Best Sales Quoting Software
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PRODUCTS
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BUYER'S GUIDE
Buyer's Guide
By Christina George, Technical Content Writer at SelectHub
When Arthur Miller wrote Death of a Salesman in 1948, he couldn’t have fathomed the role of technology in sales today (and its Broadway revival). Although the stereotypical salesperson has perhaps faced a type of death, they now have access to CPQ and CRM software to streamline processes. Sales quoting software is another boon to sales representatives and smaller businesses.
Buckle up as we take you through sales quoting software, how it can help your business, features to look out for and the most popular solutions.
Executive Summary
- An integral part of the quote-to-cash process, sales quoting software helps small businesses shorten sales cycles and streamline workflows.
- Users can access templates, catalogs and rule-based pricing calculations to speed up proposal and quote creation.
- It’s important to look for software with centralized information, easily accessible and reusable content and integration with solutions you currently use.
What Is Sales Quoting Software?
Sales quoting software is a suite of tools that makes it easier to create and send quotes and proposals to potential clients. It’s ideal for smaller businesses that may not need a CPQ solution with all the bells and whistles.
Losing a sale due to slow responses isn’t as uncommon as you’d think. Sales quoting software provides workflow processes and centralized information so you can get back to customers sooner than you can say supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
Primary Benefits
Although implementing new sales quoting software in your business won’t be as easy as saying abracadabra. It can work magic for your sales processes. Nix using tedious spreadsheets and sorting through an unorganized potpourri of information. Here’s how!
Shorter Sales Cycles
Imagine your sales reps need to manually update prices and products and pull that information when creating quotes and proposals. Sounds pretty time-consuming, doesn’t it? A centralized database, automation and integrations help users create and update quotes and turn them into orders.
Fewer Errors
Making mistakes is a part of life, but you don’t want those slip-ups to show up while sending pricing information to clients. A single repository with real-time pricing and product information, prompts or alerts when filling out forms, and rule-based calculations means you’re not sending out an invoice that will put you in the red.
Additional Compliance
Sales quoting software takes your client from a lead to viewing quotes and signing contracts. Encrypted data and information, role-based access and carefully stored information ensure everything is up to scratch regarding internal and external policies.
Better Workflows
Just like Google Maps (often) shows you the best way to get from A to B, proper workflows provide you with the most efficient route from lead to deal. Approval management with pre-set triggers, limits and automated reminders ensure turnaround times are quicker and quotes are more accurate.
Key Features & Functionality
Customizable Templates | Unlike high-stakes cooking shows, you don’t need to start from scratch when you whip up a quote. Choose from multiple proposal, quote and invoice templates you can customize with your branding. Certain vendors allow you to request a fully custom template if you have niche requirements. |
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Approval Management | Waiting on emails, dealing with back-and-forth responses and following up on prices can be time-consuming. Automate prompts and reminders when a supervisor needs to sign off on a quote. Track quote history and view an audit log to ensure approval authorization. |
Product Catalog | Manually updating prices and products is not where it’s at. Access real-time information on prices and products, so you’re consistently sending up-to-date quotes to clients. |
Rule-based Calculations | How do you know if the price is right? Use rule-based calculations to set prices, discounts and taxes seamlessly. Stick to pre-set margins and alert higher-ups if an exception is necessary. |
Third-party Integrations | No solution is an island. Integrate sales quoting software with your CRM, payment and e-commerce software for better workflows and less time spent switching between apps and data entry. |
eSignature | Signed, sealed, delivered, the sale is yours with eSignatures. Specify who needs to sign and where on quotes, proposals and invoices. Ensure eSignatures are legally binding and secure. |
Reporting and Analysis | Want to know what sales closed, which quotes were successful and why? Access insights on customers and transactions so you can make decisions backed by data analysis. |
Software Comparison Strategy
The right sales quoting solution can make your life much easier. However, you’ve got to know what you’re looking for. Keep an eye out for the following factors, so you don’t end up on the receiving end of a bad sale.
Centralized Database
Don’t underestimate the convenience of accessing information when needed instead of searching through multiple spreadsheets and sources. Look for a solution that provides a centralized repository of up-to-date pricing, past orders and documents.
Integration
Before you buy, check to see what integrations are available. You don’t want to change your payment solution or switch to a new e-commerce system because your new sales quoting software isn’t compatible.
