DigiFabster

Cubic Inch, an engineering and manufacturing company based in Warsaw, Poland, faced a significant challenge in their quoting process. The process was time-consuming and required a substantial amount of data collection from potential customers before a price could be determined. This included receiving a file to determine the part’s size, volume, and other dimensional information, as well as identifying the part’s orientation and other factors that could impact production. Additionally, customers had to provide other specifications such as material and quantity of parts to be quoted. The company also required contact and other business-based information. Collecting all this information often involved a series of phone calls or back-and-forth emails. Once a customer was ready to place an order, additional information such as payment and shipping methods had to be communicated. In a manual environment, much of this was handled with spreadsheets and other disparate software, leading to duplicate work and confusion.

iOrthotics, an Australian firm that develops custom devices for the medical industry, faced a challenge in effectively reaching and serving new customers in different markets. The company had invested in HP’s Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing technology and created a spin-off, i3DPS, to serve smaller companies who couldn’t justify the investment in equipment and talent. However, the traditional business-to-business (B2B) eCommerce approach was proving to be a hurdle. Most B2B companies, including service bureaus and machine shops, had websites that were more informative than transactional. The existing online quoting systems were often cumbersome, involving open-ended forms and back-and-forth conversations between the estimator and the customer. This not only frustrated customers but also limited the amount of work each estimator could complete, prohibiting the shop from reaching its capacity. iOrthotics recognized these limitations and was determined to eliminate them.

General Pattern, a prototype, tooling, and rapid manufacturing company, faced a challenge when one of its clients from the consumer products industry required a more efficient, faster, and cost-effective method for creating prototypes and end-use parts than traditional manufacturing methods. The company decided to invest in HP’s Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D printing technology, which led to a surge in orders. This influx of orders necessitated a more efficient way to manage front-end processes like quoting and order entry. General Pattern sought a software solution that was easy to use, minimized staff training, and was familiar with the nuances of HP’s technology to develop accurate and competitive pricing models.

MakeItQuick, a UK-based additive manufacturing service bureau, faced a significant challenge in its early stages. The company was spending an excessive amount of time and resources on manual tasks such as quoting and order management. Each quote took anywhere from 10 minutes to over an hour to prepare, costing the company an average of £15.00 per quote. Additionally, pushing each order through its facility cost between £15-20.00. This redundant work was not only costly but also hindered the company's ability to scale effectively. The team at MakeItQuick realized that to grow, they needed to eliminate much of this redundant work.