DBs Boosts Fabrique's Performance

AS FEATURED IN WFA MAGAZINE

Implementation of Drape and Blind Software (DBs) by window furnishings firm Fabrique has accelerated the company's quoting and improved overall business performance.

A family business established 22 years ago, Fabrique supplies and installs blinds, curtains, shutters, and awnings. Specialising in motorization, the company represents leading brands in the window coverings industry. It has worked on a number of high profile projects, such as the University of Tasmania's Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) and, also in Tasmania, the renowned Museum of Old and New Art (MONA).

While the company clearly has a well-established track record, Fabrique managing director Giuseppe Mampieri says he has noted a marked uplift in its performance, particularly in the area of quoting and customer service, since implementing Drape and Blind Software (DBs).

The company chose DBs' standard package, along with the laptop/tablet version, Mampieri confirms. "I had been searching for some time for an industry-specific software that would cater to all my needs. I needed a program that would cater for both blinds and curtains without too many restrictions. DBs ticked all the boxes and more."

Mampieri was intending to address a number of specific needs through the software's implementation. "I wanted to streamline the business by maximising efficiency, minimising and to a degree eliminating mistakes, keeping track of my customers and quotes and being able to complete complex quotes in minutes. I also wanted the ability to ascertain profit margins, cost of goods and a lot of the useful information any business owner needs to know at the touch of a button, which often is a very labour intensive process."

"Overall our goal was to also reduce quoting errors and minimise the paperwork attached to each job, and I wanted software that would integrate with our accounting software."

Having seen Drape and Blind Software advertised in WFA, Mampieri contacted DBs for a demonstration and was impressed with the results. The company installed DBs in September last year and has noted dramatic improvements to core operations since then.

"DBs has completely improved my business, we can get a quote to the customer within minutes," says Mampieri. "I also like the fact that if the customer changes their mind by choosing a different fabric or product, it is a very easy and fast process to requote and e-mail the new quote."

He adds that as the software integrates with many accounting packages, it also eliminates the need to re-enter customer payments and details for invoicing and accounting purposes.

"The biggest change and improvement to Fabrique's operations would have to be the speed with which we get quotes done, and the confidence of our staff that they can produce a quote and email it out to the customer within minutes."

"DBs has vastly improved our quoting procedure and has reduced quoting times considerably. It seamlessly generates orders, making and installer sheets at the same time as generating the quote, so there is no double handling. The key advantage is that you can be sure that each job is profitable before you issue the quote to the customer because the system allows you to quickly visualise your margins. DBs also keeps track of customers, providing quote and job details from one central point.

"Unlike many software packages on the market, DBs can also be adapted to any business' individual needs. It encompasses every possible aspect of custom made blinds, curtains or external products. Most importantly, the customer service the DBs team offers is "second to none," Mampieri says.

"They are always helpful and the support they provide is outstanding. They also listen to retailers' needs, which means the software is always developing and improving to suit the window furnishings industry's needs."

"DBs has allowed my business to grow, it has been one of the most useful, productive and simply the smartest investment I have made in future proofing my business."