Zoho implementation for Glass and Aluminium Fabrication
Zoho for glass and aluminium fabrication: quote, measure, fabricate, install and bill glass and aluminium jobs with materials tracked per site.
Business process workflow
How glass and aluminium fabrication work flows in Zoho
Quote, measure, fabricate, install and bill glass and aluminium jobs with materials tracked per site.
Common problems we fix
- Site measurements and quotes are slow
- Offcuts and wastage are not tracked
- Installation schedules clash
The process, step by step
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Zoho ProjectsDepartment by department
How every department of a glass and aluminium fabrication business works in Zoho
A glass and aluminium fabricator runs estimation, shop drawings, procurement, fabrication, site installation, accounts and HR around one job and its window marks. In Zoho each mark carries its size, glass, cutting list, inspection and install status, so the factory and the site work from the same schedule.
How the departments hand work to each other
Each arrow is a handover. Because every team works on the same Zoho records, the next department picks up the work without re-entering it.
- 1Sales and Estimation to Design and Shop Drawings: Confirmed order with opening schedule and specs
- 2Sales and Estimation to Finance and Accounts: Order value, advance and payment terms
- 3Design and Shop Drawings to Procurement and Stores: Glass order lines and hardware lists
- 4Design and Shop Drawings to Fabrication and Quality: Approved cutting lists by mark
- 5Procurement and Stores to Fabrication and Quality: Profiles, hardware and glass ready for the job
- 6Procurement and Stores to Finance and Accounts: Goods receipts for supplier bills
- 7Fabrication and Quality to Site Installation: Dispatched units by mark and floor
- 8Fabrication and Quality to Finance and Accounts: Dispatched quantities for billing
- 9Site Installation to Finance and Accounts: Installed and certified quantities for progress billing
- 10Finance and Accounts to Management and Reporting: Job margins and cash position
- 11HR and Payroll to Finance and Accounts: Payroll summary by job
- 12Management and Reporting to Sales and Estimation: Pricing and target segments
- 13Management and Reporting to Fabrication and Quality: Capacity and priority decisions
Each department in detail
Open a department to see its workflow, its own entity diagram, who does the work, what needs approval, the reports it watches and what it hands over.
Sales and EstimationWins window, door, partition and facade jobs from homeowners, builders and contractors with accurate per-unit and per-square-metre pricing.
Workflow
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Capture project enquiries
Enquiries from builders, architects, contractors and homeowners are logged with project type, city and drawings.
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Take off quantities
Estimators list each opening or facade panel with size, system, glass type and finish from the drawings.
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Price the schedule
Profiles, glass, hardware, fabrication and installation are priced per unit or square metre, with margin added.
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Send quote and revise
The quote with a window schedule and specs goes out, and revisions are tracked by version.
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Confirm order and advance
The signed order and advance release the job to shop drawings.
Zoho Forms
Zoho WorkDrive
Zoho SignEntity diagram: Sales and Estimation
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho CRM
- Zoho Creator
Read the relationships as text
- Project Enquiry measured in Opening Schedule (1:N)
- Opening Schedule priced in Estimate (1:N)
- Estimate becomes Job Order (1:1)
Who does the work
- Sales engineer
- Estimator
- Sales head
Approvals and controls
- Rates below the minimum per square metre need the sales head
- Non-standard systems or glass need the design lead to confirm feasibility before quoting
Reports they watch
- Quotes and win rate by customer type
- Order book in square metres
- Quote turnaround time
Hands over to
- Design and Shop Drawings: Confirmed order with opening schedule and specs
- Finance and Accounts: Order value, advance and payment terms
Design and Shop DrawingsMeasures site openings and produces approved shop drawings and cutting lists for fabrication.
Workflow
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Take site measurements
Actual opening sizes are measured on site, since they often differ from architectural drawings.
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Prepare shop drawings
Elevations, sections and details for each mark are drawn and shared for approval.
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Get approval
The customer or consultant approves drawings, with each revision recorded.
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Generate cutting lists
Profile cutting lengths, glass sizes and hardware lists are produced for each mark.
Entity diagram: Design and Shop Drawings
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Creator
- Zoho WorkDrive
Read the relationships as text
- Site Measurement used in Shop Drawing (N:N)
- Shop Drawing produces Cutting List (1:N)
- Shop Drawing produces Glass Order Line (1:N)
Who does the work
- Site measurer
- Design engineer
- Design lead
Approvals and controls
- Nothing goes to fabrication until the shop drawing revision is approved
Reports they watch
- Drawings pending approval
- Days from order to approved drawings
- Revisions per job
Hands over to
- Procurement and Stores: Glass order lines and hardware lists
- Fabrication and Quality: Approved cutting lists by mark
Procurement and StoresBuys profiles, glass, hardware and sealants and keeps stock and offcuts under control.
Workflow
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Optimise bar cutting
Cutting lists are grouped to reduce profile wastage, and offcut stock is used first.
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Order glass to size
Toughened, laminated and double-glazed units are ordered from processors with sizes and marks.
