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Parts or kits can be dragged and dropped, and gross profit margin and markup can be done on a per-part basis or globally.
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An entire suite of software called WeSuite has been developed that can help security dealers and systems integrators estimate, inventory, support, manage and soon budget their projects.
John Nemerofsky, managing partner of WeSuite LLC, Trevose, Pa., realized the need for estimating software when he saw that salespeople for the companies he was visiting as president of TSS International, Trevose, Pa., an executive search and consulting firm, were using different software programs.
“If the company logo wasn’t on there, all the proposals looked different,” Nemerofsky noticed.
So the WeEsimate software was created and followed by WeInventory, WeSupport, WeManage, and in September, by WeBudget.
Besides introducing consistency to the format of estimates, the WeEstimate software also can standardize the cost estimates, such as how many hours to allot to a specific task in the estimate.
“WeEstimate locks in the costs, locks in the budgeting and gives them a focused view of how a project should run,” Nemerofsky maintains. “This system keeps everybody consistent and keeps the company profitable.”
It uses a single-source database and can e-mail the estimate as soon as it is completed.
A variety of reporting data for managers also is available. Reports can be prepared comparing sales by customer, quotes per manufacturer, lost jobs, outstanding quotations and more. “Whatever report you can dream up can be created,” Nemerofsky insists.
The software integrates with third-party financial reporting and purchasing software and is Microsoft Sequel server-based. The WeInventory software provides an accurate cost for components that are in stock.
“You can look at what is in inventory, including truck stock, as well as in warehouses,” Nemerofsky points out. “This gives you the ability to sell it for what you bought it for. Many integrators keep ordering products they already have on their warehouse shelves.”
This happens because when a salesperson produces an estimate without WeSuite, he or she does not have a quick and efficient method of determining what parts already are in inventory.
Project managers using WeManage software benefit from accurate labor, fabrication and installation cost estimates and more.
“So they know what their budget looks like, and this can help a project manager run a job more efficiently, bill the job more quickly and make the company more efficient and profitable,” Nemerofsky explains.
“WeSupport is your service module — you log the service calls, you understand the terms and conditions for each client, you can do a parts search, you know if you have that part in inventory,” he relates. “You can create new work tickets, manage your professional services, e-mail customers as soon as you’re finished, and you can e-mail them the invoice. You can run reports on each technician to see how many calls they completed in a day.”
Sam Vinicur, WeSuite’s vice president, emphasizes for whom this software is designed. “This is really from the viewpoint of the integrator,” Vinicur stresses. “Most of these packages in the past have come out of a financial package, which is a more difficult way for salespeople to look at it.”
When using WeSuite programs, such as WeEstimate, for example:
Contacts can be dragged and dropped from Outlook and will auto-populate an estimate instead of being rekeyed.
Packages for groups of products customers buy frequently, such as badging materials, can be set up.
Equipment lists are imported from the manufacturer by WeSuite. Companies a dealer or integrator does not have a relationship with can be eliminated.
As a job is estimated, running totals of costs, gross profit and other financials are updated with each change.
A markup can be calculated on an overall project and on separate parts.
Subcontractors can be listed on the estimate forms.
Custom templates can be set up for specific repeat customers.
Logos can be inserted in estimates, which are converted to pdfs before being e-mailed to customers.
“We’ve had some unbelievable feedback from integrators and manufacturers on it and how it’s helping their business,” Nemerofsky says of WeSuite. “We’re helping them with their processes, and this software helps them become more efficient and profitable.”
For information, visit www.wesuite.com.
