Excel alternatives for quoting and estimates

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Home » Quotes & Estimates » Excel alternatives for quoting and estimates
Microsoft Excel is a popular spreadsheet program and comes with a variety of smart functions and other features. However, it might not be the best solution for all businesses, especially those dealing with a lot of information. Excel is simple-to-use, can process data quickly, and provides a lot of customization options, but it lacks modern specialized solutions when it comes to advanced functionality and dealing with different types of datasets.

Why Consider Excel Alternatives for Quote Management?

Businesses processes have evolved to become more complex and different tasks require specialized tools. For example, relying on Excel for managing projects can lead to a lot of issues down the road. Similarly, using Excel for managing quotes can not only decrease team productivity but can also make reporting ineffective and make it difficult to track and manage issues.
The good news is that there are plenty of alternatives to MS Excel for managing quotes and some of them are even free. Here are the Top 5 alternatives to MS Excel for creating and managing quotes and estimates.

Osmos Cloud

Osmos Cloud is designed to keep the unique requirements of SMBs in mind. It is a comprehensive and cost-effective quote management solution that also comes with a simple-to-use CRM, which works well for businesses that don’t want/need to spend a lot of money on a standalone CRM. Here is why we think Osmos Cloud is a great alternative to Excel for managing quotes:
  • Up to 10 times faster quote creation.

  • No paperwork, more quotes in less time, which ultimately leads to an increase in sales.

  • Business efficiency delivered by quote automation

  • Automatic follow-ups to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

  • A web-based system so sales reps can send quotes from anywhere, using almost any device.

  • Quote-to-invoice conversion and payment collection make managing payments hassle-free.

  • Multi-channel and eQuotes, including WhatsApp and other social media platforms.

  • Intuitive and easy-to-use, no long-term contracts involved.

  • Subscription plans tailored for all business sizes.

  • Client management, including contacts, profile, and billing information.

  • Customizable quote templates without requiring the https://www.osmoscloud.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/header-cover-1.jpg to be familiar with designing/programming.

  • Multiple functionalities can also be used to manage sales functions other than quotes and include a simple to use CRM.

  • Real-time sales reporting and built-in 30+ reports.

  • Integration with other solutions including QuickBooks, Gmail, Stripe, MailChimp, and Slack.

SpreadsheetWeb.com

The solution is designed for businesses that want to keep using Excel, but need extra functionality. It cannot be categorized as a comprehensive quote management solution, but it still made it to this list because it allows users to turn their expertise in Excel to creating web apps without any coding. It’s essentially a tool to turn complex spreadsheets into web-apps and can also be used to manage quote forms.

  • Excel-to-web apps without any coding.

  • Drag-and-drop interface.

  • Data collection.

  • Online calculators.

  • Dashboards.

  • Library of controls.

  • Standard web controls•Charts, maps, and grids.

  • Support for 450+ Excel functions, including nested functions and calculation algorithms.

  • Customizable excel stylesheets.

  • Responsive design.

  • Online databases.

  • Dynamic document generation.

Mosspaper

The Quote-to-Cash solution allows users to create, electronically sign, accept, and track quotes/contracts and accept payments. Productivity tools such as status summary and an intuitive dashboard provide a bird-eye view of the daily activities, allowing sales reps to focus more on providing great customer services instead of worrying about the administrative tasks. Some key features of Moss paper include:

  • Centralized data management and workspace

  • Customer behavior and buying patterns

  • Paperless approval process

  • Payment collection and tracking

  • e-signing of quotes and contracts

  • Microsoft Outlook 365 Add-in•Simple-to-use creator tool

  • Audit history

  • User roles/permissions

  • Tracking and auto-reminders

  • Ending contract management

Nusii

The proposal software is designed to keep the unique requirements of creative businesses in mind. It allows creating beautiful proposals using built-in templates in minutes. Custom domain, email, and branding allow users to create professional quotes in minutes and reuse them without having to find-and-replace content themselves. Key features of the online solution include:

  • e-signing.

  • Automatic reminders.

  • Unlimited templates and clients.

  • Export to PDF.

  • Proposal notifications.

  • Customizable branding, domain, and email.

  • Proposal tracking.

  • Reusable content.

  • Client reports.

  • Integration with Zapier.

Monday.com

The cloud-based platform takes a visual approach and simplifies collaboration between teams. Color-coded boards make it easier for team members to see progress and quickly check due-dates and how different assignments are progressing. It allows planning, managing, and tracking tasks from a single platform and can be set up within a few minutes. Automation of repetitive tasks and integration with a variety of other systems allow teams to be more productive and minimizes data duplication.

  • Visual organization.

  • Centralized management.

  • Board-based communication, better organization.

  • Client invitations.

  • Advanced search.

  • Timeline similar to Gantt charts.

  • Task planning, management, and tracking.

  • Customizable templates.

  • Seamless integration with a variety of other platforms, including Zoom, Slack, Zendesk, Salesforce, MS Teams, Outlook, and Jira.

Excel is mainly designed to be used in individual computers and for specific purposes. Although you can still manage to create quotes using Excel, the process can be complicated and might take a lot of time. That’s where alternatives come in handy. Osmos Cloud is a great option if you want a comprehensive solution. The alternatives also provide different levels of functionality and make the quote management process easier and much more efficient compared to using spreadsheets.

Osmos Cloud

osmoscloud.com

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