. Add notes, photos and files to client profiles for future reference and to help build better customer support. Access salary guides to stay on top of current data by state, experience level and job title. 
  • Calendar: Reschedule or reassign jobs with the handy drag-and-drop feature. Choose from five views and use color coding to organize and personalize your tasks. 
  • Invoicing: Compile multiple jobs, then generate and send invoices with a few simple clicks via batch invoicing. Digital invoices are available to send via text or email. Personalize invoices with your branding, contact info and disclaimer. Reduce late or missed invoices with prompts for when it's time to send invoices, either after a visit, completed job or monthly. Send customers email or text follow-ups automatically to remind them of any outstanding invoices. 
  • Payments: Enable online invoice payments that deposit into bank accounts within minutes, including on weekends and holidays, to help your employees get paid faster than with traditional checks. Manage customer relationships with access to previous quotes, job details and billing history. 
  • QuickBooks Integration: Reduce double-entrees and streamline accounting with QuickBooks. Keep all data related to customers, timesheets, invoices and payments up to date.  
  • Time Tracking: Track your time with the flexibility to clock in and out from anywhere. Ensure accurate invoicing and timesheets with automatic time tracking via location timers. Enable time-tracking reminders when workers approach job sites or client homes by setting location timers to reminder mode and start or stop timers with a simple tap. 
  • Expense Tracking: Record expense dates, amounts and employee info. Use pre-built expense reports to simplify filtering, view payroll expenses and categorize them to identify spending patterns for planning future jobs. Capture and add receipt photos to your expense log on the mobile app. Reduce errors by automating reimbursable expenses and marking them as paid. 
  • Team Permissions: Add, deactivate and edit users. Set up permission levels based on roles, including limited worker, worker, dispatcher, manager and admin to control data access. Customize user permissions settings to fit your needs.  
  • Client Manager: Ensure your customer's info is always up-to-date with customizable client profiles. Access key details from the office or on the road, including job histories and communication histories like previous texts and emails. 
  • Online Booking: Empower customers to book appointments online, including through social media. They can fill out a form for services they need, preferred time and date, and from there, jobs show up on your schedule. Set limits on service areas near you, your availability and the maximum distance you'll cover between appointments. Managers can also assign jobs to specific team members. 
  • Job Forms: Streamline your work by completing job forms and uploading on-site photos for record-keeping. The app also guides you through every step of your workflow, including job instructions, checklists and customer follow-ups. 
  • Client Hub: Provide clients with a self-serve portal for sending online work requests and checking, changing and approving quotes. Clients can track appointment details, pay invoices, add tips and share feedback via surveys.  
  • Automated Communication: Reduce no-shows and frustration from miscommunication with customizable on-my-way texts and automated reminders and follow-ups. Templates are available to ensure your customer emails and texts are always prompt and professional.  
  • Quote Management: Create professional, branded, customizable quotes right from your mobile device. Send quotes by email and text message. Clients can remotely view and approve quotes. Get notified when customers view quotes and automate follow-up emails or texts for unanswered quotes.  
  • Credit Card Processing: Facilitate payments in-person or online for one-off jobs and automatically charge customers' saved cards for recurring jobs. For U.S. clients, there's also a Jobber card reader for in-person credit and debit card payments. The processing fee starts at 2.9% (and 30¢ per transaction).  
  • Task Automation: Integrate with Zapier to automate routine tasks and foster a more seamless workflow with 1500+ web apps, including welcome emails via Gmail and getting feedback with SurveyMonkey.  
  • Email and Postcard Marketing: Connect your client list with your Mailchimp account and streamline sending everyone emails and postcards (also helping reduce duplicate or missed messages from manually reaching out). Get assistance with marketing your services and reach new customer prospects via Facebook and Instagram ads.  
  • Booking Assistance: With Google's Local Services Ads, new and potential customers can schedule appointments in your calendar through a Google search. 
  • Reporting: ­­­Get over 20 built-in reports, including financial reports with projected incomes, transaction histories, invoice details, payroll and expenses. Export reports and automatically get them sent to your employees' inboxes. 
  • Mobile App: Schedule jobs, create invoices and stay in the loop on schedule changes, client messages and booking requests with push notifications. Use the quick create menu to add new items and build client profiles, track expenses, and generate work requests, tasks and quotes, accessible from nearly every screen in the app to save time.  
  • Chemical Tracking: Select your service address, specific job and the date and time to track chemicals. Add current weather conditions and additional relevant info as needed. Access a chemicals list to view all tracked chemicals and sort through your list by client, date or employee. Download reports via CSV. There's additionally a section for quick facts about chemicals. (Note: This feature is currently not available in the mobile app and is only available on select plans). 
  • Business and Consumer Financing: Provide customers with financing options like monthly installment payments through Wisetack. Additionally, leverage Stripe to streamline secure quick payments at job sites or online.  
Pros
Pros
Start Price
$60
Per User, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Why We Picked Pros

PROS is an AI-powered solution that assists businesses with quote management, price optimization and complex product configurations. Reviewers have praised its price guidance and application versioning modules. They also liked the flexibility of the click-and-configure feature. Its analytical tool gives a detailed overview of business and price performance. Other well-liked capabilities include third-party integrations, prompt support and process automation.
On the other hand, reviewers felt the platform’s speed is quite slow, particularly for workers accessing it off-premises. Some users also noted that the onboarding process is complex and requires a dedicated support team. Overall, PROS is a strong CPQ solution, with automation and analytical capabilities further adding to its functionality. It’s well-suited for SMBs looking to automate their CPQ processes.

Pros & Cons

  • Integration: 72% of reviewers who mentioned this feature said that the platform easily integrates with CRMs, ERPs and other PROS modules.
  • Support: The vendor provides speedy and accurate tech support, as stated by 60% of users mentioning this element.
  • Ease of Use: Over 80% of the users who mentioned this aspect appreciated the ease of setting up user administration and managing pricing components.
  • Functionality: According to 69% of users who reviewed this feature, the solution offers robust CPQ modules like price guidance, complex configurations and workflow approvals.
  • User Interface: 70% of users who reviewed this element mentioned that the UI is user-friendly and loads quickly.
  • Configuration: The tool is highly flexible and configurable, according to 83% of reviewers talking about this aspect.
  • Automation: All the users who referenced this element said that the platform’s automation capabilities are a standout feature.
  • Implementation: The implementation process can be challenging and requires training for admins, as mentioned by 75% of users reviewing this element.
  • Speed and Performance: All the users who reviewed this feature mentioned that the platform has stability issues and could improve its performance.
  • Cost: 86% of reviews speaking of cost reported that software maintenance and subscriptions are expensive.

