Tidy International

Quoting is a critical business process, and modern tools can greatly improve its speed and accuracy. Unlike basic quoting software that focuses mainly on presentation, a solution like Tidy Quote is designed to handle everything from simple line-item quotes to highly complex, custom configurations. This article explores the key benefits of using a comprehensive quoting application like Tidy Quote – one that supports all quote types and seamlessly feeds into production if the quote is accepted – and contrasts it with simpler “veneer” tools such as Quotient.

‍

Versatility: Handling All Quote Types (Type 1, Type 2, Type 3)

Businesses encounter different quoting scenarios, and a robust system needs to handle each with ease:

‍

Type 1 Quotes (Standard Products): These are quotes for known, fixed products or services with set prices and no variations – essentially just adding up line items (imagine quoting a list of groceries). A versatile quoting tool should make these straightforward, e.g. letting you select items from a price list and totaling them instantly. Basic quoting apps like Quotient excel at this no-frills quoting – you can create a simple quote in a few clicks by adding the item, service, and price[1]. Tidy Quote also handles Type 1 easily, allowing fast creation of simple, branded quotes (an electrical contractor used it to quote fixed-price jobs with volume discounts in minutes[2]).

Type 2 Quotes (Configured Products – CPQ): These involve products whose price depends on one or many parameters (sometimes called CPQ – Configure, Price, Quote). For example, a furniture maker might let customers choose fabric, finish, and size for a sofa, or a manufacturer might offer equipment with dozens of configurable options[3]. Calculating such quotes manually (or in spreadsheets) is time-consuming and error-prone, and traditionally only large enterprises had advanced software for it[4]. Tidy Quote brings this capability to businesses of all sizes, with a powerful configuration engine that supports formula-based pricing and complex rules. For instance, a shade sail manufacturer producing one-off designs uses Tidy Quote to input custom dimensions and materials; the system then automatically calculates the material needs and cost using built-in formulas[5]. Likewise, a vehicle customisation company relies on Tidy’s advanced rules engine to handle highly complex options, dependencies, and compliance checks in their quotes[6]. In short, Tidy Quote can automate even very intricate quoting logic that would be impossible in a basic tool.

Type 3 Quotes (Unique Projects): These are bespoke, one-of-a-kind jobs – say an architecturally designed house or a custom industrial project – where each quote is essentially a unique estimate. A robust quoting application should accommodate such “projects” by letting you build the quote from the ground up (possibly pulling in costs for labor, materials, and other resources) and not restricting you to predefined products only. Tidy Quote supports multi-line assemblies and custom variables, so you can assemble a quote for a unique build and still benefit from automation (e.g. generating a bill of materials)[5]. Critically, it ensures that even these complex, custom quotes are captured within the system’s structured workflow rather than managed offline in spreadsheets. In contrast, simpler quoting software usually lacks features for complex assemblies or custom formulas[7], making Type 2 and Type 3 scenarios very difficult to handle. As noted in one review of Quotient, it’s a “straightforward, no-frills approach to quoting” – great for basic quotes, but “lack[ing] advanced features needed by larger businesses” and complex projects[1][7].

‍

Seamless Quote-to-Production Workflow

One standout benefit of Tidy Quote is how it connects quoting with the actual making or doing process that follows when a customer says “yes.” In traditional setups, a quote acceptance is just the start of a manual handoff: staff would need to re-enter the details into an ordering system, create a job or project, inform the warehouse to allocate stock, etc., which is tedious and error-prone. A comprehensive solution automates this transition:

‍

Automatic Order Conversion: The moment a quote is accepted in Tidy Quote, the system can convert it directly into the next stage of fulfilment. For example, Tidy Quote will generate a complete Bill of Materials (BOM) or pick-list for the order and push it into the production/inventory module. In practice, once a customer accepts an online quote, you are immediately notified and a “complete bill of materials (BOM) [is] optimised to reduce inventory wastage” for that job[8]. This means all parts and materials required are listed out without delay.

Integrated Project Launch: Along with the BOM, Tidy can initiate a project or work order so the team can begin execution. According to the TidyCPQ workflow, after quote acceptance you can “start a project to keep your whole team informed” while purchase orders for any out-of-stock materials are created automatically[8]. Essentially, the quoting tool isn’t an isolated piece of software – it’s tied into inventory management and project management. All the information the sales team captured (product configurations, quantities, customer details, agreed price, etc.) flows through to fulfilment with no need for re-keying data.

