A joiner who spends more than two hours a week redoing quotes deserves better than a free spreadsheet. Here's what each solution really costs, what it does and what it doesn't, so you can choose without breaking the bank or losing control.
What each solution really does
The spreadsheet remains king in artisan joinery. It doesn't crash, it doesn't ask for updates, and it follows the joiner from quote to invoice. But it doesn't follow up with the client, it doesn't check supplier prices, and it doesn't warn you when a quote has gone thirty days without a response.
Specialized joinery software brings the product catalog, templates, optimized cutting, and sometimes syncing with the machine. It does what it does well. It doesn't link to the job site, doesn't follow up on dormant quotes, and doesn't prepare the installation report in the evening when you get home.
The AI collaborator replaces neither one. It takes the client's brief by email or voice note, it queries the catalog, it drafts the quote, it follows up at day 7 and day 15, and it archives the file. It doesn't design the joinery. It doesn't replace the joiner's eye on the job site.
The comparison table
A joiner who spends more than two hours a week redoing quotes deserves better than a free spreadsheet. Here's what each solution really costs, what it does and what it doesn't, so you can choose without breaking the bank or losing control.
| Criterion | Spreadsheet (Excel, Sheets) | Joinery software | AI collaborator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | €0 (already have it) | €40 to €120/month | Quoted, based on volume |
| Built-in product catalog | No | Yes, depending on the publisher | Yes, if provided |
| Automatic quote follow-up | No | Rarely | Yes, configurable |
| Installation report | No | No | Yes, by dictation |
| Supplier price updates | Manual | By import | Automatic if access is granted |
| Dependence on a publisher | None | High | Low |
| Setup time | Immediate | 2 to 8 weeks | 1 to 3 weeks |
Comparison based on actual practices observed in artisan joinery, not on sales brochures.
The spreadsheet: the right choice if you work alone and do fewer than five quotes a week
A lone joiner billing three to four quotes a week doesn't need software. A spreadsheet is enough, as long as you structure it once and for all: one sheet per quote, one column per service, one tab for supplier prices, another for clients. The trap isn't the tool, it's the time spent keeping it up to date. If you spend more than an hour a week updating your prices, you've hit the spreadsheet's limit.
Specialized software: the right choice if you manage a complex catalog and several installers
Beyond five quotes a week, or as soon as you're managing a catalog of several hundred references, joinery software becomes useful. It calculates cuts, generates labels for the machine, tracks stock. But it requires setup, updates, and it doesn't link to the rest of the business: follow-ups, scheduling, accounting. You gain on the technical side, you lose on the rest.
The AI collaborator: the right choice if you're losing more than five hours a week on admin
The AI collaborator doesn't replace your quoting software. It plugs into it. It takes the brief, queries the catalog, drafts, follows up, archives. It doesn't design, it doesn't install. It does the work the joiner does after 6 p.m., the work that's never billed and wears you down. If you spend more than five hours a week on tasks you've already done a hundred times, the AI collaborator pays for itself. Otherwise, it's a luxury.
What we never touch
The choice of joinery remains the joiner's. The AI collaborator doesn't decide on material, finish, or installation. It doesn't replace the technical quote when it's complex. It doesn't contact the client without approval. It doesn't change prices without agreement. The boundary is simple: it handles the admin and the repetitive sales work, never the design or the delicate customer relationship.
Frequently asked questions
Can an AI collaborator replace my joinery quoting software?
No. It plugs into it. It uses your catalog, your prices, your templates. It doesn't replace cutting calculations or plan generation. It does the work around it: brief, drafting, follow-up, filing.
How long does it take to set up an AI collaborator in a joinery business?
Plan for one to three weeks. The first week to set up the catalog and prices, the second to test on real quotes, the third to fine-tune follow-ups and filing. No migration, no change of habits: the tool adapts to you.
Does the AI collaborator follow up on quotes automatically?
Yes, if you configure it. You choose the timing, the tone, the number of follow-ups. Each follow-up is approved by you before it's sent. Nothing goes out without your consent.
What does an AI collaborator cost for a joinery business?
The cost depends on the volume of quotes and the number of tasks handed off. A joiner doing five quotes a week who wants automatic follow-ups doesn't pay the same price as a joinery business owner who also wants installation reports and invoice filing. Pricing is worked out on your real numbers, not a listed rate.
Book the free audit
Thirty minutes to work out the numbers based on your real figures. How many quotes do you do a week? How much time do you spend on them? What should you delegate first? You'll walk away with the numbers, whether you work with us or not.
Message on WhatsApp
Send a message, get a reply straight from Noa. No form, no funnel. Explain your situation in two sentences, get a first opinion within a few hours.
Block off thirty minutes
Not available right now? Block off a thirty-minute slot in the calendar. You bring your numbers, we go through them together, you'll know exactly where you stand.