Requirements checklist
What to ask for when choosing software for glass and façade companies.
A checklist built from how glass and façade companies work, to print or save as a PDF and bring to any supplier meeting.
What the software should cover
Tick each one that matters to your business.
- Glass schedule and cutting list
- Processor order tracking
- Aluminium, ACP and hardware stock
- Installation and breakage log
- Measured stage bills
Roles that need their own access
Who logs in, and what each person may see or change.
- For owners
- For estimators and drafters
- For site supervisors
- For the workshop
- For accounts
Reports to ask for
Ask to see each one with your own sample data.
- Panels by status at each processor, with promised and actual delivery dates
- Glass schedule revisions by project and elevation
- Fixed area by elevation and floor against the contract quantity
- Breakages by stage and cause, with replacement cost
- Profile, gasket and silicone balances by project
- Progress bills raised, retention held and amounts received by builder
- Tenders won, lost and still open by estimator
Systems it may need to connect to
Note which ones you already run.
- SMS
- WhatsApp or other messaging
- Label printer
- Accounting export
Questions for any vendor
Put these to every supplier you are comparing.
- Does it replace the shop drawing software?
- Can a processor update panel status?
- How are breakages handled?
- Can a builder see progress by elevation?
- We fit frames and glass on tall buildings. Is access equipment tracked?
- How does costing work for a project?
- Can our existing glass schedules be loaded?
- What happens to our data if we stop?
- Can we try it on our own work before committing?
- How long before site and workshop use it?
- What do we have to bring from the office?
Where the work usually breaks today
Circle the ones you recognise. They set the order of the project.
- Glass sizes are typed wrongly
- Panel status at the processor is unclear
- Breakages have no recorded cause
- Silicone and gaskets run short mid-job
Prefer to talk it through? See the glass and façade companies page.