Key Features

  • Price Optimization: Increase revenue and margin growth through AI-based pricing and segmentation strategies. 
    •  Maintain strategies by building and modifying guided formulas. 
    •  Deliver optimized and personalized pricing based on dynamic demands and market segments. 
    •  Coordinate prices across contracts and clients with a master price list. 
    •  Receive alerts for extreme pricing changes. 
    •  Gain a comprehensive view of pricing data to identify revenue and margin leakages. 
    •  Create, analyze and modify multiple rebate variations and add accrual rules. 
    •  Equip sales reps with customized negotiation price guidance. 
    •  Maintain competitive pricing based on industry standards with real-time data inputs. 
    •  Include dynamic variables in pricing strategies. 
    •  Create scalable and updated pricing lists with a real-time pricing engine add-on. 
    •  Receive price recommendations according to price-volume relationships. 
    •  Expand to e-commerce platforms and incorporate cross-sell recommendations. 
  • Guided Selling: Streamline quote-to-cash processes with sales acceleration modules. Shorten sales cycles and reduce dependency on manual labor through automated sales tasks like lead generation and quoting. 
  • Opportunity Detection: Identify new opportunities, uncover behavior patterns and analyze transactions. Automatically add opportunities to existing CRM systems with supportive insights for every suggestion. Use the forecasting algorithm to detect diminishing buying patterns, taking into account seasonal dips. 
  • Integrations: Connect existing tech infrastructures to CRMs, ERPs, PLMs and ecommerce platforms. Integrates with Salesforce, Adobe, Magento and more. 
  • CPQ: Create accurate, customized and feature-based product configurations. Sales teams can find the right product, manage approvals, calculate prices and generate proposals within the organization’s CRM. 
    • Real-Time Collaboration: Coordinate simultaneously with sales reps and internal pricing crew members. 
    • Self-Service: Clients can configure products on ecommerce platforms based on their requirements. 
    • Performance Analysis: Gain insights into deals and profits with integrated performance tools and waterfall charts. 
    • Visualizations: Incorporate 2D and 3D drawings and augmented reality technologies into quotes. 
    • Documentations: Create tailored sales agreements, proposals, bids, RFPs and terms and conditions. 
  • Security: Ensure data protection with GPR, SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 27001 and Cloud Security Alliance’s Cloud Control Matrix compliance. Provides product, platform and physical security through Final Security Review, stack monitoring, threat protection programs and disaster recovery. 
Conga
Conga
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Key Features

  • Commerce:
    • Hybrid Delivery: Sell products and services on multiple platforms online, in person or a mixture of the two.
    • Update Operations: Update product catalogs, marketing strategies, prices and more. Ensure orders, revenue and invoices are in sync using a single data model.
    • Process Management: Use multichannel support, guided selling, asset-based ordering and more to streamline the selling process.
  • Documents:
    • Design: Build on-brand document templates to create error-free forms to send to customers based on Salesforce data.
    • Customize: Personalize documents by adding charts, videos, fonts and more.
    • Notifications: Receive alerts when a document is opened, read and signed by a customer and then review analytics to track sales pipelines.
    • Share: Send documents in any format or share them as a secure link accessible on any device.
  • Contract Management:  
    • Store: House contracts in a central repository, set up a clause library and design contract templates to ensure no crucial documents are lost. Keep contracts up to date by giving ownership of contracts to specific members. 
    • Process Flows: Keep up to date on contract processes with a built-in process flow chart, dashboard and configurable notifications. 
    • Search: Browse through documents and metadata for specific words and topics with optical character recognition. 
    • E-Signature: Allow customers to sign documents from any device. 
    • Approvals: View and manage approvals from one central location. Access and approve documents on mobile devices. 
  • Revenue:  
    • Automated Billing:  
      •  Create blended billing for one-time plans, subscriptions and more. 
      •  Customize billing based on invoice preferences by dividing them up into multiple bills. 
      •  Provide a billing forecast to allow customers to view invoices. 
    • Order Management: View the entire customer order history, including shipping dates, costs, taxes and more. Update subscriptions and quickly change orders in-flight.  
    • Promotions: Create omnichannel promotions with codes and rules to track distribution and define eligibility. Sync with approval workflows and utilize analytical tools to track promotion performance. 
Zuora Billing
Zuora Billing
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Why We Picked Zuora Billing

User reviews from the past year paint a mixed picture of this comprehensive billing platform. While Zuora Billing garners praise for its robust features and seamless Salesforce integration, users also point out notable drawbacks.

A standout strength is Zuora Billing's flexibility in handling pricing and customization. Users highlight the ease with which they can tailor pricing models and discounts to align with specific business needs, such as offering tiered pricing for different user segments. The platform's API-centric approach is another key differentiator, empowering businesses to build custom integrations and automate workflows. For instance, companies have leveraged the API to connect Zuora Billing with their CRM systems, automating invoice generation and payment processing. However, this strength is counterbalanced by a significant weakness: complexity. Users report a steep learning curve and a cumbersome interface that necessitates extensive training and numerous steps to complete even basic tasks.

While Zuora Billing excels in some areas, it stumbles in others, particularly reporting and revenue recognition. Users express frustration with the platform's limited reporting capabilities, especially when it comes to tracking crucial metrics like churn. Moreover, Zuora Billing's revenue recognition model falls short of GAAP ASC606 compliance, compelling businesses to rely on third-party software like RevPro for accurate financial reporting. This limitation poses a significant challenge for companies operating in regulated industries or those requiring strict financial compliance.

In essence, Zuora Billing is best suited for large enterprises with complex billing needs and dedicated IT resources to navigate its intricacies. Smaller businesses or those seeking a more user-friendly solution might find Zuora Billing overwhelming and may be better served by alternative platforms.

Pros & Cons

  • Flexible Pricing and Customization: Zuora Billing empowers businesses to tailor pricing and discounts to align with their specific requirements.
  • Seamless Salesforce Integration: The integration with Salesforce streamlines sales operations, enabling sales representatives to generate product quotes with adaptable rate plans and gain visibility into subscriptions and financial data within Salesforce.
  • Responsive Customer Support: Users benefit from prompt response times and valuable assistance, contributing to a positive customer experience.
  • Automation: Zuora Billing offers automation capabilities for numerous features and functions, saving time by eliminating manual and repetitive tasks.
  • Subscription Management: The platform provides diverse options for managing subscriptions, including evergreen and termed subscriptions, with straightforward amendment processes.
  • Usability Issues: Zuora can be difficult to use, requiring extensive training and many steps for simple tasks.
  • Revenue Recognition Challenges: It doesn't comply with GAAP ASC606, necessitating additional software like RevPro.
  • Reporting Deficiencies: Reporting, particularly for churn analysis, needs improvement and often requires manual manipulation in Excel.
  • Inflexibility in Complex Situations: Zuora struggles with unusual or complex scenarios, slowing down sales teams who need to create quotes.
  • Cost and Support Concerns: Some users find Zuora expensive and experience inconsistent support quality, with issues sometimes requiring escalation.

