4 Problems of using multiple programs and why an all-in-one software is the best solution
Running a countertop shop is no easy thing, but with all-in-one software, it may get much easier!
You’re balancing a lot of functions and sometimes different people to run each one of them. inventory, quoting, drawings, scheduling, and customer communication—all while trying to get your taxes straight, talk with suppliers, and still manage to make your profit.
Some fabricators rely on separate software programs for each task, thinking it’s the best way to handle everything.
That approach IS GOING TO cause you more trouble as your company grows. You may become more dependent on integration between the tools, and that might become a big problem. Check out this blog post to see other 7 Big problems that may happen to your company when implementing software into your workflow.
So in this week’s topic, we’re gonna show you how the problems that come with using different software can affect your shop, and later on, show you how using only one integrated solution can significantly improve your productivity, reduce wastage, save time, and bring you as many benefits as you can count.
So tag along and let’s start with the problems of using multiple software to do different tasks, and then move on to the advantages of using only one centralized solution.
Problems the shops may have when using multiple software
1. Too much confusion
Using different programs for inventory, quoting, drawings, and scheduling, is like trying to assemble a puzzle where the pieces sometimes don’t fit together – and sometimes there aren’t even pieces.
These systems don’t talk to each other, so you’re left managing each task separately.
For example, let’s say you sell a slab from your inventory. You’ll have to manually update the inventory in one program, adjust the quote in another, and ensure the change reflects your schedule and other software you use. Miss one step, and it can cause chaos!
Imagine how much time your team spends just trying to figure out where information is stored or whether it’s up to date! You and your employees could be spending that time on something that actually makes you money, like fabricating countertops or closing more sales.
2. Wasted time
Switching between multiple software systems is annoying and can reduce your productivity. And even more, if your computer gets slow often. Every extra minute spent logging in and out and opening different programs impacts in how much production you can achieve.
And it’s not just your time that’s wasted; it’s your team’s time too.
Let’s not forget the time spent fixing issues caused by disconnected systems. If a job is delayed, you’ll need to go into each program to adjust schedules, inventory, and quotes. This manual updating makes your day less productive and slows down your ability to respond to customer needs.
And if that is not reason enough, think about the time you spend searching for information in different software. If you’re using only one tool, you don’t have to open another or, even more than one, to find what you need: simply type on the search bar the quote number, the material number, its name, the customer, or any other information you want, and it’ll search the entire system instantly. Another good example is the information about the items on your inventory on the order’s screen, or the orders on the schedule’s screen, etc., all in the same place!
3. More room for mistakes
When you’re using multiple systems, you’re doubling (or tripling) the chances of errors. For instance:
Forget to update your inventory after selling a slab? You might accidentally insert it into another quote or sell it again to another customer.
Input a wrong measurement in your drawing program? It could lead to an expensive re-cut, the waste of a slab, or even losing a project!
Schedule a job in one program but forget to adjust the timeline in another? That could lead to overlapping jobs and angry customers.
Mistakes like these don’t just waste time and money—they damage your reputation among customers and make them angry with you. In the countertop business, word of mouth matters, and too many errors can scare off potential clients.
4. Higher costs
Each software you use comes with its own cost, whether it’s a subscription fee, training expense, or the price of upgrades. And if you’re using or acquiring on multiple tools, those costs add up quickly.
Worse, you might not even be using each program to its full potential, which means you’re paying multiple times for features you don’t need! Spending extra money on software can leave you with less cash to invest in tools, marketing, or hiring skilled workers—things that actually grow your business.
The advantages of having an all-in-one software for everything
1. Save time and money
When using single software solution, you’re cutting time wastage and unnecessary expenses.
Your team can focus on getting work done instead of struggling with different programs that they might have difficulties operating or are resistant to start using.
Eliminating software you don’t need can also help you to save money and and reduce the risk of errors – that will make you lose customers or bring your team a lot of rework.
Moreover, if your business is running in an organized and fluid way, you have more time to focus on growth—whether that’s landing new clients, expanding your services, or streamlining your shop’s operations even further.
For example, with SlabWare, you predefine your entire workflow for both quotes and invoices. This way, as soon as you create your new quotes or invoices, the system will automatically insert your workflow to your schedules, assign each step to the responsible worker, and add the jobs to their schedules.
That is only one example, and you can know more about it in this other blog post.
2. Connection of everything in one place
Now think of the reverse situation: managing your entire business from one single software. Your inventory, quotes, drawings, scheduling, and customer communication are all in the same system!
No more hunting for information in different places or trying to piece together a solution when something changes in one of those programs – when the one that changed doesn’t offer support to the others.
With one system, you can see everything at once.
Need to know how many slabs you have in stock? Done. Want to see where you’re at with a specific job? Easy. This level of organization gives you peace of mind and helps your team stay on the same page.
SlabWare offers all of that for you in the same system and for the BEST price in the market! Start your FREE TRIAL now and see it for yourself by clicking here.
3. Real-time updates
A single software system connects all the parts of your business. So when you change something, it updates everywhere at the same time.
For example, if you sell a slab, the system automatically adjusts your inventory, updates any quotes tied to that slab, and makes sure your schedule reflects the change if you have a project that has that slab attached to it.
This saves you from doing the same task over and over and ensures your information is always accurate!
Plus, real-time updates let you respond to customer requests faster, giving you a fair advantage over other competitors who take more time to answer them.
4. Fewer mistakes
When your entire business runs on one system, there’s less room for error. You’re not copying or rewriting the same data into multiple programs, so you don’t have to worry about inconsistencies or missed updates that might pass unrealized.
For example:
- Measurements entered during quoting are automatically used in your drawings.
- Job schedules automatically adjust when something changes in your quotes or invoices.
- Inventory is instantly updated when a slab is sold, set on hold, used, or remarked as available.
These small improvements can make a huge difference, saving you from mistakes that would cost money or ruin your reputation, and mainly keeping your customers happy. And to prevent that, nothing better than making the work happen before the chaos starts, right? So access SlabWare’s website and schedule a demo with our team!
Don’t let those problems set you behind your competitors!
And don’t forget, if your customers are already angry and unsatisfied with your services, you might be interested in taking a look at this post about 7 Tips to deal with unhappy customers and to make them happier.
Conclusion
If you’re still using multiple software, we suggest you to think again about this topic.
Using a single software for your countertop fabrication business can make everything easier: fewer mistakes, more time saved, less money wasted, and consequently more customers satisfied with your good work.
Take a moment to imagine your business running like a well-oiled machine, with all your tasks connected and simplified. That’s the power of using a single system.
Don’t let outdated, disconnected software hold you back. SlabWare is the most complete tool for your stone business, comprehending all your workflow from the slab purchasing until the accounting post-sales (with our integration with Quickbooks), going through inventory control, customer relationship tools, quoting and invoicing management, drawing and Job Tracker (for shop owners), e-mail and newsletter marketing features, and much more!.
And you will gain also your own website to show your portfolio and materials online! If you want to learn how to make money while you sleep using your SlabWare online shop, you should definitely check that post!
Try the entire system FOR FREE now and see for yourself how if can make your life easier. And to know more about how our software can be inserted into your stone business, schedule a demo with our team now!