Choosing Between Cloud vs. Desktop-based Software

Choosing between a cloud-based business management software option versus a desktop-based option is not like deciding between chocolate or peanut butter… there is no Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup option. That is why D-Tools recognized that even though its highly successful SI (System Integrator) software was the leading locally based business management platform for integration companies, it needed a complementary cloud solution to reach an even broader demographic of dealers that would continue its evolution.

And so began a multi-year odyssey to develop D-Tools Cloud, a web-based Software as a Service (SaaS) solution for the market that launched three years ago. Since the debut of D-Tools Cloud, the next-generation platform has offered sales pipeline management, on-the-fly estimating from any mobile device, intelligent visual quoting, interactive system design presentations, change orders and product procurement using supplier-authorized dealer-specific pricing. Recently, D-Tools Cloud evolved to a full end-to-end, scalable solution by adding a new project management suite covers project planning, resource management, scheduling, task assignments, item tracking, time tracking and more.

“We’re really excited about the new project management features in D-Tools Cloud, because it really moves the platform beyond really what we believe to be a killer sales and CRM for integrators,” says Tim Bigoness, chief marketing officer at D-Tools. “We built this thing from the ground up, first and foremost, to be a sales management tool within an end-to-end solution.”

D-Tools Cloud provides integrators with the ability to manage their sales opportunities and their pipeline, and make it really easy for them to generate proposals. Now, the software also focuses on the post-sales process, with change-order management features built in that allows them to track those changes and generate change orders and generate purchase orders, and now manage the project.

“It gives integrators of any size very powerful tools,” says Bigoness. “They can do full-blown project plans, generate checklists with tasks and sub-tasks, organize their teams, or something as simple as directing a technician to go to a particular job today.”

Bigoness adds, “Really any size integrator can now have the same power of D-Tools that the big boys use without that learning curve and complexity that that often accompanies it. With D-Tools Cloud, we learned from the 20-plus years that we’ve had System Integrator in the market and reimagined it for a completely modern platform that can be used by anybody.”