Key Features

  • Subscription Management: Efficiently handle complex subscription models, including upgrades, downgrades, and renewals.
  • Usage-Based Billing: Accurately bill customers based on their actual usage, supporting various metrics and thresholds.
  • Automated Invoicing: Generate and send invoices automatically, reducing manual effort and minimizing errors.
  • Revenue Recognition: Comply with accounting standards by automating revenue recognition processes, ensuring accurate financial reporting.
  • Multi-Currency Support: Manage billing in multiple currencies, facilitating global business operations and customer satisfaction.
  • Taxation Management: Automatically calculate and apply taxes based on regional regulations, simplifying compliance.
  • Customizable Pricing Models: Create tailored pricing plans, including tiered, volume, and flat-rate pricing, to meet diverse customer needs.
  • Payment Gateway Integration: Seamlessly integrate with various payment gateways, offering customers multiple payment options.
  • Real-Time Analytics: Access detailed billing and subscription analytics to make informed business decisions.
  • Customer Self-Service Portal: Provide customers with a portal to manage their subscriptions, view invoices, and make payments.
  • Flexible Billing Cycles: Support various billing cycles, such as monthly, quarterly, or annually, to align with customer preferences.
  • Discount and Promotion Management: Easily create and apply discounts and promotions to attract and retain customers.
  • Integration with CRM Systems: Integrate with popular CRM systems like Salesforce to streamline customer data management.
  • Audit Trail: Maintain a comprehensive audit trail of all billing activities for transparency and compliance purposes.
  • API Access: Utilize robust APIs to integrate Zuora Billing with other business systems, enhancing overall functionality.
FastSpring
FastSpring
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Why We Picked FastSpring

Is FastSpring the "springboard" your business needs to reach new heights in the e-commerce world? User reviews from the last year paint a somewhat mixed picture of this popular platform. While FastSpring is widely praised for its robust features, global reach, and top-notch customer support, some users have raised concerns about its pricing and complexity. FastSpring's strength lies in its ability to handle complex billing and subscription needs with a high degree of customization. For instance, users rave about the platform's flexibility in tailoring order pages and shopping carts, a feature often lacking in competitors like Shopify. This level of customization, coupled with its multilingual and multicurrency support, makes FastSpring a favorite among businesses with a global customer base.

However, this robust functionality comes at a price. Users often point to FastSpring's high fees and lack of transparent pricing as major drawbacks, particularly for smaller businesses. Additionally, while the platform's customization options are a boon for experienced users, some find the initial setup process daunting and time-consuming.

In conclusion, FastSpring emerges as a powerful e-commerce solution best suited for medium to large businesses with complex needs who prioritize flexibility and comprehensive support over cost-effectiveness. Smaller businesses or those seeking a simpler solution might find better value in alternatives like Shopify or Chargify.

Pros & Cons

  • Global Payment Processing: FastSpring excels in handling transactions worldwide, accommodating various currencies and payment methods, simplifying international sales.
  • Subscription Management: The platform offers robust tools for managing recurring billing, including flexible subscription plans, automated renewals, and dunning management, streamlining recurring revenue streams.
  • Branded Checkout Experience: FastSpring allows businesses to maintain brand consistency by customizing the checkout process with their logo, colors, and messaging, enhancing brand recognition and customer trust.
  • Sales Process Automation: FastSpring automates key sales tasks, such as order fulfillment, invoice generation, and tax calculation, freeing up businesses to focus on growth and other critical operations.
  • Reliable Platform Performance: Users consistently praise FastSpring for its uptime and stability, ensuring a smooth and dependable experience for both businesses and their customers.
  • Price: FastSpring's robust feature set comes at a premium, which might be prohibitive for businesses with tight budgets or those seeking more affordable alternatives.
  • Occasional Stability Issues: While generally reliable, some users have reported occasional system stability issues, which could potentially disrupt sales processes.
  • Support Concerns: A small number of users have expressed concerns about potential support responsiveness decreasing after an extended period of using the platform.

Key Features

  • Custom Checkout: Optimize buying experiences and reduce cart abandonment through customizable, intuitive checkout models. 
    • Store Builder Library: Create, implement and personalize checkout flows. 
    • Dynamic Marketing: Provide seamless experiences through device-optimized content. Customers can browse online stores via mobiles, laptops or desktops. 
    • Product Display: Monitor and edit stores, product information and checkout processes in real time. 
    • Promotions: Drive sales through dynamic product recommendations with cross-sells and up-sells. 
    • Custom Fields: Ensure easy purchases by setting up custom fields such as language, tax and currency, based on customer location. 
  • Global Payment Support: Facilitate worldwide selling with support for international payments, currencies and languages. 
    • Failover Processing: Reroute transactions to a different acquiring bank if a transaction fails. 
    • Gift Purchases: Customers can order and pay for products on behalf of loved ones. 
    • Local Transaction Processing: Ensure transactions are routed in the same location as the issuing bank through automated routing modules. 
    • Payment Options: Provides global payment solutions like debit and credit cards, Amazon Pay, PayPal, wire transfers, GiroPay and more. 
  • Subscription Management: Reduce churn rate by managing client life cycles across every touchpoint. 
    • Plan Management: Increase client outreach through flexible plans, including free trials, discounts and monthly and annual schemes. Customize coupons, costs and subscription lengths. 
    • Automated Reminders: Automatically send receipts, invoices, renewal forms and payment and cancellation alerts. 
    • Recurring Billing: Ensure steady revenue by setting up regular payment and billing models. 
    • Dunning Management: Decrease churn rate by automatically retrying failed payments. 
    • Self-Service: Customers can manage subscriptions and payments, and view previous orders. 
  • Sales Management: Simplify buying experiences with digital invoicing and interactive quotes. 
  • Tax Management: Facilitate global tax calculation, collection and remittance with VAT compliance and region-specific tax rates. 
  • Risk Management: Mitigate risks, prevent chargebacks and protect against any vulnerabilities. Detect fraudulent payments and separate them from credible ones via its15-factor fraud monitoring algorithm. Complies with significant guidelines and regulations like EU GDPR and PCI DSS. 
  • Third-Party Integrations: Integrates with several third-party solutions such as Google Tag Manager, Google Ads, WordPress, MailChimp, Nalpeiron, Impact, LicenceSpring and more. 

    Suite Support

    A dedicated consumer support portal on the vendor website offers help with checkout, taxes, billing, licenses, refunds and more. Sellers can access welcome guides and release notes, and log in for customized content and support.

    mail_outlineEmail: [email protected].
    phonePhone: Not specified.
    schoolTraining: The vendor provides documentation on onboarding, advanced features, interactive quotes and app capabilities. Offers a launch checklist, store builder library and API toolkit.
    local_offerTickets: Log in to submit a ticket.
Salesforce CPQ
Salesforce CPQ
Start Price
$150
Per User, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Why We Picked Salesforce CPQ

Salesforce CPQ has garnered significant praise for its user-friendly interface, enabling sales teams to swiftly generate accurate quotes and streamline the sales process. Users highlight the software's intuitive design and guided selling capabilities, which empower representatives to configure products, determine pricing, and create professional quotes with ease. This efficiency translates into faster sales cycles and improved customer satisfaction. Salesforce CPQ's integration with Salesforce CRM further enhances its value proposition by providing a unified platform for managing customer interactions, sales processes, and order fulfillment.

