U-Design, powered by RoofWright, is the perfect solution for conservatory companies who wish to improve their conversions whilst at the same time improving margins. U-Design will support the sales process, providing accurate costings, giving confidence to the retailer that they will achieve their margin expectation. Once the enquiry becomes an order, U-Design can then go on to be used for ordering and production.
For the last few years, Ultraframe and many of its customers have been using RoofWright with a focus on roof design and a desire to make order processing easy and lean. It’s fair to say that the package – driven by Ultraframe’s internal needs- was very roof orientated. Now all that is changing. Ultraframe recognises that although it sells roofs to its customers, its customers have to sell full conservatories in order that they can order roofs. Following an intensive period of investment - and partnership working - with RPS, the owners of RoofWright, U-Design is now a powerful weapon in the armoury of those who sell conservatories.
U-Design is perfect for designing, costing and selling conservatories. Its easy to use , which is particularly important for those new to computers. Ultraframe can offer a range of U-Design branded laptops, making the acquisition and support aspects very simple too. Alternatively, subject to volume, laptops with a customer’s own branding can be fulfilled.
Perhaps best of all is the training support that is available to existing and new users. This can be ‘tiered’ to recognise the different needs and abilities of the various target users (sales people, designers, surveyors, order processors, purchasing)…..
- access to an ‘open’ one day course - or 5 for the price of 4
- bespoke training, up to 8 delegates from your company, choice of location
- consultancy…….a personal visit to help you customise the software
U-Design can be rented from a participating Fabricator/Distributor or direct from Ultraframe. One element of added functionality is the ability to order the roof electronically. If roofs are purchased from a Fabricator/Distributor, then when the conservatory design is complete, the roof design can be saved and emailed then re-opened in the same software before going on to be manufactured. For those customers who enjoy a direct purchasing arrangement, there is even more added functionality. When the roof order is ready to be placed, retailers can look at available manufacturing slots within the Ultraframe operation and book a production slot and delivery.
This type of functionality is very ‘lean’ and saves time and effort at the retailers and Fabricators/manufacturers.
U-Design can be a ‘lifesaver’ too - when you use a consumer’s postcode, the system draws on site data provided by ordnance survey, calculates wind load at the location, ensuring that the roof is correctly specified with reinforcement or tie bars. A red warning light prevents you ordering something that is not fit for purpose - a ‘fix’ button then allows the user to upgrade the relevant underperforming parts without having to have knowledge of structural engineering.
The software comes with sample costings for bases, frames and of course other useful items like prices for skip hire. Through prudent amendment, the costs can be amended to reflect your own business and the selling prices can be modified to fit your own margin expectations. Ultraframe feels that by using U-Design, retailers should gain higher conversions and the sales that they do make will make additional contribution. With the market as tough as it is and has been, it’s vital that you know where you are making the margin and how much you are making on each element.
You can set your own home page and customise the toolbars. You can create your own views and layouts ,have split screens and use 3D views. The project you’re working on – be it in the front room of a consumer or back at your showroom – builds up in front of your eyes in 3D, and the ‘drag and drop’ facility for windows and doors is particularly helpful. Having say designed a 4m x 4m Georgian at the click of a button you can turn the project into a Gable style, without re-keying/re-entering all the choices along the way – this makes the system perfect for gaining commitment when in front of a consumer. And finally – there is a series of structured questions that helps the salesperson complete the cost build up, and critically important – makes sure no decisions are missed that influence the final price. Minimal chance of specification errors and an accurate price at a margin you are happy with.
In summary, U-Design is perhaps the simplest software to use and yet offers the most functionality in a cost effective package – monthly easy terms. For forward thinking Ultraframe retailers, it simply has to be the system of choice.
