By Kathlene Vercellino
Hicksville, N.Y.—As pointed out in part one, estimating plays a significant role in a flooring retailer’s success by providing accurate and timely estimates.

Controlling job costs is a major problem that must be managed to ensure profitability, noted Dev O’Reilly, president of RollMaster. “Accurate estimating and effective management of material purchases and labor are equally as important to the dealer’s bottom line. Our software was designed to assist the professional floor covering job estimator in performing rapid, complete and auditable estimates.”

Massoud Shirazian, president of Floor Estimator added, “There are many reasons why estimating software is important to a flooring retailer. In addition to increasing job winning percentage by delivering faster and more accurate figures, it reduces underbidding losses with more efficient estimate and sales processes. It can reduce the cost of labor by optimizing the time it takes to create an appraisal.”

Chris Ogden, president of QFloors, also pointed out that “a good estimating program can effectively assist the owner/manager in training. It does this by providing a visual of the layout including best seam placement and itemized product list. This helps installers and salespeople who have difficulty understanding why additional product may sometimes be needed to provide a desired finished look.”

Over the past few years floor estimating software has become more versatile. With more and more dealers becoming automated, vendors have had to respond to expanding customer and business needs, noted Ogden.

“Estimating software has evolved from floor area calculation tools to more sophisticated products that: optimize the amount of product required to cover a floor surface, calculate the number of carpet cuts and produce floor diagrams,” explained Edgar Aya, president of Comp-U-Floor. “They also have the ability to export their output to Enterprise Business Systems such as Comp-U-Floor where quotes are issued, orders are taken, purchase orders are produced, inventory is allocated and installation is scheduled and managed.”

For Ryan Smith, director of marketing for Avanquest Publishing USA which manufactures MyInvoices & Estimates Deluxe, invoicing and estimating software “has changed over the years by adding e-mail and pdf functionality. Users now have the ability to select and/or batch process their invoices, estimates and statements to customers.”

Over the past few years floor estimating software has become more versatile. With more and more dealers becoming automated, vendors have had to respond to expanding customer and business needs, noted QFloors’ Ogden.

In addition, most programs are more portable than they were a few years back. Whether they are on laptops or handheld devices, retailers are able to calculate total job costs on the showroom floor, at the consumer’s home or wherever they may be.

“Estimating a job has not been easier,” added Shirazian. “Our software runs perfectly on Windows-based laptop or tablet PC. It also has integrated Disto Laser distance meter, so the user can do a hands-free take-off and estimating anywhere. The user can even print out an invoice and get a signature and deposit right on-the-spot.”

The progress of floor estimating software has been tremendous, he concluded. “Looking back at the path that we have taken is very interesting. Estimating software is not a luxury for dealers any more, it is a necessity.”