However, some users note that Salesforce CPQ's robust features come at a cost, as the software can be relatively expensive compared to some competitors. Additionally, the platform's extensive customization options, while offering flexibility, can also introduce complexity for new users. Despite these drawbacks, many users consider Salesforce CPQ a worthwhile investment due to its ability to drive revenue growth and enhance sales productivity. The software's strengths in automation, accuracy, and integration make it particularly well-suited for businesses with complex sales processes, diverse product offerings, and a need for scalability. Salesforce CPQ empowers these organizations to optimize their sales operations and achieve sustainable growth.

Pros & Cons

  • Guided Selling: Salesforce CPQ provides a guided selling experience that helps sales reps to configure products and generate quotes quickly and accurately, even for complex products with many options and dependencies. This can help to reduce errors and improve sales efficiency.
  • Streamlined Quote-to-Cash: Salesforce CPQ helps to streamline the quote-to-cash process by automating many of the manual tasks involved in generating quotes, contracts, and invoices. This can help to reduce cycle times and improve cash flow.
  • Improved Accuracy: Salesforce CPQ helps to improve the accuracy of quotes by ensuring that all products and services are priced correctly and that all discounts and promotions are applied consistently. This can help to reduce billing errors and improve customer satisfaction.
  • Increased Sales: Salesforce CPQ can help to increase sales by making it easier for sales reps to sell complex products and services. It can also help to improve customer satisfaction by providing a more streamlined and efficient sales experience.
  • Steep Learning Curve: Salesforce CPQ has a reputation for being complex and challenging to learn, especially for users without prior experience with Salesforce products or CPQ software. The abundance of features and customization options can be overwhelming for new users, often requiring extensive training and support to get up to speed.
  • Implementation Challenges: Implementing Salesforce CPQ can be a time-consuming and resource-intensive process, often requiring the involvement of experienced consultants or developers. Integrating CPQ with existing Salesforce instances or other business systems can pose additional challenges, potentially leading to delays and budget overruns.
  • Cost: Salesforce CPQ is a premium product with a price tag to match. The subscription fees, implementation costs, and ongoing maintenance expenses can be significant, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. The pricing structure can also be complex, with different tiers and add-on features that can quickly increase the overall cost.

Key Features

  • Pricing Engine: Use a sophisticated pricing engine to model different types of payments, including one-time payments, recurring payments and payments determined by usage. 
  • Automated Renewal Quotes: Save time by automating renewed quotes and sending summaries to current customers. 
  • Centralized Data: Ensure complete visibility by keeping client data in one place, including purchases, assets and subscriptions. 
  • AI Insights: Manipulate AI data gathering and findings to better understand client data. Increase sales intelligence and create deeper insight reports. 
  • Automated Invoices: Split quotes into multiple orders to simplify and automate configurations. Eliminate pricing discrepancies by using a singular pricing engine. 
  • Price Analytics: Task AI to detect trends among products, sales teams and regions. Mine data from AI analysis to better suit pricing standards. 
  • Accessibility: Access functions from any desktop or mobile device with internet connection. Use cloud-capabilities to track quotes on the go. 
  • Integration: Utilize flexible integration capabilities to bundle with other leading products like Docusign. 
Qwilr
Qwilr
Start Price
$39
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Key Features

  • Document Management: Create interactive, mobile-optimized proposals, pages and documents with modular building blocks through its editing and design tools. Embed content such as videos, Google Maps, calendars, Typeform pages and more. Share via secure links that are accessible from any device. 
  • Quoting: Reduce sales cycles and back-and-forth communications with interactive quoting. Clients can opt for pricing packages based on their requirements and proceed to accept, e-sign and pay via any device. 
  • Analytics: Receive notifications when customers open or accept documents. Ensure quick follow-ups and deliver tailored content by gaining insights into client interactions and analyzing proposal effectiveness. 
  • Integrations: Automate workflows, facilitate payments and create invoices by connecting with CRMs, payment systems and sales and accounting modules. Leverage integrations with Google Analytics, Salesforce, HubSpot, Xero, PipeDrive, Slack, Stripe and more. 
  • Personalizations: Draft customized quotes, proposals and invoices at multiple scales. Showcase experience to prospective clients by uploading previous successful works and adding brand-centric details.
QuoteWerks
QuoteWerks
Start Price
$13.75
Per User, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Why We Picked QuoteWerks

QuoteWerks has been around for a while, and it shows in its large user base. The software has a reputation for being easy to use, which is a big plus for businesses that need to get up and running quickly. Users appreciate the ability to create quotes quickly and efficiently, saving them time and hassle. However, some users find QuoteWerks to be a bit lacking in features compared to other CPQ software options on the market. It's important to note that QuoteWerks is not the cheapest option out there, so businesses need to weigh the cost against the benefits before making a decision.

One of the things that sets QuoteWerks apart is its integration with Salesforce. This is a major advantage for businesses that already use Salesforce, as it allows them to streamline their sales process. QuoteWerks also offers a basic configurator, which can be helpful for businesses that need to create complex quotes. However, the configurator is not as powerful as some of the other options on the market. Overall, QuoteWerks is a good choice for businesses that need a simple and easy-to-use CPQ solution. It's also a good option for businesses that are already using Salesforce. However, businesses that need a more feature-rich CPQ solution may want to consider other options.

Want a CPQ solution that really "werks"? Look no further than QuoteWerks.

Pros & Cons

  • Streamlined Quoting Process: QuoteWerks helps businesses create accurate and professional sales quotes quickly, saving time and effort. The software offers a range of features that automate tasks such as product selection, pricing calculations, and quote generation, allowing sales teams to focus on closing deals.
  • Improved Accuracy and Consistency: QuoteWerks helps eliminate errors and inconsistencies in quotes by providing a centralized platform for managing product information, pricing, and discounts. This ensures that all quotes are accurate and consistent, regardless of who creates them.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: QuoteWerks facilitates collaboration between sales, finance, and other departments involved in the quoting process. The software allows users to share quotes, track approvals, and communicate effectively, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
  • Integration with Other Systems: QuoteWerks integrates with popular CRM, accounting, and ERP systems, allowing businesses to streamline their workflows and avoid data duplication. This integration also provides valuable insights into sales performance and customer behavior.
  • Limited Customization: Users have expressed frustration with the limitations of customizing QuoteWerks to fit their specific workflows and branding requirements. For instance, tailoring documents and integrating with external systems can be challenging.
  • Usability Challenges: The user interface and overall user experience of QuoteWerks have been criticized for being outdated and cumbersome. Navigating through the software and finding specific features can be time-consuming and require a steep learning curve.
  • Reporting Limitations: Generating comprehensive and insightful reports can be difficult due to the limitations of QuoteWerks' reporting capabilities. Users often find it challenging to extract the specific data they need to analyze sales performance and make informed business decisions.