No More Double Data Entry: This seamless flow dramatically reduces administrative overhead and errors. An integrated quote-to-order system “eliminates manual data entry errors by automatically syncing quote details with the ERP/production system”, ensuring orders are processed correctly and efficiently[9][10]. In other words, as soon as a quote becomes an order, it’s “instantly pushed to ... fulfillment, billing, and inventory” without human intervention[9]. This leads to faster order processing and prevents mistakes that can happen when translating a quote into a work order or invoice by hand.

Faster Delivery and Production Scheduling: With the quote details feeding directly into production planning, there’s less lag time starting the work. The system can check inventory levels in real time and schedule manufacturing or services immediately. Businesses that integrate CPQ with their operational systems see reduced lead times – with real-time insight into inventory and capacity, they can meet customer demand faster[11]. For example, one platform notes that “once a quote is approved and converted to an order, [it] automatically updates inventory levels and triggers the necessary fulfillment processes,” speeding up delivery and improving accuracy[10]. The result is a smoother fulfillment process from quote to cash.

‍

In contrast, a quoting tool like Quotient largely ends its job at producing a nice quote PDF and recording acceptance. It doesn’t create BOMs or tasks for your team – those steps must be handled through separate systems or manually. This is why Quotient is often described as a presentation layer for quotes (a “veneer”) rather than an end-to-end solution. If your business needs that end-to-end workflow – for example, if selling a configured product requires immediately generating a work order and reserving parts – a tool like Tidy Quote provides enormous value over basic quoting software.

‍

Real-Time Catalog Pricing and Cost Accuracy

Accurate pricing is the backbone of profitable quoting. Tidy Quote integrates with live catalogs and inventory data, ensuring that every quote is based on the latest prices and costs:

‍

Live Price Updates: In Tidy, your quote line items can be linked to an underlying product catalog or inventory system (such as Tidy’s own Catalog/Stock modules). This means the pricing on the quote is automatically using the current figures – whether that’s your own cost for materials or the set sales price list. It “ensures every quote is linked to real-time inventory and up-to-date supplier costs,” preventing the use of outdated figures[12]. This is crucial in industries where prices change frequently (e.g. commodity materials or supplier price fluctuations) – you won’t accidentally quote last quarter’s prices.

Multiple Supplier Options: A sophisticated tool can even handle multiple vendor price lists or substitutions. Tidy Quote, for instance, allows managing “multiple supplier price lists and alternative sourcing effortlessly”[13]. So if one component of a job can be bought from different suppliers, the quote can reflect the best current option. Basic quoting tools do not have this level of connectivity; they rely on static price entries that you must remember to update manually.

Eliminating Pricing Errors: Using real-time data means the quote will be right the first time, avoiding unpleasant surprises later. Quoting with stale or incorrect prices can hurt your margins or force you to go back to the customer and renegotiate. A connected CPQ system “eliminates quoting errors based on outdated supplier data by incorporating real-time inventory and pricing directly into quotes”[14]. In other words, the system pulls the latest cost of materials and the available stock levels as you build the quote, so you won’t promise a price or delivery that you can’t honor. This gives both you and the customer confidence that the quoted price is accurate.

Transparency and Trust: With up-to-date pricing and item details, sales reps can confidently justify the quote to the customer. It also allows dynamic adjustments – for example, if a customer wants to see how changing a parameter affects price, the system can instantly recalc using current data. This agility and transparency further build trust, because the customer isn’t hit with adjustments later on. Basic quoting software without a live catalog might require manually checking a separate price list or inventory spreadsheet each time, which is slower and prone to oversight.

‍

Faster Quoting and Greater Efficiency

One of the most immediate benefits of a dedicated quoting solution is speed. Automating the quoting process means quotes go out faster, allowing you to respond to opportunities before competitors do. Tidy Quote and similar CPQ tools significantly streamline quote preparation:

‍

Reduced Quote Turnaround Time: By automating calculations and pulling data from libraries, a tool like Tidy can cut down the time it takes to assemble even complex quotes. Tidy’s users have seen quoting time drop dramatically – “Tidy Quote cuts quoting time by up to 75%, streamlining even the most complex or multi-line quotes into a simple flow”[15]. Instead of spending hours (or days) liaising with engineering or crunching numbers in Excel, salespeople can generate a comprehensive quote in minutes. For example, what used to require back-and-forth communications and manual computations can often be done in a self-serve manner with guided configuration. This speed is not just theoretical: in manufacturing, companies using CPQ report a 24% reduction in quote turnaround time on average[16].

