Purpose
1. Automate sending quotes and automated reminders to clients for quote approval to accelerate deal close, ensure no opportunity is missed, and maintain corporate response times.
2. End-to-end automation: Intake requests, generate quotes, route to approval paths, dispatch reminders, and log responses or escalation statuses.
3. Automatedly reduce admin workload, enable faster quote turnaround, and provide data-driven oversight on the laser cutting service quoting process.
Trigger Conditions
1. Automation initiates when a quote is generated in the order management or ERP system.
2. Automates armed upon status change to “pending approval” or after a fixed waiting period post-dispatch.
3. Further automating by queueing reminders if client action (approval/rejection) not received within configurable intervals.
Platform Variants
1. Salesforce
- Feature/Setting: Process Builder/Flow automation to send quote emails and trigger follow-ups via Email Alerts.
2. HubSpot
- Feature/Setting: Workflow automation for deal stage “Quote Sent”; uses “Send Email” and “Delay” actions for reminders.
3. Zoho CRM
- Feature/Setting: Blueprint automation with “Send Notification” or “Webhooks” for quote and reminders.
4. Microsoft Power Automate
- Feature/Setting: Automated Flow connecting Dynamics CRM, Outlook email send, and timed reminder events.
5. Pipedrive
- Feature/Setting: Workflow Automation on Quote Stage triggers “Send Email” and task reminders.
6. Freshsales
- Feature/Setting: Automated Workflows for quote stage notifications; uses Mail API to automate reminders.
7. QuickBooks
- Feature/Setting: Custom Workflow for invoice/quote sent with scheduled reminder triggers.
8. Xero
- Feature/Setting: Automated reminders via Email Settings when quotes are awaiting approval.
9. PandaDoc
- Feature/Setting: Document Automation with “Automated Reminders” scheduling.
10. Proposify
- Feature/Setting: Automated email reminders for pending proposals tied to specific status.
11. DocuSign
- Feature/Setting: Envelope automation; configure “Signing Reminders” for quote documents pending client approval.
12. Gmail (Google Apps Script)
- Feature/Setting: Time-driven triggers with Apps Script to send quotes and follow-up reminders.
13. Outlook (Microsoft Graph API)
- Feature/Setting: Automation with Graph API to send emails based on workflow status changes.
14. Slack
- Feature/Setting: Workflow Builder to automate quote sending/reminder DM or channel messages; integrates with email platforms.
15. Twilio SMS
- Feature/Setting: Programmable Messaging API to automatedly send approval reminders by SMS.
16. SendGrid
- Feature/Setting: Email Automation with scheduled “Marketing Campaign” or Transactional Template sends.
17. Mailgun
- Feature/Setting: Automated sending via Email API and automated scheduled messages for reminders.
18. Intercom
- Feature/Setting: Series Automation for customer notifications and follow-up via in-app, email, or SMS.
19. Monday.com
- Feature/Setting: Automation Recipes to send custom notifications/reminders when quote status updates.
20. Airtable
- Feature/Setting: Automations to send emails when record status is “waiting for client approval.”
21. Zapier
- Feature/Setting: Zap to watch for “New Quote”, auto-send reminder through chosen channel (email/SMS/Slack/Teams).
22. Asana
- Feature/Setting: Rule automation; when task/quote is open for X days, automate reminder assignment or external notification.
23. Pipefy
- Feature/Setting: Automations for pending phases; use email templates for quoting and approval reminders.
24. Shopify
- Feature/Setting: Automated order and quote emails with follow-ups for B2B quoting integrations.
25. WhatsApp Business API
- Feature/Setting: Proactive customer communication with automated reminders for quote approvals.
Benefits
1. Automates follow-through, sharply reducing manual admin effort.
2. Automated reminders prevent revenue loss from stalled approvals.
3. Automation accelerates laser cutting job intake, benefiting production throughput.
4. Automatedly provides a consistent, audit-ready communication sequence.
5. Automates escalation, ensuring accountability on the sales and client sides.
Quote & Order Processing