Key Features

  • CPQ: Improve customer experience and sell more. Streamline quoting processes, extend functionalities and close sales cycles faster by accepting online payments, knowing when to follow up and providing e-signature capabilities. 
  • Quote-to-Cash: Helps improve communication with CRM and email integration tools. Customize quotes according to customer needs and streamline accounting, quoting and CRM processes. 
  • Procurement: Electronically submit purchase orders in Amazon Business, Dell QuickBooks, Autotask, Sage 50 US Edition, ConnectWise and other manual purchase orders. Track line item shipping status, estimated ship date, warehouse locations, shipping numbers and product serial numbers in real time for orders placed through D&H, SYNNEX, Ingram Micro and Tech Data. Also, import purchase orders, receive individual items at different times and track purchase order status. 
  • QuoteWerks Web: Access existing documents, layouts, products, services and more through the desktop version. Create and edit documents, search for and retrieve contact information, search, display and use products, and customize labels and columns. It offers full support with QuoteValet and Etilize 
  • Distributor and Vendors Association: Quote items from distributors with real-time pricing from more than 15 supported vendors. These include Amazon Business, Cisco, Dell, HP, D&H, iQuote, Ingram Micro and more. Capabilities range from quote search, creation and import to order requisitions shipment and serial number tracking. 
  • Integrations: 
    • CRM and PSA: Integrates with Microsoft Outlook, Salesforce, Zoho CRM, SugarCRM, Infor CRM, ConnectWise and GoldMine. Transfer important sales data for forecasting and reporting, share estimates and proposals with prospects, and create orders. Combine sales quotes with business development opportunities and gain visibility into revenue streams. 
    • Accounting: Eliminate or minimize re-typing errors, duplicate entries and costly mistakes through integration with QuickBooks, Reckon, Sage 50 and other third-party add-ons. It helps create invoices when quotes become orders. 
    • Shipping: Obtain real-time shipping quotes through integration with FedEx and UPS. Calculate, mark up and pass through shipping costs, choose from a grid of available services and pricing, and provide customers with shipping choices. 
    • Leasing: Integrates with Ingram Micro Lease-IT and GreatAmerica Financial Services, offering built-in lease payment calculation support, multiple lease choices, and an option to purchase or lease quotes. It also automates credit application submission, shows available lease options and helps create, edit and maintain lease rate cards. 
  • QuoteValet: Streamlines the quote delivery and acceptance process by tracking received, viewed, reviewed and accepted quotes. Accept payment through credit cards, activate electronic signing, set auto-reminders, share files, collaborate with customers and attach single or multiple videos to documents. It provides branded and specialized quote delivery web pages. 
  • Shopping Cart: Create online order forms to automate customer re-orders, receive paid orders from promotional email blasts and offer discounts on specific items for a limited time. 
  • QuoteValet Mobile: Create, share, accept and make payments for quotes through mobile devices, most suitable for quick and small orders. 
  • Dashboard: 
    • Summary: Managers gain insights into the top-selling products, quote stages, quarterly progress and the total number of current and historical quotes and orders. It highlights milestones, notifications for quote requests, expiring quotes and monthly sales quotas. 
    • Opportunities: Check forecasts, analyze performance and gain quarterly and YTD summaries. The dashboard shows the top five won, open and lost quotes, along with the top five products by quantity and value. 
    • Reporting: Filter pending quotes, keep track of details and see new opportunities. The color-coded document activity history helps distinguish between customer and sales rep activities. 
    • Payment: Easily view all sorts of payment levels, including partial and complete as well as payment methods such as credit card and PayPal. Track document change histories, seeing who changed it and when through the Audit Trail. 

Better Proposals
Better Proposals
Start Price
$19
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Key Features

  • Editor: Create compelling, professional proposals using the editor and automatic designer. 
  • Templates: Customize templates and cover pages or opt to utilize pre-existing, industry-specific ones. Compatible with mobile phones, desktops and tablets. Offers more than 160 designs, accessible via the marketplace. 
  • Library: Recycle templates by saving proposals or particularly effective elements in the content library. 
  • Personalizations: Construct consistent client experiences by incorporating brand-specific details like colors, logos, fonts, content, images and introductory videos. Include every proposal on the organization’s website by assigning custom domains. 
  • Follow-Ups: Receive instant notifications when a proposal is opened, forwarded or signed, facilitating timely follow-ups. 
  • Pricing Tables: Accurately price offers, add recurring amounts for subscriptions and installments. Bill multiple products together with intelligent pricing tables. Use the bolt-on tool to add line items to proposals. 
  • E-Signatures: Close deals faster with secure, legally binding digital signatures that only require clients to type their names. 
  • Reporting: Review and track conversion rates, team statistics, sales overviews, template effectiveness and more through in-depth reports. 
  • Security: Ensure secure deals with encrypted web links and GDPR compliance. 
  • Integrations: Streamline workflows by accessing integrations with CRMs, payment modules, live chat systems and project management tools. Connect with Zapier, Salesforce, Zoho, HubSpot, Stripe, PayPal, ClickDesk, Intercom, Trello, Wrike and more. 
Quoter
Quoter
Start Price
$99
Company Size
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Deployment
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Key Features

  • Templates: Create standardized, brand-centric sales quotes, proposals and documents using reusable templates. Customize these to add cover pages, proposal content, instructions and product descriptions. Attach brochures, contracts and other documents. 
  • Product Cloud: Include products and services in quotes, access costs and availability in real time, and automatically pull details and images by leveraging integrations with Etilize, Ingram Micro and Tech Data. 
  • Product Configuration: Automate complex product pricing according to client requirements. Create selectable options like model, plan, material and size. 
  • Digital Signatures: Streamline quote-to-order processes with legally binding e-signatures. 
  • Payment Processing: Offer real-time payment processing with multiple gateways and multi-currency support. Clients can click on a secure link to access online checkout pages and complete payments. Receive email notifications post-payment completion. Include recurring fees and deposit options in quotes. 
  • Approval Management: Eliminate bottlenecks by allowing team members to create quotes. Automatically receive notifications in case of policy violations. 
  • Dashboard and Analytics: Track quotes, sales team performance, costs and margins through intuitive dashboards and reporting modules. Analyze generated quotes, sales and closing ratios with graphs. Search for quotes and customer leads by combining search criteria. 
  • Tax Calculations: Accurately calculate quotes based on client location. Create multiple shipping and tax zones with specific countries, states and provinces assigned to them. 
  • Discount Codes: Create flexible, reusable discount codes. Offer concessions on products per line item or as a percentage or dollar amount. 
  • Security and Backup: Secure organization data with automated backups across multiple data centers. Protect sensitive information like passwords and transactions with bank-level 256-bit SSL encryption and PCI-DSS compliance. Follows keycard and biometric access protocols, with interior and exterior surveillance to protect data centers. 
  • Integrations: Connect with third-party solutions like Paypal, Salesforce, Hubspot, Zoho CRM, MailChimp, Highrise, Zapier, QuickBooks Online, Xero, Stripe, Datto Autotask, ConnectWise and more. 

