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About Elmer Glass
Location: Rifle,CO
Employees: 10 employees:
2 owners (Kim and her husband, who manage operations and field teams)
3 office staff
1 shop worker
4 field technicians
Type of Business Served: Elmer Glass serves a mix of residential (70%) and commercial (30%) clients, specializing in storefront glass, showers, mirrors, and tempered glass. Based in a small town, the company operates as a jack-of-all-trades, catering to diverse glass needs.
Key Results
1 Hour Quoting Time
Decreased quote-to-order processing time from 5 hours to just 1 hour.
Improved Purchase Order Accuracy
Transitioned from carbon-copy PO books to digital POs, eliminating frequent errors.
80% Less Time Spent Searching for Job Info
Thanks to centralized data storage, reducing time spent searching for customer detail
Streamlined Scheduling: Digital scheduling and task assignment boosted technician productivity and accountability.
Increased Cash Flow Visibility: Improved tracking of job statuses and accounts receivable, enabling better financial planning.
Background to Business Operations
Elmer Glass is a family-owned business with a 50-year history, handling both small residential and commercial projects. The company has a storefront that allows for walk-ins and serves as a community hub for glass services.
Prior to implementing Glazier, the company used Glass Pack, a software originally designed for auto glass services, alongside QuickBooks and manual carbon-copy books.
However, these outdated tools created inefficiencies across all business functions, including estimating, purchase orders, and field coordination.
Key Business Challenges
1. Inefficient Quoting Process
Elmer Glass relies on a hybrid manual and digital approach to creating estimates.
Job details were collected on paper and then re-entered into Glass Pack, with errors often occurring during the transfer.
This manual workflow doubled the time required for quoting, delaying responses to customers and slowing down project initiation.
2. Outdated Purchase Order System
Purchase orders were managed using a carbon-copy book, leading to frequent inaccuracies and misplaced records.
3. Lack of Data Centralization
Customer information, job details, and photos were stored across various locations, including email folders, physical files, and servers.
“When something went wrong, we’d have to dig through years of emails and paper files to find what we needed.”
4. Fragmented Scheduling System
Scheduling relied on a whiteboard and magnets, supplemented by verbal updates. This dual system often resulted in miscommunication and missing data.
5. Limited Ability to Collect Balances
Glass Pack failed to integrate seamlessly with QuickBooks, leaving the team without a clear view of accounts receivable or upcoming cash flow.
“We didn’t know what balances were pending or how much cash we’d have coming in—everything felt like guesswork.”
Glazier’s Solutions
Elmer Glass implemented Glazier to address these inefficiencies, gradually rolling out the platform across their operations.
1. Quotes
Glazier automatically calculates estimates based on dimensions, materials, and markups.
Impact: Cut quoting time from 5 hours to 1 hour, allowing for faster customer responses.
“I can now pull up a quote, review it, and send it out in minutes, even when I’m out of the office.”
2. Purchase Orders
Glazier generates POs directly from estimates, ensuring accuracy and reducing manual errors.
Impact: Simplified the procurement process and eliminated discrepancies.
“Everything is in one place now—no more hunting through files or dealing with typos.”
3. Jobs
Glazier stores job details, notes, photos, and communications in a single system.
Impact: Reduced time spent searching for information by up to 80%.
“If a customer calls with a question, we have all the details—photos, notes, and estimates—ready to go.”
4. Scheduling & Field App
Glazier enables field technicians to access schedules and job details via an app, reducing reliance on whiteboards and paper.
Impact: Improved accountability and allowed office staff to track job progress in real-time.
“Now we can see when a job is done—pictures and all—without waiting for someone to come back to the office.”
5. Dashboards & Quickbooks Integration
Glazier tracks accounts receivable and integrates with QuickBooks for seamless financial management.
Impact: Improved cash flow projections and revenue recognition.
“We can see what’s coming in and follow up on outstanding balances much more efficiently.”
The Benefits
1. Faster Quotes & Purchase Orders
Automating key processes like quoting and purchase orders has saved the team hours each week, freeing up time for higher-value activities.
2. Improved Customer Satisfaction
Faster estimates and better communication have enhanced the customer experience, leading to quicker job approvals and stronger relationships.
3. Enhanced Financial Governance
With clear visibility into job statuses and accounts receivable, Elmer Glass can now plan more effectively and avoid cash flow surprises.
4. Better Documentation
Centralized data storage ensures that all job details are accessible, making it easier to resolve disputes and maintain quality control.
Conclusion
Glazier has transformed Elmer Glass’s operations, replacing outdated systems with an integrated platform that saves time, reduces errors, and improves visibility.
By automating and centralizing workflows, the team has gained more control over their business and is better equipped to grow in a competitive market.
Book a call today to learn how Glazier can help your business achieve similar results!