From first enquiry to final claim without re-keying the job

A window and door business runs on handovers. An enquiry arrives from a homeowner or builder, someone measures and prices it, and the quote gets chased. Once it is won, the job needs materials ordered, then building, glazing, delivering and installing. Commercial jobs add tender dates and progress claims.

FSManager is business management software built for that chain in New Zealand aluminium joinery. A job starts as an opportunity, becomes a quote, and when the quote is won it becomes a job that carries the customer, specification and price with it. Each step below names the module and its plan. Lite is on sale now. Full is in use with beta clients and goes on sale in November 2026. Pro follows in January 2027.

1. Enquiry to won quote

Modules: CRM, Quoting & Sales, Document Creation (all Lite)

Log an enquiry before you know who the customer is, and set follow-up dates. Build the quote from a budget, or import the estimate from your estimating software, then add options, optional extras and a deposit. When the customer wants changes, add a revision: earlier versions stay on file. Quote letters and producer statements merge from your own Word templates. Winning the quote creates the job.

2. Site measure, ordering and receiving

Modules: Job Management and site measures (Lite); supplier ordering and receiving (Full)

A site measure moves through Created, Assigned, Booked, Returned and Paperwork, and the expected date shows its effect on delivery. On the Full plan, the ordering worksheet lists every item waiting for a supplier order. Pick the supplier, the due date fills from their lead time, then record the order number and attach the purchase order. The receiving worksheet ticks it off on arrival. If something arrives faulty, raise a non-conforming product and the affected work is held until it is resolved.

3. Production on the factory floor

Modules: Manufacturing (Lite; quality gates on Full)

The Job Manager board shows every job part by production stage, with product, colour, dates and planned hours. Each task records planned and actual minutes, and the stage moves on as tasks complete. Tasks can be tracked once per part or once per item, so you can see which windows and doors are finished. The Factory Paperwork Manager splits a multi-page PDF onto the right items, so assembly sheets reach the person making the window. One item can be held without stopping the job.

FSManager also manages cutting lists and tracks assembly through each stage. On the Full plan, quality gates check the work at each production stage before it moves on.

4. Time on the job, and payroll

Modules: Time Recording, Payroll Integration (both Lite)

Staff sign in at a shared kiosk with a PIN, then start and stop tasks against jobs or allocate their day at sign-out. Hours land on the job as actual minutes, with no spreadsheet. Supervisors approve timesheets, and a pay week exports them with leave to your payroll provider. Timesheets and leave can also be pushed to Xero in one step.

5. Delivery, site works and glazing

Modules: Delivery Management, Site Works & Installation, Quality Assurance (all Full)

Delivery planning uses what has actually been manufactured, and a cash-on-delivery rule can stop a delivery being booked until payment terms are met. Site works tracks what has been delivered, installed and completed, with photos, from a tablet or phone. For glass fitted on site, assign a glazier, book the date, mark the site ready and email the request form. A failed quality check holds delivery and installation until it is fixed.

6. Variations, claims and job costing

Modules: Variations & Cash Sales, Financial & Back-costing, Integrations (all Full)

Raise a Notice of Change, price it against the original quote, get it approved, then do the work. Approved variations flow into claims and invoices, and claims can be generated to Construction Contracts Act requirements from job data. Back-costing compares actual cost, from time, materials and supplier invoices, against the quoted budget, and work in progress comes from that live data. Xero is the accounting link, and MYOB is also available.

What it doesn't do

• It isn't estimating or window design software. You can import an estimate file or enter the budget by hand, but FSManager does not draw or engineer the window.
• It needs an internet connection. Extended offline use is not supported.
• Factory scheduling and stock management are not in Lite or Full. They arrive with the Pro plan in January 2027.

FAQ

Does it suit both residential and commercial work?

Yes. Opportunities carry a job category, and categories can have tender dates. A quote can go to a head contractor with a copy for the sub, and contacts can be recorded as builder, site manager, project manager or quantity surveyor.

Can I bring in quotes from my estimating software?

Yes. The Quote Importer reads the export file and its schedule, bill of materials and labour PDFs, then asks you to match anything it cannot link to your catalogue. You can also enter the budget by hand.

Does it connect to Xero, payroll or other systems?

Xero is the accounting integration, and MYOB is also available. Time data goes to your payroll provider through the pay week export. The Full plan and above include a REST API, with webhooks, for connecting other systems.

Can the factory use it on a tablet?

Yes. The Job Manager and sales pipeline have a touch layout for a factory tablet or shared kiosk screen. It runs in the browser.

Which plan do I need?

Lite covers enquiries, quoting, site measures, jobs, production tracking and time. Full adds supplier ordering, delivery, site works, quality, variations, claims and back-costing, and goes on sale in November 2026. Pro adds factory scheduling and stock management in January 2027.

See it for yourself

Open the interactive demo at /demo and follow a quote through to the production board. FSManager comes in Lite, Full and Pro plans, priced by team size: see FSManager pricing.