Web-based quote tool

[Pab]

As a way of pricing up projects for clients, we have an excel sheet with various drop downs and value fields. The sheet is based on the office server with a shortcut on each computer. I would like to make the quote tool browser/web based, so that it has a better UI, is easier for people to access (in house and remotely), use and to centrally update.

It's a fairly complex sheet: There is a hidden matrix of 100x100, with each point (yes, 10,000) having an associated letter A,B,C,D,E,F or G. Each letter has two possible £ values associated with it, depending on the job type.
The user front end then shows two drop downs (X and Y from the matrix), a value entry field and a job type drop down. The X and Y combo references the matrix letter, which in turn gives a value. After completing these steps, a quote is displayed. It's currently single currency, so our overseas work is priced up manually...The updated version would need to quote in GBP, USD and EUR.

How difficult would it be for someone (who knows what they're doing) to create a web-based database-driven tool? One which is easy to edit and add new entries. Also, where would I go to get this done?

It is possible that, in future, we may make this feature available on our website for prospective clients.

 

[Astaroth]

If it can be done by Excel it can certainly be done online.

Which would you be updating in the future? The axis of the matrix? The associated letter? The pricing against the letters?

All are possible but the more you want control over the more difficult it is (with a nice interface anyway) and so the more costly. If you want full control over the 100 x 100 matrix it is probably best to simply give you an upload facility to update by excel spreadsheet.

As to where to go, send a message to me and we would be happy to discuss it with you!

 

[matt.chatterley]

It's certainly possible - as per previous poster, it's just a case of drawing up a spec and looking into precisely what you would be updating (and how) - I suspect some sort of Excel import would probably suit you best.

I'll drop you a PM with contact details incase you'd like to look into this further with us.

 

[Pab]

Thanks for the replies and PMs.

To answer your questions, the fields that would need updating are:

Editing and adding to X and Y
Changing the associated letter in the matrix
Changing the letter value

There are some other things that would need to be adjustable (such as the VAT rate and another percentage addition).

Ideally, we'd like to be able to edit as much as possible, as it then gives scope for future changes and developments.

 

[garyk]

there used to be something called excel anywhere or excel everywhere, cant quite remember the name that would take an excel spreadsheet and convert it to a webpage macros and all, job done!

 

[Astaroth]

Ideally, we'd like to be able to edit as much as possible, as it then gives scope for future changes and developments.

Ultimately it can be programmed to allow you to change any element at all. The more control there is however the greater the risk of user error when updating and the greater the cost of development. If the table is always to be 100x100 then if the excel upload is 99x100 the system knows theres an error where as if the number can change then it will simply assume that the number of rows have reduced.

We would be happy to provide a quote for you and can discuss the cost implications of different options with you. If you want all singing and dancing we can certainly do it! Feel free to contact me

 

[bdw]

Have you considered using Google docs?

This allows you to upload a spreadsheet and share it online with others and it's free.

 

[Peter Bowen]

There are also a pile of web based quote tools out there already. It might make sense to use one of them instead of having something developed from scratch

 

[Pab]

There are also a pile of web based quote tools out there already. It might make sense to use one of them instead of having something developed from scratch

Can you name any?

 

[Pab]

Have you considered using Google docs?

This allows you to upload a spreadsheet and share it online with others and it's free.

We use Google Apps for our mail. I tried uploading the sheet to Google docs and couldn't get it work in a user-friendly way. I could spend more time looking into it, but as I understand it, it wouldn't be able to integrate with our website (for online quote and ordering) at a later stage.

 

[Peter Bowen]

Can you name any?

Here are a couple of ones I had looked at previously:

http://www.getballpark.com/

http://www.quotesolutions.com/

Google will find you more.