QuoteWerks - A great small business quoting solution
July 29, 2014
QuoteWerks - A great small business quoting solution
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Software Version
V 4.9
Modules Used
- All
Overall Satisfaction with QuoteWerks
QW is used by our entire sales department to quote product and to fulfill orders. Having come from an Excel based quoting system, we have decreased our pricing mistakes dramatically and improved the look of our quotes.
- QW produces a very "finished" looking quote to the end customer.
- It allows everyone in the organization to have access to each others quotes for consistency.
- Because QW integrates with our CRM (ACT! 2016), we are able to better track our opportunities and follow up on open leads.
- The data structure that is required to set up the "price books" behind the scenes is a little cumbersome until you learn how to do it and practice.
- The sync function for the data is sometimes a little slow in the Standard and Professional editions because of the Access back-end. The Corporate edition uses a MS SQL back-end and is better.
- Decreased pricing errors
- Increased positive customer image
- Quicker quote generation
- Better employee efficiency
- Quote Writer
Although Quote Writer is a much more robust solution, it is also much more expensive. QuoteWerks is the ideal solution for the small to medium sized sales organization who wants to increase efficiencies and image.
Using QuoteWerks
10 - Outside sales, inside sales support, and sales management.
2 - There are no special skills needed to learn how to do the pricing function and maintenance. It just takes practice.
- Improved image
- Decrease in pricing errors
- Improved efficiences for the sales staff
- We have been able to easily create duplicate quotes for multiple vendors
- Allows us to easily track past pricing for customers
- We are not taking full advantage of the QuickBoooks integration
- We need to utilize the configurator function more fully
Evaluating QuoteWerks and Competitors
Yes - We were using an Excel based quote that left a lot of inconsistencies in the pricing and the image.
- Price
- Product Features
- Product Usability
QuoteWerks gave us the most features and usability at a price we could afford.
I probably would not change anything.
QuoteWerks Implementation
- Implemented in-house
Yes - We developed the data structure, and then adapted our existing data sources to integrate into to it. We developed the templates and forms. We rolled it out to the field, after doing group and one-on-one training.
Change management was a big part of the implementation and was well-handled - Different levels of buy in by the employees. Some didn't want to change, but most welcomed it because QW is less labor intensive.
- Administrator education and training
- Complex manual and lack of additional traininmg sources (although that has changed)
- Time to commit to the process
QuoteWerks Training
- Online training
- In-person training
- Self-taught
I do not recommend this route. There are a lot of good online videos now. Utilize them for all they are worth.
Configuring QuoteWerks
Lock it down for everyone initially, and then loosen up as you deterrmine who the power users are.
Yes - we have customized the interface extensively - It is not hard at all to make changes
No - we have not done any custom code - We have not had the need to have any custom code written
This is a very flexible program, and it is designed to do as little or as much as you want.
QuoteWerks Support
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Quick Resolution Good followup Knowledgeable team Problems get solved Kept well informed No escalation required Immediate help available Support understands my problem Support cares about my success Quick Initial Response | None |
No - The email support is great. !
Yes - They are always quick to issue patches and fixes.
When we were setting up our data, we kept having a formattinmg problem. Support tried to help us walk through it ourselves without success. It was as frustrating to them as it was to us. They finally had us upload the data to them and they fixed it overnight at no charge to us.
Using QuoteWerks
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Like to use Relatively simple Easy to use Technical support not required Well integrated Consistent Quick to learn Convenient Feel confident using | Lots to learn |
- Intregration with ACT! is perfect
- The ability to create different templates and forms for customer needs is great.
- The shortcuts are very intuitive.
- Setting up data formatting can be difficult until you practice it.
- The sync process is very "clunky"
- Pushing updates out to the field is difficult
Yes, but I don't use it - There is a Quote Valet Mobile ap, but we don't use it.
QuoteWerks Reliability
Integrating QuoteWerks
- ACT!
- Outlook
The integration is seamless, and is very easy to set up.
- I would like to see it integrate with Swiftpage or constant contact to allow automated follow up
Not sure.
- File import/export
Don't let this be a stand-alone product. Take advantage of using one of the supported CRM packages that it will integrate with.
Relationship with Aspire Techologies
Theree was not really anything to negotiate here.
Make sure that you give them a complete picture of your expectations. They are very open about what they can and can't do.
Upgrading QuoteWerks
Yes - The updates are fairly regualr from QW, and just require a few minutes per computer to roll out
- Increased stability
- Added Features
- bug fixes
- Increased stability
- added features
- bug fixes
Yes - Increased features and ease of administrration and field pushes