Efficiency for Sales Teams: Faster quoting frees your team to focus on higher-value activities. If a salesperson can produce quotes more quickly, they can handle more customer inquiries or spend more time nurturing relationships instead of pushing paperwork. One study noted that by automating quoting, many companies achieve 31% faster sales lead times in the overall sales cycle[16]. In practice, sales reps no longer need to chase information from multiple departments; the CPQ system houses all the rules and data needed. Also, if the quoting tool allows customers to input some requirements themselves (as TidyCPQ can, via an embedded web form[17]), it shifts some work to the front-end and speeds up the process even more – the customer gets an instant quote and the sales team only steps in when it’s time to review or follow up.

More Quotes, More Revenue: Streamlined workflows mean your business can quote more projects in the same amount of time. This directly can lead to increased revenue opportunities. If previously a salesperson could only prepare 5 complex quotes per week and now they can do 15, that’s potentially 3× the deals they can pursue. One user of Quotient noted that it “cut the time [they] spend quoting in half” and helped them win more business[18]. With Tidy Quote’s higher level of automation, the gains for complex quoting scenarios can be even greater. Faster quote response also improves your chance of winning the deal – customers often go with the vendor who responds first if all else is equal.

Consistency and Reuse: Efficiency is also gained through standardized templates and reusable components. Tidy Quote lets you save assemblies or common configurations, so building a new quote is not starting from scratch each time. Quoting software like Quotient also touts template libraries and item libraries for quick quote building[19], but those cover only basic scenarios. In a full CPQ, even complex product configurations can be saved and cloned, which is invaluable when you offer variants of a base product.

‍

Higher Quote Accuracy and Reduced Errors

Speed means little if the quote is wrong. A comprehensive quoting application greatly reduces mistakes in pricing and specifications that can plague manual quotes:

‍

Automated Calculations: By relying on the system to do math and enforce rules, human error is minimized. This could be as simple as ensuring all line-item totals and taxes are calculated correctly, or as complex as making sure a configured product’s components are all compatible. Tidy Quote’s rules engine and formula pricing ensure that misquoting and costly rework are eliminated by removing difficult manual calculations[15][20]. There’s no risk of a salesperson forgetting to include a necessary accessory or choosing an incompatible option, because the software guides them through valid choices.

Accuracy in Complex Builds: In custom manufacturing, a small mistake in a quote (e.g. a dimension error or a missed component) can lead to big cost overruns or delays later. CPQ software excels at preventing these errors by embedding engineering knowledge and constraints into the quoting process. As the KETIV integration report highlights, synchronizing product and pricing data between CPQ and ERP ensures consistent, accurate quotes and “eliminates discrepancies that can lead to customer dissatisfaction or order delays”[21]. In short, the quote you deliver is correct and fully buildable, the first time.

Fewer Approval Loops: Because quotes are generated correctly, there’s less need for management or engineers to double-check and approve every detail. This not only speeds things up but also means fewer corrections. Businesses that implement CPQ report 32% improved quote accuracy on average[16]. With fewer errors, there’s less back-and-forth internally and with the customer. For instance, instead of revising a quote multiple times because something was overlooked, a CPQ-driven quote often gets it right on the initial draft, which impresses customers and avoids the “oops, we need to update the price” phone call.

Compliance and Guardrails: Advanced quoting tools can enforce discount limits, margin thresholds, or regulatory constraints as part of the workflow. This prevents sales reps from accidentally underpricing a job or including a component that isn’t compliant. Tidy Quote supports internal approval workflows – you can set it so that if a quote’s discount is too high or the value too large, it routes for approval automatically[22]. Such features save you from errors that might not be mathematical, but procedural. In contrast, a basic quoting app would have no knowledge of your pricing rules or external regulations – it would let a rep quote anything, leaving it to humans to catch mistakes.

‍

The bottom line is that by automating rules and calculations, a system like Tidy Quote “reduces errors by 20–40%” in the quoting process[20]. This has downstream benefits: fewer errors in quotes mean fewer order errors, fewer production issues, and ultimately a smoother experience for your customer.

