If your business sells non-stock or customizable items, the ability to provide quick and accurate price quotes can make the difference between securing an online order and losing a sale. Unilog’s CX1 eCommerce platform helps distributors like you streamline the quote process with its built-in Enhanced Request for Quote (RFQ) tool that enables your customers to create and submit quote requests directly through your online storefront.

Easy to use and access, the Enhanced RFQ tool is available in the customer’s online account portal within your website. To use it, the customer simply logs into your site, clicks on their account, and chooses “Request for Quote” from the dropdown menu.

The customer fills out the required contact information and then begins adding part numbers from your online catalog with the quantities they want quoted. Detailed product information appears once a part number is typed in the cell so the customer can click it and confirm that it is indeed the product they want. Once confirmed, the system auto-populates the additional product information into the other cells.

When the customer has finished building their product quote request, they can select a date they need the products by and enter an optional quote request Job Name. Once the customer submits the RFQ, the system immediately sends an email notification to your sales team, enabling them to review the request and respond promptly with a price quote.

Enhanced RFQ Advantages

This customer-centric tool not only makes RFQs easy to create and submit, but it also ensures correct part numbers are used to generate an accurate quote back from your salespeople. Plus, with the ability to use the online RFQ tool any time they want, customers can submit requests at their convenience.

For your business, the RFQ feature accelerates the response time to review, build, and provide quotes. It also reduces manual quote handling and opportunities for errors. Enhanced RFQ is mutually beneficial for both you and your customers, resulting in optimized selling and greater customer satisfaction.

Is Enhanced RFQ for You?

If your salespeople are receiving numerous requests for quotes from customers via phone calls, faxes, or emails, online RFQs will immediately bring efficiency to your operations. Enhanced RFQ is also advantageous if your industry sells customized or non-standard items. Here are four industries in particular that can benefit from an online RFQ offering:

• Manufacturing & Industrial Supply: Companies that provide specialized parts or equipment often deal with custom orders or non-stock items that require pricing based on quantity, material, and production lead times.
• Construction & Building Materials: Contractors often need quotes for large volumes of materials, custom configurations, or items that are not typically stocked, making RFQ an ideal tool to streamline requests.
• Electrical & Plumbing Suppliers: These industries frequently handle requests for bulk orders, unique fittings, or project-specific items, where precise pricing and timelines are key to the purchasing decision.
• Wholesale Distributors: Wholesalers dealing with large-volume purchases or those offering a wide range of product options benefit from RFQ by providing a simple way for customers to request tailored pricing.

If you’re looking to streamline the process for handling customer inquiries and ensure a smoother path from quote request to order fulfillment, consider implementing an online RFQ tool like Unilog’s Enhanced RFQ included with our CX1 eCommerce platform. Built with your business and customers in mind, CX1 eCommerce gives you the tools and functionality you need to meet your customers where they are and deliver an experience they can trust. If you’d like to see our platform and its many B2B customer-centric features in action, contact us for a free demo.