Quote software for trade counters and distributors

Electrical distributors and supply houses

Electrical requests come in shorthand: “500 ft 12/2 NM-B”, “20 breakers 15A 1-pole”, “40 sticks 1/2 in EMT”. One need maps to several brands and device ranges, and quantities switch between feet, coils, boxes and single pieces. In the UK and Ireland the same lists read “100 m 2.5 mm twin and earth” and “20 × 16 A type B MCBs”, sent to an electrical wholesaler or trade counter.

Qotora matches the shorthand to your products and asks the question that closes a line, for example which breaker type or brand, instead of guessing.

• Quote Software for Electrical Distributors | Qotora AI

  Wire, breakers, devices and conduit, with a worked example for electrical distributors.

Plumbing, HVAC and PVF supply houses

Plumbing lists are SKU-heavy and often written on the truck: “20 – 2 in PVC 90s”, “10 ball valves 3/4 sweat”, “PEX 3/4 coil, 300 ft”. Size, material and connection type (sweat, threaded, press, PEX) are the details that go missing. HVAC lines turn on tonnage, voltage and refrigerant. Plumbers’ merchants in the UK see the same pattern with “15 mm copper tube, 3 m lengths” and “22 mm compression tees”.

A line that leaves out the connection type or the voltage becomes a question for your counter, not a wrong shipment.

• Quoting Software for Plumbing & HVAC Distributors

  PVC, PEX, valves, fittings and HVAC parts from a plumber’s or contractor’s list.

Building materials, lumber yards and builders merchants

Contractors order by the piece, the bundle, the sheet, the bag and the pallet: “40 – 2×4×8 SPF studs”, “20 sheets 1/2 in CDX”, “12 bags Type S mortar”. At a UK builders’ or timber merchant the list reads “20 sheets 12.5 mm plasterboard, 2400 × 1200” or “50 lengths 38 × 63 CLS”. Units and contract prices are where these quotes go wrong.

Qotora keeps the unit the customer wrote beside the unit you sell in, and applies the price tier you give that customer.

• Quoting Software for Building Materials Distributors

  Lumber, sheet goods, fasteners, tools and merchant-counter quotes.

Industrial, MRO and fastener distributors

Maintenance buyers write “3/8-16 × 1-1/2 grade 5 hex, 500”, “6205-2RS bearings, 100” or “B68 V-belts, 20”. The catalogue is deep, items differ by grade, finish, size or tolerance, and pack sizes run from each to a box of 100 to per hundred. Many requests quote the customer’s own or the manufacturer’s number rather than yours.

Qotora matches on specification and on any cross-reference your catalogue holds, and flags the line when grade, finish or length is missing.

• Quoting Software for Industrial & MRO Distributors

  Bearings, fasteners and MRO supplies from shorthand part descriptions.

Truck and auto parts counters

Parts counters work in part numbers and cross-references. A customer asks by OEM number, by brand, or by description plus the vehicle: “type 30 brake chambers, 10” or “fuel filter for a 2016 tractor”. You may stock the aftermarket equivalent under a different number, and the right answer depends on fitment.

When your catalogue carries cross-references and fitment data, Qotora uses them. When it does not, Qotora asks rather than substituting. Equivalents are proposed only for a person to confirm.

• Quoting Software for Auto & Truck Parts Distributors

  Part numbers, cross-references and parts-counter lists.

Janitorial and sanitation distributors

Facilities managers and cleaning contractors order consumables in cases: “6 cs 33 gal liners, black, 1.5 mil”, “4 cs C-fold towels”, “2 gal floor stripper”. The same product comes in each, case and pallet quantities, chemicals in jugs, pails and drums, and a customer’s weekly list often changes by only a few lines.

Qotora reads the list by email, PDF or photo of the order sheet, matches each line to the right size and pack, and applies the customer’s contract pricing.

Packaging distributors

Packaging buyers specify by dimension and spec: “2,000 12×12×12 RSC, 32 ECT”, “40 cs 18 in stretch film, 80 ga”, “20 cs 2 in clear tape”. Prices are often per thousand or per case, minimum quantities and pallet quantities matter, and one wrong dimension is a different box.

Qotora matches stock items on dimensions and specification and applies your pricing by quantity. Custom sizes or printed items that are not in your catalogue come back flagged as not found, so your team prices them and nothing is guessed.

Foodservice and catering equipment dealers

Restaurant and kitchen suppliers quote equipment next to smallwares: “2-door reach-in fridge”, “6-burner range, gas”, “12 full-size hotel pans, 4 in deep”, “22 qt food containers with lids”. Equipment lines hinge on options such as gas type, voltage and phase, and special orders carry lead times and freight.

Qotora asks the option question when the request leaves it open, for example natural gas or propane, and shows stock on each line. A special-order line is one your team confirms before the quote goes out.

Welding supply distributors

Welders and fabricators ask for consumables by classification, diameter and pack weight: “E7018 3/32 electrodes, 10 lb tubes”, “ER70S-6 .035 MIG wire, 33 lb spools”, “auto-darkening helmet, shade 9–13”. Tips, nozzles and liners are specific to the torch model, and a lot of the list is small items in many sizes.

Qotora matches on classification, size and pack, and flags a consumable that does not say which torch or machine it is for.

Safety equipment and PPE distributors

Safety lists multiply SKUs by size, colour and rating: “nitrile gloves, large, 4 cases”, “clear safety glasses, ANSI Z87.1, 12 pairs”, “class 2 hi-vis vests, 10 L and 10 XL”, “steel-toe boots, size 10 wide”. A missing size or a missing standard on a request is a question to ask, not a guess to make.

Qotora matches the size, colour and rating written on the request to the attributes in your catalogue, and asks when one is missing. It does not certify that a product meets a standard; that stays with your catalogue data and your team.