Security
Sales quoting software can act like an all-in-one solution for smaller businesses. It handles a variety of tasks, including some that require confidential information. Ensure a secure database and adequate security measures to keep your data safe.
Cost & Pricing Considerations
Purchasing a new solution can seem like an expensive venture, but it doesn’t have to be.
Pay careful attention to the features you’ll need at your business. If you’re a smaller business without many solutions at your disposal, you may want to spring for a more comprehensive package with additional software integrations. Although it might be a bit pricier per month, it could save money in the long run as you don’t have to pay for individual software separately.
Choosing a pay per user, per month model versus purchasing licensing can also be more economical for a smaller setup. Assuming you don’t have a huge team that all needs access, of course.
The Most Popular Sales Quoting Software
The hunt for sales quoting software can be akin to looking for the Holy Grail. We’ve compiled some of the most popular solutions to give you a starting point.
Note: These are the most popular CPQ solutions with sales quoting capabilities, not explicitly the most popular sales quoting software overall.
PandaDoc
PandaDoc is an automated solution for easy document management. It helps users with insights, workflows and streamlined processes for efficient sales experiences. An extremely user-friendly UX, eSignatures and integrations are some standout features.
FastSpring
FastSpring is a full-service e-commerce platform. Increase efficiency and streamline digital selling with its unified dashboard that facilitates integrations, risk management and financial compliance services. Create interactive quotes that contain real-time analytics, payments and eSignatures.
Better Proposals
Better Proposals is an integrated platform designed to streamline professional proposal creation. Customize templates, create pricing tables and optimize workflows with integrations. Multi-party eSignatures, a secure paywall and encrypted web links complete the sales cycle.
Questions To Ask
Implementing new software is bound to shake things up for employees process-wise. It’s best to understand exactly what you’re getting into. Asking the following questions internally will help give you a better idea of your needs:
- What are our business requirements?
- What’s our budget?
- What features are crucial and which can we skip?
- How will the software add value to our existing operations?
- Will this software meet our future needs?
- Does this software integrate with current systems?
- Are companies similar to our size incorporating sales quoting software?
- Have our competitors implemented any quoting solutions? How has it helped them?
Best practices when purchasing software include asking vendors a gazillion questions. It makes it much easier to weed out incompatible products. Here are some questions you should get answers to before you sign on the dotted line:
- Do you offer migration or implementation support?
- What features do you include in the basic plan and what payment plans do you offer?
- How many line items are in a standard quote template?
- What kind of API do you use?
- Are there any hidden costs or add-ons?
- What kind of training and support do you offer?
- Are there industry-specific templates?
In Conclusion
The road from prospect to orders closed can be long and winding. Sales quoting software might just be the golden ticket you need to speed up sales cycles and close the gap with your competitors.
We hope this article helped you better understand sales quoting software so that you can decide on the best solution for your business.
Our free comparison report is a good next step to match leading vendors with your specific needs.
Products found for Sales Quoting Software
Jobber
Jobber is a cloud-based solution for field service professionals to manage operations and resources, offer customer support and expand business through features like real-time scheduling and dispatching, invoice creation and billing, quoting and expense tracking, integrated CRM, customizable automated workflows and more. Automated quotation helps close deals faster by delivering quick, accurate and professional quotes to clients via text, with a follow-up option. Users can personalize proposals by adding brand-centric product visualizations to customizable templates. Streamline quotation processes by leveraging one-click conversion, batch invoicing and on-site assessment offerings. Supporting small- to mid-sized businesses in over 50 service industries, it ensures seamless and efficient operations in a fast-moving industry, minimizing costs and maximizing resource utilization.
PandaDoc
PandaDoc is an automated solution for easy documentation that offers insights, easy workflows and a fast, seamless buying experience. It allows teams to get more deals, create documents and be more predictable. Automated legal binding of eSignatures and its API ensures security, convenience and easy operations. Users can replicate the approval process by sending, creating and tracking documents such as proposals, quotes, contracts, forms and more. Integrations are available with Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Zoho, Copper and more.
FPX
FPX is a cloud-based solution to configure quotations for manufacturing equipment. It offers a purpose-built selling engine, domain expertise, collaborative selling and quoting, rapid deployment, and fast ROI. Users can minimize sales cycles, create accurate orders and quotations, and increase operational efficiency. It extends a selling cloud, product selector, configuration and pricing, project management, and business intelligence. It caters to both fluid handling equipment and mechanical equipment.
