We all have someone in our lives who absolutely needs to own the latest tech. Whether it’s the newest edition of a particular brand’s smartphone or air-purifying headphones that can play your favorite song by The Police while ensuring every breath you take is a filtered one, these products represent more than an attempt to make life a little more convenient. Owning the latest gadgets becomes a part of this type of person’s identity.
For those of us not so engaged with the latest technology trends, pursuing expensive gizmos can seem a little frivolous – to put it mildly. But like most things, there’s a happy medium between total luddite and newly transformed cybernetic organism.
The middle ground
It’s in this middle ground that most businesses in the window and door manufacturing industry operate. There aren’t too many fully automated facilities run by androids through artificial intelligence in our sector, but neither are there many fenestration manufacturers building door frames with hand tools, using wood from trees they cut down themselves (with an axe, unsharpened, while wearing flannel plaid shirts).
All kidding aside, it’s important for window and door manufacturers to remember two things about technological options: 1) The middle ground is constantly moving toward the increased use of technology; and 2) Being slow to adopt tech as a person is not the same as being slow to adopt tech as a business.
While being a couple generations behind on a perfectly fine smartphone might not have many repercussions (other than annoyingly slow performances after software updates), failing to utilize the latest solutions for shop and plant processes can have severe ramifications for businesses that depend on time and product management to compete. Not only does this lead to falling behind the competition, but it also renders a business unable to take advantage of opportunities when they arise.
Opportunity knocks
In its most recent Industry Pulse update, Window + Door magazine identified 15 areas of opportunity specific to the window and door industry (amid the expected slowdown in the single-family housing market). For each of these 15 opportunities, from improved customer service and quickly reacting to market disruptions to lean manufacturing and process improvements, Soft Tech’s range of software solutions provides manufacturers with exactly what they need to take advantage.
Some of what’s mentioned on the list – like software and automation – is clearly connected to what Soft Tech can do. Our software solutions are designed to enable manufacturers to automate their processes in a cost-effective manner. But there are other opportunities identified in this list that might not seem so clearly connected.
Reduce material costs
For instance, Window + Door includes “reduce material costs” in its list. Soft Tech’s proven platforms can schedule labor and equipment, and seamlessly transfer complex data to cutting machines. The increased accuracy and improved communication this creates means fewer errors and less waste while also ensuring orders are contained to what’s actually needed – all contributing to lower materials costs and an improved cash flow (yet another opportunity Window + Door identified).
Broaden sales area
The magazine also suggests now is the time for manufacturers to “broaden sales areas.” Increasing your reach – both geographically and in product design – requires scaling up your business. There is no better step to achieving this than by moving to automation. We’ve already touched on the accuracy and efficiency this creates, but with Soft Tech’s estimation solutions, it also means you can provide quotes faster to new customers and close more deals. Our software makes estimation easy with common configurations that flawlessly integrate projects to produce accurate quotes every time. With less wait, there’s more time to pursue that next sale – wherever or whatever it may be.
Refine and improve products
To increase sales in new areas, manufacturers will likely have to “refine and improve their products,” another opportunity identified by Window + Door. We’ve already mentioned how Soft Tech enables you to easily set up and configure your CNC, milling and saw machines without the need for manual programming, but our design solutions also seamlessly feed this information into the estimation process to make quoting modified products simple. It also ensures modified or new designs comply with all building standards and regulations, including engineering validation and other state- or country-based regulations. On top of all that, our software also enables manufacturers to quote higher rating products as up-sell alternatives.
Soft Tech is for every door and window manufacturer
Whether you consider your door and window manufacturing business to be fully tech-enabled or in dire need of a solution to keep up with the latest challenges facing the industry, it’s worth going over the Industry Pulse update from Window + Door and seeing which opportunities make sense for your company’s focus. Then, it would be even more worthwhile to connect with a sales representative from Soft Tech by clicking here, and learn exactly how our solutions can assist you in finding a competitive advantage in this area.
Or, if you know exactly what you’re looking for already, take our software for a test spin with Soft Tech’s free trial offer, and see firsthand how our solutions make the most out of your opportunities.