COMPARE THE BEST Manufacturing Estimating Software

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Product
Score
i
SelectHub’s Analyst Rating is based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Manufacturing Estimating Software, user reviews, and our own crowd-sourced data from our free software selection platform. Scores are periodically updated via ongoing selection projects and user activity within our platform.
Start Price
Free Trial
Company Size
Deployment
Platform
Logo
Jobber
$19
Monthly, Single user
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Jobber
Pros
$60
Per User, Monthly
No
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Pros
Conga
Still gathering data
No
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Conga
Zuora Billing
Undisclosed
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Zuora Billing
FastSpring
Undisclosed
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
FastSpring
Salesforce CPQ
$150
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Salesforce CPQ
Qwilr
$39
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Qwilr
QuoteWerks
$13.75
Per User, Monthly
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
QuoteWerks
Better Proposals
$19
Yes
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Better Proposals
Quoter
$99
No
Small Medium Large
Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Quoter

All Manufacturing Estimating Software (44 found)

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Jobber

by OctopusApp, Inc.
Jobber
Jobber is a field service management (FSM) solution designed for small businesses with under 50 employees. Tools like automated follow-up texts and emails, and route optimization, help field service technicians overcome common challenges like missed follow-ups and delays caused by traffic. It's ideal for teams that want to improve their customer communication and satisfaction with on-the-way texts, job notes, saved payment methods and flexible scheduling. Key benefits include simplifying job management by automatically converting quotes into jobs (and then generating invoices), managing project expenses, streamlining payments and tracking employee time. Plus, it’s available in Spanish.User reviews praise how easy it is to get started on the app, even without technical knowledge and how visually simple the design is to find what you need, from timesheets to schedules. In contrast, some users have experienced app slowness and lengthy wait times for customer support. Pricing is broken into monthly or annual plans. It varies depending on the number of users and features:1 user: $19/moUp to 5 users: $89/moUp to 15 users: $149/moIndividual users can be added to any package for $29/moThere's also a free trial for 14 days that doesn't require a credit card. Pros User-friendly platform Easy Scheduling Mobile-friendly Friendly customer support Easy invoicing and payments Detailed reports and client histories Cons Limited customization Time tracking only available on select plans Requires internet connection Limited integrations Slow customer support response time
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Pros

by Pros, Inc.
Pros
PROS is an integrated solution that offers intelligence for commerce. It provides robust product catalogs, performance quote management, sales insights, market segmentation and customer-specific price optimization. Product and service configurations, streamlined agreements, omnichannel price management and real-time price delivery are some of its notable offerings. Users can engage with customers and sell personalized offerings using AI-powered technology. It provides a dedicated mix of CRM, eCommerce and an API for operational improvement.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Conga

by Conga
Conga
Conga is a cloud-based contract management, document generation and revenue management solution. Its Configure Price Quote (CPQ) module powers e-commerce by providing accurate pricing quotes with up-to-date product information. Business teams can create custom commercial documents and share them with others for online collaboration. It helps shorten contract lifecycles through automation of contract authoring, approvals and collaboration workflows.Salesforce teams can issue contract requests for approval, e-signature and subsequent housing in its document repository. In addition to streamlining processes from initial order placing to provisioning and delivery, it helps automate billing and invoice management for products, subscriptions and services.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Zuora Billing

by Zuora
Zuora Billing
Zuora Billing is a comprehensive software solution designed to manage complex billing tasks, including Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) processes. It is particularly well-suited for subscription-based businesses that require flexible billing cycles, automated invoicing, and detailed revenue recognition. The software excels in handling recurring payments, usage-based billing, and one-time charges, making it ideal for companies with diverse pricing models. Key benefits of Zuora Billing include streamlined billing operations, enhanced financial accuracy, and improved customer satisfaction through timely and precise invoicing. Popular features encompass automated billing, revenue recognition, and robust reporting capabilities. Users appreciate its intuitive interface and the ability to integrate seamlessly with other enterprise systems. Compared to similar products, Zuora Billing is often praised for its scalability and adaptability to various business needs. Pricing details are typically customized based on specific requirements, so it is advisable to contact SelectHub for a tailored quote.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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FastSpring

by Bright Market
FastSpring
FastSpring is a SaaS deployed, full-service ecommerce platform that helps businesses sell digitally. It offers integrations, risk management, financial compliance services and more through a unified dashboard. It extends an easy-to-install and globally accessible payment gateway and assists in subscription management, billing, tax and VAT collection. It accepts over 20 currencies and supports more than 15 languages.Users can increase efficiency, eliminate complexity and risks, and increase revenue by an estimated 40%. Additionally, it supports selling SaaS-enabled technologies through automated billing and dunning management. Its branded checkout experience helps reduce the cart abandonment rate.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Salesforce CPQ

by Salesforce.com
Salesforce CPQ
Salesforce CPQ is a cloud-based software designed to streamline the sales process for businesses, particularly those dealing with complex products or services that require a high degree of customization. By automating tasks such as configuring products, generating quotes, and managing pricing, Salesforce CPQ can significantly improve sales efficiency and customer satisfaction while reducing costs. Key features include product catalog management, quote creation, and pricing automation, all of which contribute to a more efficient sales cycle. User experiences suggest that Salesforce CPQ excels in its ability to handle intricate product configurations and pricing rules, making it a valuable tool for businesses with complex sales processes. While pricing details may vary based on specific requirements and contract terms, it's important to note that Salesforce CPQ typically involves subscription-based fees. When considering similar products, it's recommended to carefully evaluate features, pricing structures, and user reviews to determine the best fit for your business needs. Keep in mind that pricing and feature information can change over time, so it's always a good idea to check the latest resources for the most current details.
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Qwilr

by Qwilr
Qwilr
Qwilr is a proposal solution that offers easy document processing with automation, esignatures and integrations with technologies like Salesforce, Hubspot, Slack and Xero. It visually represents documents, making it easy to create and design proposals, quotes, client updates and more. It provides an extensive image and video library, pre-built design templates, custom subdomains and brand-specific fonts and colors. It simplifies communications and ensures easy operation through automated engagement tracking and payments. Editable quotes and an interactive dashboard provide a flexible customer experience.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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QuoteWerks

by Aspire Technologies
QuoteWerks
QuoteWerks is a web-based platform that streamlines quotes and proposal generation for companies of all sizes and industries. To enhance efficiency, it integrates with many CRM, accounting, shipping, vendor, distributor, payment gateway and leasing platforms. It offers real-time pricing, warehouse availability, product descriptions and images, electronic order submissions and more.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Better Proposals

by Advantix Technologies
Better Proposals
Better Proposals is an integrated platform that streamlines and speeds up professional proposal creation. Simplified templates, combined with digital multi-party signatures and a secure paywall, help procure business quicker. Its other aspects include real-time follow-up, project management, web automation and more. Users can personalize and recycle proposals, and select custom domains by adding the company content, logo or fonts to deliver a consistent client experience. Designed particularly for small and medium enterprises, it’s well-suited for a wide range of industries.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Demo Pricing

