Requirements checklist
What to ask for when choosing software for windows and doors companies.
A checklist built from how windows and doors 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.
- Opening-wise measurement sheet
- Quotation by size and series
- Cutting list and glass order
- Section issue and offcuts
- Site readiness and installation schedule
- Snag list and final payment
- Showroom enquiries and samples
Roles that need their own access
Who logs in, and what each person may see or change.
- For owners
- For sales and the showroom
- For surveyors
- For the factory and store
- For installation crews
Reports to ask for
Ask to see each one with your own sample data.
- Openings by stage: surveyed, final size, cut, glazed, fixed, handed over
- Quotations still open, won or lost, by series and customer
- Glass orders placed, received and short, by supplier
- Section lengths issued and offcuts returned, by series and project
- Sites held for readiness, with days lost per project
- Snags open by opening, fitter and age
- Balances due by project, with the amount held by open snags
Systems it may need to connect to
Note which ones you already run.
- Glass supplier order files
- Cutting and optimisation software
- WhatsApp or other messaging
- SMS
- Card and payment gateway
- Accounting export
Questions for any vendor
Put these to every supplier you are comparing.
- Does it replace our cutting and optimisation software?
- What happens when the final size differs from the survey?
- Can a quotation list every lock, stay and mesh panel?
- How are glass orders sent to the supplier?
- Can fitters use it on site without a signal?
- How do we stop the balance being held for one snag?
- Is an old measurement sheet reusable for a repeat customer?
- Does it keep warranty details for each opening?
- Will open projects and balances move across from our files?
- Can we see it working before we choose?
- How soon could the showroom quote from it?
- What do the showroom and workshop bring along?
Where the work usually breaks today
Circle the ones you recognise. They set the order of the project.
- The window does not fit
- Glass comes back short
- Hardware is never priced
- Crews reach sites that are not ready
- Balance payments linger
Prefer to talk it through? See the windows and doors companies page.