Product dealers face growing pressure to deliver sales quotes quickly without sacrificing accuracy. Customers expect speedy responses, clear pricing, and confidence that the quote they receive reflects exactly what will be built. For manufacturers offering configurable products, this is even more challenging. Complex options, changing material costs, and customer-specific pricing can slow quoting and increase the risk of errors.
The third article in the CPQ Sales Advantage series explores how modern quotation management transforms sales operations and why Frontier ERP with built-in CPQ software gives manufacturers the speed and accuracy needed to win more business.
Slower Sales Quotes = Lost Sales
Speed matters in the quoting process. When customers wait too long for a quote, they start shopping elsewhere. When quotes contain errors or inconsistencies, trust is lost, and margins suffer. Manufacturers that still rely on spreadsheets, manual price books, or disjointed systems risk losing a sale because of their slow and unreliable sales quote methodology.
Quotation management is becoming a key competitive factor. It directly affects sales cycle length, conversion rates, and customer experience. To meet expectations, manufacturers need tools that guide configuration, apply correct pricing, and generate professional quotes without manual rework.
This is where CPQ software becomes essential.
How CPQ Software Improves Quotation Management
CPQ (configure, price, quote) accelerates quoting by simplifying three critical areas: configuration, pricing, and quote output. With guided selection rules, accurate pricing logic, and automated proposal generation, sales teams and dealers can produce complete quotes in minutes instead of hours.
Centralizing product knowledge and pricing rules removes guesswork. Every team works from the same information, reducing the chances of quoting products that cannot be produced or pricing them incorrectly. As a result, sales quotes become more consistent, more accurate, and more professional.
The benefits extend beyond internal efficiency. Faster and more accurate quotes strengthen customer relationships and improve the chances of winning the sale.
Frontier ERP With Built-in CPQ Accelerates Quoting
Frontier ERP includes CPQ software as part of the system, not as an add-on. This is a major advantage. Because configuration, pricing, inventory, cost data, and production schedules all live in the same database, quotes reflect real conditions, not assumptions.
Here are the key advantages of Frontier ERP quotation management.
1. Real-time Cost and Information Availability
Quotes use live material costs, pricing structures, inventory levels, and production capacity. Customers get realistic pricing and achievable delivery dates.
2. Automatic Application of Pricing Rules
Sales teams and dealers no longer need to track promotions, discounts, regional pricing, or contract agreements manually. Frontier handles it automatically through its built-in quotation management features.
4. Consistent Results Across Multiple Channels
Whether the quote is produced by inside sales, outside reps, or authorized dealers, the system ensures everyone is quoting the same way. This reduces unnecessary price negotiations and protects margins.
5. Production-ready Output
Once approved, the quote flows directly into a sales order. There is no need for re-entry or recalculation. The details are then automatically sent to production, matching exactly what was configured and quoted.
5. Shorter Quote Turnaround
CPQ software automation eliminates the back-and-forth that slows down manual processes. Frontier users routinely deliver quotes faster, even when dealing with thousands of configuration choices or custom measurements.
The Business Impact of Better Quotation Management
Improving quotation management with CPQ delivers measurable benefits across the sales and production cycle.
- Faster Sales Response: Quick, accurate quotes help you stay ahead of competitors who still rely on manual tools.
- Higher quote acceptance: Professional, consistent quotes increase customer confidence and reduce confusion about what is included.
- Reduced errors and rework: With CPQ validating configurations and pricing, fewer quotes need correction before production begins.
- Stronger margins: Automated pricing controls prevent accidental underpricing, helping protect profitability.
- Improved customer satisfaction: When customers receive clear, reliable quotes quickly, they experience a smoother buying process from start to finish.
Conclusion
As manufacturers expand their product offerings and customization options, the need for faster, accurate sales quotes becomes more important. CPQ software gives sales teams the tools to respond quickly and confidently, while reducing errors and margin risks.
Frontier ERP takes these advantages further by integrating CPQ directly into the core ERP system. With unified data, automated pricing, guided configuration, and seamless conversion from quote to order, Frontier helps manufacturers create a quoting process that is faster, more reliable, and more competitive.
If your sales team is ready to move past slow manual quoting and begin delivering precise, production-ready quotes in minutes, Frontier is designed to help you get there. Contact us today for more details.