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Order profiles and hardware
Profiles by system and finish, and hardware by mark, are ordered against the job.
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Receive and check
Glass is checked for size and defects, and profiles for finish and length, on arrival.
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Entity diagram: Procurement and Stores
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Inventory
Read the relationships as text
- Purchase Order delivers Glass Unit (1:N)
- Purchase Order delivers Profile Stock (1:N)
- Profile Stock leaves Offcut (1:N)
Who does the work
- Purchase executive
- Storekeeper
Approvals and controls
- Re-ordering glass due to measurement or cutting errors needs the production manager
Reports they watch
- Profile wastage percentage by job
- Glass on order by ETA
- Offcut stock usable
Hands over to
- Fabrication and Quality: Profiles, hardware and glass ready for the job
- Finance and Accounts: Goods receipts for supplier bills
Fabrication and QualityCuts, machines, assembles and glazes units to drawing, and checks every unit before dispatch.
Workflow
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Plan the shop load
Jobs are scheduled on cutting, machining and assembly lines by target date.
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Cut and machine
Profiles are cut and machined to the cutting list, with each batch marked against the job.
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Assemble and glaze
Frames and sashes are assembled, hardware fitted and glass installed by mark.
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Inspect each unit
Size, squareness, operation and sealing are checked and recorded per unit with photos.
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Pack and dispatch
Units are protected, labelled by mark and floor, and dispatched to site.
Entity diagram: Fabrication and Quality
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Creator
- Zoho Inventory
Read the relationships as text
- Fab Job includes Unit (1:N)
- Unit checked by Unit Inspection (1:1)
- Dispatch Note carries Unit (N:N)
Who does the work
- Fabricator
- Glazier
- QC inspector
- Production manager
Approvals and controls
- Units failing inspection cannot be dispatched until rework is checked
Reports they watch
- Units fabricated per day
- First pass inspection rate
- Jobs behind schedule
Hands over to
- Site Installation: Dispatched units by mark and floor
- Finance and Accounts: Dispatched quantities for billing
Site InstallationInstalls units on site, seals them, gets them signed off and closes snags.
Workflow
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Plan site work
Install crews are scheduled by site readiness, floor and crane or scaffold availability.
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Install and anchor
Units are fixed, anchored and sealed, with progress logged by mark and floor.
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Entity diagram: Site Installation
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho FSM
- Zoho Creator
- Zoho Sign
Read the relationships as text
- Install Visit updates Install Progress (1:N)
- Install Progress may raise Snag (1:N)
- Install Progress closes with Handover Cert (1:N)
Who does the work
- Installer
- Site supervisor
- Projects manager
Approvals and controls
- Work at height needs a permit and harness check before starting
Reports they watch
- Square metres installed per week
- Open snags by site
- Sites waiting on readiness
Hands over to
- Finance and Accounts: Installed and certified quantities for progress billing
Finance and AccountsBills advances, deliveries and installation progress, collects retention and pays suppliers.
Workflow
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Bill by stage
Advance, supply and installation invoices are raised by measured or certified quantity, with GST in India or VAT in the UAE and UK.
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Track retention
Retention held by builders is tracked until release after the defects period.
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Pay suppliers
Glass, profile and hardware bills are matched to POs and receipts.
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Report job margin
Revenue per job is compared with material, wastage, labour and installation cost.
Zoho AnalyticsEntity diagram: Finance and Accounts
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Books
- Zoho Creator
- Zoho Analytics
Read the relationships as text
- Stage Invoice holds back Retention (1:N)
- Stage Invoice feeds Job Margin (N:N)
- Supplier Bill costs Job Margin (N:N)
Who does the work
- Accountant
- Collections executive
- Finance manager
Approvals and controls
- Payments above a set amount need two approvers
- Retention write-offs need the finance manager
Reports they watch
- Receivables and retention by builder
- Job margin versus estimate
- Cash flow forecast
Hands over to
- Management and Reporting: Job margins and cash position
HR and PayrollHires fabricators and installers, manages shop and site attendance, and pays wages and overtime.
Workflow
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Hire skilled trades
Openings for fabricators, glaziers and installers are tracked with trade tests.
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Train for safety
Glass handling, machine safety and work at height training are recorded.
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Track shop and site attendance
Attendance is marked at the factory or at site, with overtime recorded.
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Run payroll
Wages and overtime go through Zoho Payroll where it is available, or your local payroll provider.
Zoho Recruit
Zoho People
Zoho Learn
Zoho Shifts
Zoho PayrollEntity diagram: HR and Payroll
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho People
- Zoho Learn
- Zoho Payroll
Read the relationships as text
- Employee completes Training Record (1:N)
- Employee records Attendance (1:N)
- Attendance feeds Payslip (N:N)
Who does the work
- HR executive
- HR manager
Approvals and controls
- Installers without valid height training cannot be scheduled for high-rise work
Reports they watch
- Headcount by trade
- Overtime by line and site
- Training due
Hands over to
- Finance and Accounts: Payroll summary by job
Management and ReportingGives owners one view of orders, factory output, site progress, wastage and margin.