Quoter

by Quoter Software
Quoter
Quoter, a cloud-based system, helps close deals faster by automating the processes of creating professional proposals. It ensures seamless workflows through integrations with CRMs, PSAs, billing methods, email marketing and more. An easy-to-use interface allows businesses to regulate templates according to variables and reuse them, minimizing time and increasing quotation volume.Designed for technology service providers of all sizes, it ensures flexibility. All pricing plans accommodate unlimited users, with an onboarding fee.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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DealHub

by DealHub
DealHub
DealHub is a well-known software system that ranks 12 among all CPQ Software according to our research analysts and 38 crowd-sourced reviews from 3 sources. Starting from $50, DealHub is priced within reason and is most suitable for medium-to-large-sized businesses. DealHub can be deployed online. Similar alternatives to DealHub include FPX, ScopeStack and Movegistics.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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ResponsiBid

by Symphosize Software
ResponsiBid
Responsibid is an AI-based tool that helps organize quotation processes by providing instant, precise quotes. Designed to generate quotes via in-person interaction, mobile devices and websites, it allows users to eliminate bottlenecks and develop leads on the go.It syncs with Google Calendar and automates sales through online purchasing and follow-up options. Video and CRM integrations help users create personalized proposals to close more deals. Workers can track closing rates, average ticket price, lead sources and more. It offers customizations for business-specific optimization.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Vendavo

by Vendavo
Vendavo
Vendavo is a cloud-based platform that assists B2B enterprises by steering them towards an ecommerce-driven approach to optimizing prices and profits. AI-enabled processes help deliver product configurations, real-time business insights, increased win rates and more. It ensures an enhanced customer experience by applying intelligent pricing guidance as per global parameters. It offers a profit analyzer, margin bridge analyzer, deal price guidance and business risk alerts.Users can implement 2D and 3D visualizations to create extensive proposals compatible with business needs. It’s suitable for businesses with complex operations, and multiple offerings and pricing strategies.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Camos

by Software und Beratung
Camos
Camos is a customizable solution for streamlining sales processes by providing relevant and accurate data. It acts as a buffer between an organization and its clients by configuring offerings as per requirements. Users can seamlessly integrate with existing work infrastructures to allow bi-directional data exchange for a consistent workflow across all their technologies. It provides quick quote generations and accurate price calculations, and delivers a digitalized distribution process right from development to lifecycle forecast.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Quotient

by Athena Assessment
Quotient
Quotient is a well-known software solution that ranks 16 among all CPQ Software according to our research analysts and 102 crowd-sourced reviews from 1 source. Starting from $25, Quotient is priced fairly, commonly offers a free trial and is most advisable for any sized company. Similar alternatives to Quotient include SignTracker, Powertrak and FPX.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Zilliant

by Zilliant
Zilliant
Zilliant is a cloud-based platform that streamlines pricing and sales processes for B2B companies. It helps manage inventory, deals, campaigns and more, empowering businesses to get strategic leads. Real-time market pricing extracts data from varied sources to deliver optimized prices as per industry standards.Integration via native connectors ensures shorter implementation time and more coordinated workflows. With unlimited virtual scalability, it’s suitable for manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers looking to automate delivery of diverse offerings with complex pricing structures.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Experlogix

by Experlogix
Experlogix
Experlogix is an integrated solution for product configuration and automating the quote-to-order fulfillment process. Users can streamline operations and simplify order processes by implementing approval workflows and creating pricing rules.It allows users to complete complex configurations and visualize modifications without programming. Implementation can be on-premises or cloud-based. It integrates with ERP and CRM platforms, including Microsoft Dynamics, Salesforce and NetSuite.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$1,000 or more
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Estimo

by Computerized Engineering Services
Estimo
Estimo is a popular software solution that ranks 19 among all CPQ Software according to our research analysts. Starting from $17, Estimo is priced more competitively, has offered a free trial in the past and is most advisable for small or medium sized businesses. Estimo can be deployed in the cloud and on-premise and is accessible from a limited set of platforms including Windows devices. Similar alternatives to Estimo include Expedite Commerce, QuoteCloud and Conga CPQ.
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Demo Pricing

servicePath

by servicePath
servicePath
ServicePath is a sophisticated software solution designed to streamline complex tasks such as Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) management. It is particularly well-suited for enterprises that deal with intricate sales processes and require a robust tool to enhance efficiency and accuracy. The platform's ability to handle detailed configurations and pricing scenarios makes it invaluable for businesses aiming to optimize their sales operations. Key benefits of using servicePath include improved quote accuracy, faster turnaround times, and enhanced sales productivity. Popular features encompass dynamic pricing models, customizable templates, and seamless integration with existing CRM systems. Users often highlight the intuitive interface and the significant reduction in manual errors as standout advantages. Compared to similar products, servicePath is frequently praised for its user-friendly design and comprehensive functionality. Pricing typically falls within a mid-to-high range, often based on the number of users or volume of transactions, with options for monthly or annual payments. This flexibility allows businesses to choose a plan that aligns with their specific needs and budget.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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SAP CPQ

by SAP, Inc.
SAP CPQ
SAP CPQ is a cloud-based solution designed to streamline quote fulfillment and eliminate pricing errors. Users can configure products by using step-by-step selection and defining product rules. It enables customers to view product modifications and place orders.Sales representatives can generate and update quotes using any internet-accessible device. Ideal for omnichannel selling, the AI-powered tech automates and generates upsell and cross-sell options. It integrates with various CRM and ERP systems and is available in multiple languages and currencies.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
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Platform
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Buyer's Guide

Manufacturing Estimating Software Is All About Streamlining Cost Estimation To Improve Bid Accuracy

By Christina George, Technical Content Writer at SelectHub

Manufacturing Estimating Software BG Intro

No-bids are a no-no for anyone in the manufacturing industry. It feels like conceding a game because you couldn’t field enough players. Manufacturing estimating software is a part of CPQ software that brings in-depth analysis, cost models and historical data to your own know-how to speed up cost estimation.

Want to modernize the estimating process? In this buyer’s guide, we’ll give you insights on benefits, features, pricing and pointers to pick the perfect manufacturing estimating solution for your company. Let’s get started!

Executive Summary

  • Manufacturing estimating software is used to streamline complex pricing and cost estimation with the help of data analysis, cost models and past production information.
  • Key features include automated BOM conversion, cost tracking, estimate analysis and a centralized database.
  • Ask potential vendors about levels of automation, scalability and deployment models before committing to a purchase.
What This Guide Covers:

What Is Manufacturing Estimating Software?

Manufacturing estimating software is a platform designed to streamline the estimating and RFP process. It uses historical data, cost models, production costs and successful bids to calculate estimates, RFPs and quotes.

Using dodgy estimates to calculate cost-plus pricing is like using a broken clock to tell the time. In-depth analysis using real-time information helps you create accurate quotes more efficiently.

Primary Benefits

Juggling MES, CMMS, supply chain management and ERP systems is no walk in the park. It’s easy to be wary of adding another solution to the mix. However, the benefits of manufacturing estimating software might change your mind.

Manufacturing Estimating Software Benefits

Related Categories

Saved Time

Rummaging through spreadsheets, paper quotes and workstation records to compile quotes eats up valuable time. A centralized database and streamlined processes help you get quotes and estimates to clients faster. Modify and turn past production orders and BOMs into estimates.

