Architects, quantity surveyors and building contractors are set to benefit from new electronic pricing software being developed by Hunter Douglas.

The Staffordshire-based facade and sun control specialist is reaching the final stages of development for a system which will cut lead times for specification quotations down by days.

It will mean that people seeking budget supply and fix price estimates for certain aspects of their building envelope will be able to receive reliable quotes by email within the time it takes them to make a phone call.

Hunter Douglas sales and support staff will shortly be able to key in the relevant dimensions and data supplied by the architect, quantity surveyor or contractors over the phone and issue a quote within a few minutes.

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The system will also be developed so that relevant CAD drawing numbers, the spanning capabilities of the facade panels and an official specification document will also be supplied in the same email and within the same time frame.

This same process has, until now, taken trained estimators, sales and administration staff several days to achieve for many application enquiries, no matter how complex or bespoke the construction.

The electronic pricing tool will initially be available for Hunter Douglas MPF (Multiple Panel Facade) products, but is scheduled to be developed for some sun control products and Sandwich Wall systems.

Andrew Lee, General Manager of Hunter Douglas Facade Systems, said: "This development will make a huge difference to the speed in which we can provide those important initial budget quotes.

"Any specifier who wants a good idea of what our product would cost on their building will soon be able to have that information before the end of the telephone conversation to our staff, or from the salesman's laptop during face-to-face meetings.

"Calculating these prices and providing all the relevant drawing references and documents would normally take a few days. It's a major step forward."

(CD/SP)