How well we generate quotes can make or break a print company. For Digital shops in particular, who process more jobs per day, the longer the delay, the less chance of a sale or happy customer.

Computers and good software has certainly slashed response times. Skilled staff can do more quotes per day, plus there's new tools to manage and track everything.

So, where to from here?

Speedquote shown above is a UK development that's 10 years ahead of it's time. The above video was done in 2007 and the system now includes even more options, more intelligence. It shows what print quoting will be about in another few years time when online systems eventually start to replace more expensive, clunky, support-intensive desktop systems used today.

Quoting Times Indicate your Competence as a Printer

The fact that most printers are refusing to offer online quoting like this is yet nail in the print coffin and one more reason print is in decline. It's giving the industry a bad look. People today want instant results and gratification which is why printers like vistaprint is doing well. Waiting hours or days for pricing simply isn't acceptable for the new generation of print buyers and brokers. Printers that are still locked into this 1990's standard just won't survive.

I'm the same. If a printer, copyshop or mailhouse can't give me a price in under an hour, I often go somewhere else. I view their quote turnaround time as a reflection of their competence generally and any operation that can't do this really shouldn't be in business. Younger people are even less tolerant than me. They expect to get a price online, in seconds. Why most printshop owners don't acknowledge this remains a mystery to me. Still, over time the market will decide, and eventually those operations that can't perform, will disappear. 

Instant, consumer-generated quoting now possible

Good, low cost options are out there. There's superb instant pricing calculators seen on some sites overseas, some like speedquote go further. These calculate costs for both offset and digital presses, even finishing or mailing elements, plus has all the key 'back-end' MIS features that most shops need too. i.e. Generate job bags, delivery dockets, reports, invoices, tracking, stock control, remote access, eCommerce etc. Unlimited customer login accounts means individual discounts or prices are possible too, along with access to previous quotes or jobs. 

To make the transition easier and to cater for those special or complex jobs, processing of normal RFQ's and custom quoting is still included. There will be times when custom quotes are needed, but in my view, this will only apply in 10% of cases if the speedquote system is expertly set up. Speedquote tracks all activities and keeps everyone informed via email, although quotes/invoices may still be posted or faxed out if needed. 

Compared with traditional packages, it's all very affordable, convenient, quick to set up and secure. Around quarter the cost. The above video shows the customer-facing facilities.

To visit the developers website click here

For an examination of the back-end Printshop MIS features, email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Background - Highly automated, self-service quoting, instant pricing tools like this are what successful online printshops worldwide are using to attract and retain thousands of small business customers. It allows them to easily process hundreds of quotes or orders per day, with few staff, and lesser skillsets. Speedquote is the first online system to not only provide instantly pricing, but also include powerful MIS features that printers need to take the order through to a job.

The 'system' uses the same data, calculations and decision process a human estimator with desktop software would use - only more quickly, consistently and reliably AND working 24 hours a day! The powerful eCommerce options (not possible in desktop systems) helps too, allowing payments with order via online visacard, giving cashflow a boost, whilst reducing admin overheads!

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