Greater Accuracy

Access to historical data, winning bid analysis and real-time information add to more accurate estimates. Instead of relying on guesswork and outdated pricing, you can create estimates for highly customizable, niche products using parts from existing BOMs, pricing structures and multiple revisions.

Increased Automation

Retyping the same information for estimates, RFPs, quotes and (hopefully) invoices can waste time and increase errors. Users can automate conversions to BOMs, quotes, tax markups and pricing updates.

Key Features & Functionality

Inventory Estimation

Pricing out-of-stock items in your estimates can be dicey. Add notes and files to justify revisions and create inventory items and BOMs from estimates.
Estimate Creation

Convenient estimate and quote creation are worth their weight in gold. Move data from product structures and work orders to create estimates. Use templates and “what if” scenarios to generate multiple estimates per bid.
BOM Conversion

Won the bid? Convert your winning estimate into a BOM using automation and plan for production so you can efficiently move on to manufacturing.
Centralized Database

Store past estimates, quotes, contact information and RFPs in one secure location. Autofill client details and export sections to create multiple estimates for one bid.
Cost Tracking

It’s not uncommon for estimates and actual costs to differ. Track actual resource usage for labor, raw materials and machine time from workstations to gauge profitability for future jobs.
Estimate Analysis

What estimates win bids? Which were profitable? Where did you lose money? View estimate insights on conversion rates and profitability via the customizable dashboard.
Integrations

Missing or incomplete data hampers a new system's performance. Accurately estimate with access to ERP, MES, CMMS and shopfloor software information.

Software Comparison Strategy

Using ChatGPT or Google to find the best solution for your manufacturing company can lead to information overload. The following pointers provide a basic blueprint to help you streamline your search.

Automation: Accuracy and speed are essential when converting estimates to BOMs or analyzing profit margins before sending a quote. Ask vendors how much automation is available, as well as how easy it is to customize automation to fit your workflows.

Deployment: Cloud deployment may be cheaper and easier to access. However, checking server compatibility is a wise move if you already have an on-site ERP or workstation management system.

Scalability: Planning to expand your operations to multiple sites or increase your product range? Your solution should scale with your organization. Look for expandable server capacity and user tiers.

Cost & Pricing Considerations

Buying new software sounds like a grand idea, but it will cost you. The price of manufacturing estimating software usually depends on the deployment model, whether you opt for a subscription or license, users and features.

Cloud deployment is often cheaper and easier to maintain as you don’t need additional hardware and tech support, while on-site may be more convenient if your company is larger. In the same vein, a subscription is more cost-efficient, but a license offers additional flexibility and customization.

The Most Popular Manufacturing Estimating Software

Searching for the right software can feel like looking for a nut in a tub of bolts. We’ve compiled a list of the most popular manufacturing estimating solutions to give you a better idea of what to look for.

Note: These are the most popular CPQ solutions for manufacturing with estimating capabilities, not explicitly the most popular manufacturing estimating software.

Vendavo

Vendavo is a cloud-based platform used to optimize sales cycles with AI-based processes. It gives users insights into win rates, intelligent pricing guidance and profit and margin analyzers. Create proposals, quotes and estimates with 2D or 3D configurations and customizable templates.

Vendavo

Vendavo Quoting Capabilities.

Camos

Camos is a customizable solution that streamlines processes with data insights. Users can auto-generate quotes and estimates using specifically configured components, set prices based on individual clients and calculate costs in real-time. It offers integrations with ERP, PLM, CAD and CRM solutions.

Camos

Camos Product Configuration.

Experlogix

Experlogix is an integrated platform designed to optimize the quote-to-order process with workflows, automation and pricing rules. Build quotes and estimates using existing components and work orders. Automate BOMs from other documentation with product customizations.

Experlogix

Experlogix Product Building.

 

 

Questions To Ask

Before you bust open your piggybank to buy new software, you need a clear idea of your needs. Ask yourself the following question to clarify your requirements:

  • What’s our budget?
  • What features are crucial, and which are skippable?
  • How will the software add value to our existing operations?
  • Will this software meet our future manufacturing needs?
  • Does this software integrate with our current ERP, MES and CRM systems?
  • Are companies similar to our size incorporating manufacturing estimating software?
  • Have our competitors implemented any estimating solutions? How has it helped them?

Manufacturing Estimating Software Key Questions

Next, you need to thoroughly question potential vendors on the specifications of what the software offers. Here are a few questions to ask:

  • How many years of expertise do you have in the industry?
  • Is the software customizable to specific manufacturing workflows?
  • What integrations does the software offer?
  • What are the core strengths of the software?
  • Are there industry-specific templates?
  • How advanced is the BOM and cost estimating?
  • To what extent can the software automate repetitive tasks?

Next Steps

Investing in manufacturing estimating software can be a game changer for your bidding process. If you want to take the next step, a comprehensive needs assessment goes a long way toward making your dream software a reality. Use our free requirements template to help you trim your software shortlist. Good luck!

Product Comparisons

About The Contributors

The following expert team members are responsible for creating, reviewing, and fact checking the accuracy of this content.

Christina
By Christina George
Technical Content Writer
An Associate Editor at SelectHub, Christina George creates and edits articles spanning project management, CPQ, CRM, marketing automation and home health software. As a Bachelor of Arts graduate with a triple major in Economics, Political Science and Sociology, her aim is to bring an integrated and simplified approach to long-form technical content. Formerly a food writer, copywriter, and social media sleuth, she has a soft spot for a quality pun. When not crafting articles and editing buyer's guides, you can find her attempting to score goals on the football field, binge-watching Curb Your Enthusiasm, or re-reading Pride and Prejudice for the nth time.
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Joan
Technical Research By Joan Akash
Senior Analyst
Joan Akash, a Senior Research Analyst at SelectHub, holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management with a specialization in Marketing. Her expertise as a researcher and reviewer spans diverse software categories, including Project Management, Customer Relationship Management, Live Chat, and Help Desk. Beyond her professional pursuits, Joan is spiritually driven, with a passion for teaching children and a penchant for reading biblical blogs and crafting poetry.
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Manan
Technical Review By Manan Roy
Principal Analyst
Manan is a native of Tezpur, Assam (India), who currently lives in Kolkata, West Bengal (India). At SelectHub, he works on categories like CRM, HR, PPM, BI, and EHR. He has a Bachelor of Technology in CSE from The Gandhi Institute of Engineering and Technology, a Master of Technology from The Institute of Engineering and Management IT, and an MBA in Finance from St. Xavier's College. He's published two research papers, one in a conference and the other in a journal, during his Master of Technology.
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Joe
Edited By Joe Evans
Content Editor
Joe Evans is an Editor and Senior Market Analyst at SelectHub. A seasoned professional wordsmith, he has a bachelor's degree in journalism and electronic media and a decade of professional expertise in crafting top-tier digital content for niche online brands. He leads his small yet formidable team in producing helpful, compelling content in vital categories like HR, payroll, talent management, performance management, marketing automation home health, MES. When not editing and writing, he enjoys sports, quality time with family and dogs, and remains constantly in pursuit of something new and interesting to read or listen to.
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