Workflow
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Combine job data
Zoho Analytics pulls CRM, Creator, Inventory, FSM and Books into one model by job.
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Weekly production and site review
Units made, dispatched and installed are reviewed against target dates.
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Monthly margin review
Margin, wastage and receivables by job and customer are reviewed.
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Act on exceptions
Alerts for late jobs, high wastage and overdue payments go to owners.
Zoho Flow
Zoho CliqEntity diagram: Management and Reporting
The records this team creates and updates, their key fields, and how they link.
- Zoho Analytics
- Zoho Flow
Read the relationships as text
- Dashboard shows KPI (N:N)
- KPI triggers Alert (1:N)
Who does the work
- Managing director
- Operations head
Approvals and controls
- Rate lists and system choices are approved by management
Reports they watch
- Order book in square metres
- On-time completion by job
- Margin and wastage by job
Hands over to
- Sales and Estimation: Pricing and target segments
- Fabrication and Quality: Capacity and priority decisions
What to expect when you start
A typical plan for a focused project of one to three apps. Larger scope or messy data takes longer; we confirm the timeline after discovery.
Week 1 to 2
Map and agree
We walk through your glass and aluminium fabrication process from "Enquiry and site visit" to "Billing", list the records and fields you really need, and agree the scope.
Week 3 to 4
Build the core
We configure Zoho CRM and Zoho FSM with your stages, roles, approvals and templates.
Week 5 to 6
Connect and migrate
We clean and import your data, connect email, payments or other tools, and build the reports you will use every week.
Week 7 to 8
Test and go live
Your team tests with real cases, we train each role, and we cut over with a checklist.
Mistakes to avoid
- Copying the old spreadsheet column for column. Keep only the fields that help someone decide or act.
- Leaving out exceptions such as returns, changes and cancellations. Model them early so the team does not work around the system.
- No owner per stage. Name one person for "Enquiry and site visit" and one for "Billing".
- Going live without checking reports against numbers you already trust.
A good first win
Start with the problem that hurts most: Site measurements and quotes are slow. Fixing one visible problem in the first month builds trust and adoption for everything after it.
What you can measure
- Quote turnaround
- Wastage %
- On-time installation
Questions about Zoho for glass and aluminium fabrication
Which Zoho apps suit glass and aluminium fabrication businesses?
A typical glass and aluminium fabrication setup uses Zoho CRM, Zoho FSM, Zoho Creator, Zoho Inventory, Zoho Projects, Zoho Books. We confirm the exact apps after mapping your own process in a discovery call.
How does the business process flow in Zoho for glass and aluminium fabrication?
1. Enquiry and site visit; 2. Quote; 3. Materials; 4. Fabrication; 5. Installation; 6. Billing.
Which departments does a Zoho setup for glass and aluminium fabrication cover?
A full setup covers Sales and Estimation, Design and Shop Drawings, Procurement and Stores, Fabrication and Quality, Site Installation, Finance and Accounts, HR and Payroll, Management and Reporting. Each department works in its own Zoho screens, but they share the same customer, order and finance records, so work moves from one team to the next without being retyped.
Zoho apps we set up for glass and aluminium fabrication
Zoho CRM
Zoho Creator
Zoho Inventory
Zoho Books
Not sure which apps fit your business? Book a free 30-minute call or see all Zoho products we implement
Zoho services for glass and aluminium fabrication
All Zoho services →- Zoho implementationZoho CRM live within 2 weeks, fixed price agreed in writing
- Zoho support100-hour support packs, first reply within 1 hour
- Zoho consultingChoose the right apps and plan before you build
- Data migration to ZohoMove from Salesforce, HubSpot, Tally, QuickBooks or spreadsheets
- Zoho integration servicesConnect Zoho to payments, ads, telephony, e-commerce and more
- Zoho auditA scored review of your current Zoho setup
More industries we build Zoho workflows for
Zoho adapts to almost any business that has leads, orders, projects, people and money to track. A few examples are below; the industries page lists all 179 with a typical process flow and the Zoho apps behind each.
- Construction and ContractingControl tenders, project costs, subcontractors, site materials and progress billing from one system.
- Wholesale and DistributionRun orders, stock across warehouses, credit limits and collections for dealers and retailers.
- Food and BeverageTrack outlet and central kitchen stock, recipes, suppliers and daily sales with branch-wise accounts.
- Fitness and WellnessConvert enquiries into members, manage bookings and recurring fees, and keep members engaged.
- Staffing and RecruitmentManage client job orders, candidate pipelines, placements and invoicing in one flow.
- Travel and TourismTurn enquiries into itineraries, bookings and payments with supplier and customer tracking.
- Telecom and ISPsRun activation, installation, support and recurring billing for subscribers and enterprise accounts.
- Media and AdvertisingManage clients, briefs, campaign projects, approvals and retainer billing for agencies and media firms.
- Import and Export TradingHandle enquiries, proforma invoices, shipments, documentation and multi-currency accounting.