Since its introduction, the Internet has changed how customers and businesses interact. In 2018, 69 percent of Americans purchased an item online, but by 2023, an estimated 91 percent of Americans (or 300 million people) will shop online. Compare that to only 26 percent of the small business market currently running an online ecommerce store and there’s great potential for small businesses.

Customers nowadays demand flexibility, reliability and transparency while shopping. Industry-specific, scalable ecommerce software can sit on top of a glass fabricator’s existing A+W ERP system, pull data and display feature-rich graphics that include self-service capabilities for dealers. All of this and more is possible with A+W’s innovative software solution called A+W iQuote.

A+W iQuote gives customers direct control when ordering with real-time visualization of their configured product. Through web-enabled access and a simple, custom, step-by-step user interface, A+W iQuote makes it easy and more convenient for customers and dealers to do business 24/7 on any device from anywhere.

Advantages of A+W iQuote:

1. Visualize real-time, professional, true-to-scale product images while ordering
2. Order products (whether simple or complex, individualized or multiples) via an easy-to-use, intuitive and responsive web interface developed for desktop and mobile devices
3. Expand your business or service existing customers better through a 24/7 real time accessible system
4. Manage and execute all data (e.g., products, prices, and discounts) and calculations directly in your A+W Business ERP system, resulting in a synchronized, real-time web experience
5. Accepted orders are directly synchronized with stocks, allowing you to transfer them quickly and easily to production, eliminating double order entry
6. Host on your servers, third-party servers, or in the cloud.

According to Peter Dixen, A+W’s CEO, “With these business-generating advantages, we are confident this tool can play an essential role in helping your business satisfy market demands.”

Learn more about A+W iQuote for glass, window, and door fabricators at www.a-w.com/us. 

Hypertherm, a U.S.-based manufacturer of industrial cutting systems and software, began low-cost subscription pricing for its ProNest LT CAD/CAM nesting software for light industrial cutting applications. Rather than purchasing the software outright, smaller companies and individuals who have air or conventional plasma and oxyfuel cutting machines can now subscribe to ProNest on a monthly, annual or three-year basis. Subscribers have the freedom to start a subscription, then add or remove users or features when needed.

Hypertherm, a U.S.-based manufacturer of industrial cutting systems and software, began low-cost subscription pricing for its ProNest LT CAD/CAM nesting software for light industrial cutting applications. Rather than purchasing the software outright, smaller companies and individuals who have air or conventional plasma and oxyfuel cutting machines can now subscribe to ProNest on a monthly, annual or three-year basis. Subscribers have the freedom to start a subscription, then add or remove users or features when needed.

HMI Cardinal released the Cardinal360 Integrated Operations System, an integrated order entry and management system. The system fully accommodates the shower enclosure customization process, from order placement to delivery. The order entry system includes a detail-rich configurator, with visuals of the various shower enclosure, hardware and glass options available, to ensure that every detail of the customer’s order is accurately processed. Full parts list and specifications are automatically generated by the Cardinal360 system to ensure unmatched order accuracy.
 

HMI Cardinal released the Cardinal360 Integrated Operations System, an integrated order entry and management system. The system fully accommodates the shower enclosure customization process, from order placement to delivery. The order entry system includes a detail-rich configurator, with visuals of the various shower enclosure, hardware and glass options available, to ensure that every detail of the customer’s order is accurately processed. Full parts list and specifications are automatically generated by the Cardinal360 system to ensure unmatched order accuracy.
 

Faro Technologies’ BuildIT Construction 2019.5 software now provides faster, more reliable and customizable importing of design models from scan data, according to the company. With several developments, users can conduct accelerated and precise onsite analytics for quality assurance specifications. Users can get results 90 percent faster than with previous versions, according to officials. Customizable and additional file formats have been included for importing design models from scan data

Faro Technologies’ BuildIT Construction 2019.5 software now provides faster, more reliable and customizable importing of design models from scan data, according to the company. With several developments, users can conduct accelerated and precise onsite analytics for quality assurance specifications. Users can get results 90 percent faster than with previous versions, according to officials. Customizable and additional file formats have been included for importing design models from scan data

Mainstreet Computers offers glass industry clients a range of web services, including social media integration into its custom-built websites, as well as social media management. “The glass industry is very competitive and by ensuring a strong online presence you make yourself more visible, build your brand, and reach a further demographic,” says Diane Staples, sales representative, Mainstreet Computers.

The company provides custom-built websites with SEO coding that can incorporate social media links. Mainstreet integrates social media links on the client’s website that will then take the viewer to the company’s social media platform. “Most people use some form of social media,” says Staples. “By adding [the client’s] link on their website, it gives more credibility and a more personal look into their business.”

Staples says the company identified the need to integrate social media links to provide another means of accessing their business. “We found that many of the prospective clients we spoke with used Facebook as their primary means of online advertising but were not getting the opportunities they hoped for. We saw integrating their social media sites provided a secondary access into their business platform,” says Staples.

In addition to connecting a client’s social media sites to their websites, Mainstreet will also manage the client’s platforms, including Facebook and LinkedIn, among others. “Our team will create daily posts, manage the accounts and give them the professional, current image they need for their business. We can also manage paid ads on social media platforms for clients who are looking for a little boost in their presence,” says Staples. 

As part of their management service, the Mainstreet team will monitor incoming comments on platforms, and provide monthly reporting. Posts can be customized based on the information supplied by clients. 
 

Mainstreet Computers offers glass industry clients a range of web services, including social media integration into its custom-built websites, as well as social media management. “The glass industry is very competitive and by ensuring a strong online presence you make yourself more visible, build your brand, and reach a further demographic,” says Diane Staples, sales representative, Mainstreet Computers.

The company provides custom-built websites with SEO coding that can incorporate social media links. Mainstreet integrates social media links on the client’s website that will then take the viewer to the company’s social media platform. “Most people use some form of social media,” says Staples. “By adding [the client’s] link on their website, it gives more credibility and a more personal look into their business.”

Staples says the company identified the need to integrate social media links to provide another means of accessing their business. “We found that many of the prospective clients we spoke with used Facebook as their primary means of online advertising but were not getting the opportunities they hoped for. We saw integrating their social media sites provided a secondary access into their business platform,” says Staples.

In addition to connecting a client’s social media sites to their websites, Mainstreet will also manage the client’s platforms, including Facebook and LinkedIn, among others. “Our team will create daily posts, manage the accounts and give them the professional, current image they need for their business. We can also manage paid ads on social media platforms for clients who are looking for a little boost in their presence,” says Staples. 

As part of their management service, the Mainstreet team will monitor incoming comments on platforms, and provide monthly reporting. Posts can be customized based on the information supplied by clients. 
 

Mainstreet Computers offers glass industry clients a range of web services, including social media integration into its custom-built websites, as well as social media management. The company provides custom-built websites with SEO coding that can incorporate social media links. Mainstreet integrates social media links on the client’s website that will then take the viewer to the company’s social media platform.