Pros
PROS is an integrated solution that offers intelligence for commerce. It provides robust product catalogs, performance quote management, sales insights, market segmentation and customer-specific price optimization. Product and service configurations, streamlined agreements, omnichannel price management and real-time price delivery are some of its notable offerings. Users can engage with customers and sell personalized offerings using AI-powered technology. It provides a dedicated mix of CRM, eCommerce and an API for operational improvement.
Conga
Conga is a cloud-based contract management, document generation and revenue management solution. Its Configure Price Quote (CPQ) module powers e-commerce by providing accurate pricing quotes with up-to-date product information. Business teams can create custom commercial documents and share them with others for online collaboration. It helps shorten contract lifecycles through automation of contract authoring, approvals and collaboration workflows.Salesforce teams can issue contract requests for approval, e-signature and subsequent housing in its document repository. In addition to streamlining processes from initial order placing to provisioning and delivery, it helps automate billing and invoice management for products, subscriptions and services.
Zuora
Zuora is a cloud-based solution specifically made for companies that provide a subscription service or product to help them manage their finances. It serves customers in sectors such as media, communication, healthcare and B2C.It enables users to automate processes with the unique needs of subscription-centered operations in mind. Due to its support of a range of currencies and a variety of payment methods, it can be used by international companies. It also tracks KPIs such as Total Contracted Billing and Total Contracted Value and provides users with visualizations of important insights to further business development.
FastSpring
FastSpring is a SaaS deployed, full-service ecommerce platform that helps businesses sell digitally. It offers integrations, risk management, financial compliance services and more through a unified dashboard. It extends an easy-to-install and globally accessible payment gateway and assists in subscription management, billing, tax and VAT collection. It accepts over 20 currencies and supports more than 15 languages.Users can increase efficiency, eliminate complexity and risks, and increase revenue by an estimated 40%. Additionally, it supports selling SaaS-enabled technologies through automated billing and dunning management. Its branded checkout experience helps reduce the cart abandonment rate.
Salesforce CPQ
Salesforce CPQ is a cloud-based platform designed to give the most accurate price quote with any product configuration scenario. It simplifies the complex process of navigating price quotes through options and availability. Empower service providers and administrators with complete visibility into customer payment plans and easy, accessible setup.
Qwilr
Qwilr is a proposal solution that offers easy document processing with automation, esignatures and integrations with technologies like Salesforce, Hubspot, Slack and Xero. It visually represents documents, making it easy to create and design proposals, quotes, client updates and more. It provides an extensive image and video library, pre-built design templates, custom subdomains and brand-specific fonts and colors. It simplifies communications and ensures easy operation through automated engagement tracking and payments. Editable quotes and an interactive dashboard provide a flexible customer experience.
QuoteWerks
QuoteWerks is a web-based platform that streamlines quotes and proposal generation for companies of all sizes and industries. To enhance efficiency, it integrates with many CRM, accounting, shipping, vendor, distributor, payment gateway and leasing platforms. It offers real-time pricing, warehouse availability, product descriptions and images, electronic order submissions and more.
Better Proposals
Better Proposals is an integrated platform that streamlines and speeds up professional proposal creation. Simplified templates, combined with digital multi-party signatures and a secure paywall, help procure business quicker. Its other aspects include real-time follow-up, project management, web automation and more. Users can personalize and recycle proposals, and select custom domains by adding the company content, logo or fonts to deliver a consistent client experience. Designed particularly for small and medium enterprises, it’s well-suited for a wide range of industries.
Quoter
Quoter, a cloud-based system, helps close deals faster by automating the processes of creating professional proposals. It ensures seamless workflows through integrations with CRMs, PSAs, billing methods, email marketing and more. An easy-to-use interface allows businesses to regulate templates according to variables and reuse them, minimizing time and increasing quotation volume.Designed for technology service providers of all sizes, it ensures flexibility. All pricing plans accommodate unlimited users, with an onboarding fee.
ResponsiBid
Responsibid is an AI-based tool that helps organize quotation processes by providing instant, precise quotes. Designed to generate quotes via in-person interaction, mobile devices and websites, it allows users to eliminate bottlenecks and develop leads on the go.It syncs with Google Calendar and automates sales through online purchasing and follow-up options. Video and CRM integrations help users create personalized proposals to close more deals. Workers can track closing rates, average ticket price, lead sources and more. It offers customizations for business-specific optimization.