‍

Improved Customer Experience and Trust

Delivering quotes faster and with greater accuracy doesn’t just help your internal efficiency – it directly impacts the customer’s experience and their likelihood to choose your business. Here’s how a comprehensive quoting solution elevates customer satisfaction:

‍

Speedy Responses: Today’s customers value quick turnaround. A fast quote shows professionalism and attentiveness. With Tidy Quote, quotes that once took days can often be delivered same-day or even instantly (in the case of self-service web quotes). This swift service can impress customers. In fact, many buyers will favor the vendor who provided a detailed quote first. One software user reported their quoting tool “helps us set ourselves apart from the competition” by getting quotes out rapidly[18]. Being first and fast not only increases win rates but also makes customers feel their business is valued.

Accurate, Transparent Pricing: Nothing builds trust like getting the price right the first time. When a quote is clearly detailed and accurate, the customer gains confidence that you know your product and won’t surprise them with changes. As a CPQ expert noted, “accurate upfront pricing enhances customer service and fosters trust,” creating a win-win for both buyer and seller[23]. Customers are more likely to accept a quote when they see it’s thorough and reflective of their exact request. With a tool like Tidy Quote, you can provide that level of detail (every component listed, calculations shown) quickly, whereas a manually prepared quote might either lack detail or take longer to produce.

Professional Presentation: While we’ve stressed that looks aren’t everything, they do matter. Tidy Quote produces well-formatted, branded proposals, so you don’t sacrifice presentation quality by choosing a more powerful system. You get the best of both – a quote that is both polished and precise. According to Tidy, sending “branded, professional quotes faster and with greater confidence” leads to customers responding more decisively[24]. In other words, a great-looking quote that arrives quickly can significantly improve your acceptance rate. Quotient and similar apps have built their reputation on nice-looking quotes, and Tidy matches that while also delivering the substance behind the scenes.

Interactive and Convenient Quotes: Modern quote software often allows online acceptance, comments, and questions on the quote. Quotient, for example, lets customers approve with one click and even ask questions right on the quote page[25]. Tidy Quote also enables online quote acceptance and can be embedded in your website for self-service quoting[17]. These conveniences delight customers because it makes the buying process easier for them. Instead of playing phone tag or emailing PDFs back and forth, the customer can engage with the quote digitally. The result is a smoother buying journey, which reflects well on your business

Faster Order Fulfillment: Customer experience doesn’t stop at quote acceptance – it extends to delivery. Since an integrated quoting tool accelerates the handoff to production, it often means the customer receives their product or service sooner. When a quote turns into an order without delay, you can meet or beat your promised timelines more easily. Customers certainly appreciate when the turnaround from “OK, go ahead” to delivery is quick. They may not see your internal systems, but they will feel the difference in lead time. And because an integrated system keeps everything updated (from inventory to invoicing), you can also keep the customer informed proactively about their order status, which further improves their experience.

‍

In sum, a comprehensive quoting solution contributes to a positive customer experience by being fast, reliable, and easy to interact with. Customers get accurate quotes with less waiting and enjoy a more seamless transition from quote to delivery. This professionalism and efficiency can become a competitive advantage, leading to higher quote acceptance rates and more repeat business.

‍

Beyond the "Veneer": Comparing to Basic Quoting Tools (e.g. Quotient)

It’s useful to highlight how a full-featured application like Tidy Quote differs from a lighter quoting tool like Quotient, which is often described as a quoting “veneer.” Quotient is popular for small businesses and is “easy to use and quick to set up”, providing a clean interface for quotes[7]. However, its simplicity comes with trade-offs in capability:

‍

Feature Depth: Quotient focuses on the core task of making quotes, but “has no other sales documents, just quotes,” and it lacks advanced features that larger or more complex businesses need[7]. In practice, this means Quotient is ideal if you just need to list some products/services and send a nice quote. But it doesn’t handle configurable products (no built-in CPQ engine for Type 2 quotes) and isn’t designed for massive or one-off projects that need deeper project management (Type 3). Tidy Quote, on the other hand, was built for complex scenarios with rules, formulas, and assemblies. As the Tidy team puts it, “some quoting tools are built for ‘one of this, one of that.’ Tidy Quote is built for the real world – where your quote might include some of this, a customized that, and a mix of services and products.”[26] This sums up the core difference: basic tools handle simple quotes one line at a time, whereas Tidy can combine multiple product types and custom elements in one structured quote.

