No product tests an inventory system like tiles. A single design is purchased in square metres, stored in boxes, quoted in square feet and delivered in full boxes only. Add shade lots, samples and project pricing, and generic software quickly falls apart. That is why tile business software has to be built for it.
The unit problem, explained
Say one box of 60 × 60 cm tiles covers 1.44 square metres, or about 15.5 square feet. A contractor asks for 1,000 square feet. How many boxes do you deliver, and what do you invoice? Done by hand, this sum is repeated by salespeople, storekeepers and accountants, each time with a small chance of error.
The fix is to store stock in one base unit and let the software convert to the purchase and sales units at every screen. The salesperson types square feet, the warehouse sees boxes and the stock ledger never disagrees.
Five features tile business software must have
1. unit conversion per item
Every design has its own coverage per box. Conversion must be set on the item, not as a global rule.
2. box-based dispatch
Tiles leave in full boxes. Delivery should be keyed in boxes when that is how the warehouse works, with the base quantity calculated automatically.
3. attribute search
Customers ask for “60 × 120, matt, grey”. Searching by size, finish and colour across thousands of designs must take seconds.
4. option quotations
Homeowners and architects compare designs. A quotation should show alternatives side by side, then record the customer’s pick.
5. sample tracking
Samples sent to architects, designers and site engineers add up. Track each one until it is returned, invoiced or written off.
How Square Loop helps tile and sanitaryware traders
- Unit conversions per item between square metre, box and square foot, with stock held in the base unit (Inventory & Warehouse).
- Pack-based delivery, so dispatch can be keyed in boxes or in the base unit.
- Category attributes such as size, finish and thickness for fast search.
- Quotation option groups and revisions, plus optional stock holds for promising projects.
- Samples issued, returned, converted to invoice or written off, with reports.
- Referrer tracking and sales-by-referrer reports for architects and contractors.
- Retail, wholesale, project and dealer price lists.
See how it fits a showroom on our tiles and sanitaryware industry page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best software for a tile business?
Look for software that converts between square metres, boxes and square feet per item, dispatches in full boxes, searches by tile attributes and tracks samples. Square Loop does all of these.
How do I stop breaking boxes when selling tiles?
Use box-based dispatch so deliveries are planned in whole boxes, with the square-metre quantity calculated from them.
See Square Loop set up for a tile showroom. Book a free demo with your own designs.
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