Vendavo
Vendavo is a cloud-based platform that assists B2B enterprises by steering them towards an ecommerce-driven approach to optimizing prices and profits. AI-enabled processes help deliver product configurations, real-time business insights, increased win rates and more. It ensures an enhanced customer experience by applying intelligent pricing guidance as per global parameters. It offers a profit analyzer, margin bridge analyzer, deal price guidance and business risk alerts.Users can implement 2D and 3D visualizations to create extensive proposals compatible with business needs. It’s suitable for businesses with complex operations, and multiple offerings and pricing strategies.
Camos
Camos is a customizable solution for streamlining sales processes by providing relevant and accurate data. It acts as a buffer between an organization and its clients by configuring offerings as per requirements. Users can seamlessly integrate with existing work infrastructures to allow bi-directional data exchange for a consistent workflow across all their technologies. It provides quick quote generations and accurate price calculations, and delivers a digitalized distribution process right from development to lifecycle forecast.
Zilliant
Zilliant is a cloud-based platform that streamlines pricing and sales processes for B2B companies. It helps manage inventory, deals, campaigns and more, empowering businesses to get strategic leads. Real-time market pricing extracts data from varied sources to deliver optimized prices as per industry standards.Integration via native connectors ensures shorter implementation time and more coordinated workflows. With unlimited virtual scalability, it’s suitable for manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers looking to automate delivery of diverse offerings with complex pricing structures.
Experlogix
Experlogix is an integrated solution for product configuration and automating the quote-to-order fulfillment process. Users can streamline operations and simplify order processes by implementing approval workflows and creating pricing rules.It allows users to complete complex configurations and visualize modifications without programming. Implementation can be on-premises or cloud-based. It integrates with ERP and CRM platforms, including Microsoft Dynamics, Salesforce and NetSuite.
SAP CPQ
SAP CPQ is a cloud-based solution designed to streamline quote fulfillment and eliminate pricing errors. Users can configure products by using step-by-step selection and defining product rules. It enables customers to view product modifications and place orders.Sales representatives can generate and update quotes using any internet-accessible device. Ideal for omnichannel selling, the AI-powered tech automates and generates upsell and cross-sell options. It integrates with various CRM and ERP systems and is available in multiple languages and currencies.
Cincom
Cincom is a cloud-based platform that provides flexible sales automation and price configuration, embedded in Microsoft Dynamics 365. It allows businesses to adapt to market changes through continuous updates. Real-time pricing and quoting options help create instant proposals, eliminating pricing errors.An easy-to-implement and user-friendly interface enables smooth onboarding for new sales reps. Native integration with Dynamics CRM empowers businesses to create branded, error-free documents for a consistent customer buying experience. Front-end and back-end customizations are available.
Verenia
Verenia is a cloud-based module native to NetSuite that helps businesses increase sales by creating quick and accurate quotes. Designed to cater to manufacturing's specific needs, it enables users to configure complex products by providing a well-rounded, 3D view. It offers real-time updates on industry trends with the latest information to ensure guided selling and ordering.Users can opt for built-in or external CRM and ecommerce integrations, tweak the customizable interface to fit organization requirements and leverage the built-in forecasting and follow-up inclusions to drive sales.
Configure One
Configure One is a web-based price quoting software designed to simplify and speed up the sales configuring process. It uses visualization and CAD functions to display prospective product configurations to customers. Users can integrate data with CRM and ERP systems. It also features a comprehensive data overview and rules-based programming for management.
Tacton
Tacton is an automated solution that boosts and accelerates sales with quick quote generation, extensive brand-centric proposals and streamlined operational tasks. It configures offerings for sales reps and customers according to specific requirements, reducing sales cycles and ensuring high win rates. Design automation minimizes errors and reduces time spent on repetitive modeling when generating documents, drawings and 3D CAD models. Users can leverage integrations with CRMs and ERPs for smoother workflows.
Oracle CPQ
Oracle CPQ is a cloud-based platform that provides optimizations for creating, customizing and finalizing purchase orders for medium to large-scale businesses. It empowers teams to generate comprehensive proposals, contracts and custom-branded documents. Its built-in intelligence offers automated, intuitive and real-time configurations that enable sales teams to determine customer needs and close deals faster.It offers guided pathways that accommodate dynamic industry trends to deliver the optimal product mix. Users can access it from any device for real-time interaction with customers. It also includes language flexibility, end-to-end integration, e-signature and more.