Integration and Workflow: When a quote is accepted in Quotient, that’s essentially where the software’s job ends – it’s then up to you to manually create an order or project elsewhere. Quotient does integrate with some accounting systems like Xero and QuickBooks (so you can push through an invoice, for example)[27], but it does not integrate with inventory or manufacturing systems to create BOMs or update stock. It’s a silo. Tidy Quote is part of a broader ecosystem (or it can integrate with your ERP) specifically so that quote data flows downstream. As discussed earlier, Tidy will automatically turn an accepted quote into actionable data for fulfillment[8][10]. This is crucial if your business actually makes or orders things after a quote – it eliminates the duplicate data entry and delays you’d face using a standalone quoting app. In summary, Tidy Quote is a quote-to-order solution, whereas Quotient is a quote-and-stop solution.

Real-Time Data vs. Static Entries: In Quotient, product prices are typically entered manually or pulled from a simple price list you maintain in the app. It might have a “price item library for frequently used products”[28], but it won’t automatically update those prices if your supplier raises costs or if stock levels change. Tidy Quote’s integration with live catalogs means quotes are always using current data[12]. For a business in a volatile pricing environment (construction materials, electronics parts, etc.), this is a big differentiator. Without live pricing, a quote tool could inadvertently misquote and cut into your margins or require revisions. So, Tidy’s approach reduces that risk significantly[14].

Scalability and Complexity Handling: Many small businesses start with a basic quoting tool like Quotient and love its ease for simple jobs. However, as they grow, they may encounter its limits. For example, if they start selling more customizable offerings or need multi-currency, tiered pricing, or complex discounts, they might find Quotient cannot support those well. Tidy Quote was designed to scale with such needs – it can handle thousands of SKUs with tiered pricing and client-specific discounts[29], and intricate configuration logic as described earlier. Essentially, Tidy gives you an enterprise-level quoting capability (the kind large corporations use) but in a package accessible to small and mid-sized businesses[4]. Basic quoting apps are not built to that level of sophistication; they prioritize being lightweight and simple over being comprehensive.

‍

In short, using Quotient or a similar app is perfectly fine for straightforward quoting requirements. It provides a user-friendly way to get professional-looking quotes out the door for “commodity” type offers. But if your quoting needs extend beyond the basics – if you deal with complex products, custom projects, or simply want to integrate quoting with the rest of your operations – a solution like Tidy Quote far outshines the simple tools. The latter can be thought of as a nice facade, whereas Tidy Quote is the full house behind the facade, connecting the front-end quote to all the back-end processes needed to deliver on that quote.

‍

Conclusion

A comprehensive quote application like Tidy Quote delivers numerous benefits that basic quoting software cannot match. It empowers businesses to handle all types of quotes – from quick fixed-price jobs to intricate configured products and unique one-off projects – within one platform. By integrating quoting with real-time data and downstream processes, it ensures that quotes are accurate, up-to-date, and immediately actionable. The results are faster quote turnarounds, fewer errors, and a seamless flow from customer acceptance to production and delivery[8][9].

These advantages translate into tangible business outcomes: time saved (often cutting quoting effort by more than half[15]), increased quote capacity, improved win rates, and higher customer satisfaction and trust[23][24]. While presentation-focused tools like Quotient make quotes look nice, they stop short of delivering this end-to-end value. Tidy Quote combines a polished quoting experience with the horsepower of a CPQ and ERP-backed system under the hood, giving you enterprise-grade efficiency without the enterprise-grade complexity or cost[30].

In a competitive environment, the ability to provide fast, accurate quotes and then execute seamlessly on those quotes can set your business apart. Investing in a versatile quoting solution like Tidy Quote means you’re not just creating quotes – you’re building a more responsive, efficient, and integrated sales process that benefits both your team and your customers. That is a far more profound benefit than any standalone quoting “veneer” can offer.

‍

Sources:

Amelia Douglas – “Unlock the Benefits of Implementing a CPQ,” Tidy International (2025)[23][3].
Tidy3 (Tidy International) – Tidy Quote Product Page and Features[26][6].
TidyCPQ – Product Workflow Description (Tidy International)[8][12].
KETIV – “Why Integrate CPQ with ERP?” (Blog, 2023)[9][21].
Mobileforce – “CPQ for Manufacturing and Distribution” (Blog, 2025)[14][10].
Tacton – “8 Transformative Benefits of CPQ Software” (Report, 2025)[16].
Scoro – “7 Best Quoting Software in 2025” – Quotient Review[1][7].
Quotientapp – Quotient Features Page (accessed 2025)[19].
Software Advice – Quotient User Review (2025)[18][31].