Pricefx
Pricefx is a cloud-optimized solution that provides necessary inclusions for creating an optimal pricing strategy. It offers a 360-degree view of pricing plans, segmented price lists, quick calculations, simulation checks and more. AI-powered sales insights deliver actionable intelligence as per industry and company standards, reducing sales cycles and increasing quote win rates.Integrations with legacy connectors and the ability to pull data in any format ensure consolidated, comprehensive data visibility and processes. Users can access advanced analytics via classified dashboards and an easy-to-use interface.
Infor CPQ
Infor CPQ is a cloud-based software that aims to enhance the customer quote experience through visuals. The visuals are incorporated in every step of the process, from interest generation to quote capturing. During the configuration process, sales employees can refer to a generated product image based on selected options.
Powertrak
Powertrak is a cloud-based software designed to streamline quote configuring. It maximizes efficiency by tailoring the program specific to a company. It offers advanced visualization and virtual reality imaging to better aid customers’ understanding of products. Users can create mockups and demonstrate prospective products throughout the quote process.
Involve.me
Involve.me is a well-known application that ranks 61 among all Customer Experience Software according to our research analysts and 55 crowd-sourced reviews from 1 source. Starting from $19, Involve.me is priced lower than average, has offered a free trial in the past and is most applicable for businesses large and small. Involve.me can be deployed in the cloud.
Conga CPQ
Conga CPQ is a cloud-based platform designed to increase sales by leveraging AI and acting as a guided sales coach. Users can insert their data and customize the sales processes from several models to create a unique quoting and purchasing experience.
Apparound
Apparound is a popular platform that ranks 31 among all CPQ Software according to our research analysts and 11 crowd-sourced reviews from 1 source. Apparound is most fitting for companies large and small. Apparound can be deployed online and on-premise and is accessible from a limited number of platforms including Windows and Linux devices.
servicePath
ServicePath is a platform designed to simplify complex price quotes with automated workflows. Centralized tools ensure accurate, fast quotes and monitor client contracts and renewals. Easy-to-use setup screens and audit logs keep management in the hands of system administrators.
Excel-to-Word Document Automation
Excel-to-Word Document Automation is a well-known solution that ranks 33 among all CPQ Software according to our research analysts and 32 crowd-sourced reviews from 1 source. Starting from $9.95, Excel-to-Word Document Automation is priced at a low cost and is most advisable for any business. Excel-to-Word Document Automation can be deployed online and on-premise and is accessible from a handful of platforms including Windows devices.
IBM Sterling CPQ
IBM Sterling is a web-based software used for generating price quotes and operating order management. It offers AI-powered data trends to optimize configuring and product processes. Users can access a centralized pricing system to automate changes and control the quote-to-order process with additional visibility. It integrates with ERP systems for added flexibility and multi-channel model usage.
Smart Part Number Quoter
Smart Part Number Quoter is a well-known application that ranks 37 among all CPQ Software according to our research analysts and 1 crowd-sourced review from 1 source. Smart Part Number Quoter is most suitable for any company. Smart Part Number Quoter can be deployed in the cloud.
Stockito
Stockito is a unique software product that ranks 299 among all CMS Software according to our research analysts and 2 crowd-sourced reviews from 1 source. Starting from $9, Stockito is priced fairly, has offered a free trial in the past and is most fitting for companies on the small or medium side.
eRep CPQ
ERep CPQ is a well-known solution that ranks 40 among all CPQ Software according to our research analysts and 12 crowd-sourced reviews from 2 sources. Starting from $75, eRep CPQ is priced more competitively and is most fitting for any business. ERep CPQ can be deployed online and on-premise and is accessible from a few platforms including Windows and Linux devices.
TakeOff Estimates and Reports 4.0
TakeOff Estimates and Reports 4.0 is a rising software application that ranks 41 among all CPQ Software according to our research analysts and 20 crowd-sourced reviews from 1 source. Starting from $36, TakeOff Estimates and Reports 4.0 is priced more economically and is most applicable for companies on the small or medium side. TakeOff Estimates and Reports 4.0 can be deployed in the cloud.
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