1. Introduction - PST · All aspects of the conservatory can be costed including non modelled items relating to site conditions and additional works. Costing of the model can be on

Virtual Salesroom – Sales

1. Introduction

Virtual salesroom (VS) is the latest software solution to be offered by Production Software Technology Ltd (PST) to the conservatory industry. PST has been designing industry specific software for nearly 20 years and has used the knowledge gained over this period in authoring its latest application. VS has been designed to be used through the complete life cycle of a typical conservatory project, from point of sale through to survey and manufacture. Using a unique on line licensing engine the use of the software can be tightly managed by the distributor without the necessity of distributing expensive dongles or liaising with PST for license allocation. In designing VS, PST firstly identified the following list of goals that would have to be met:

• Easy and intuitive for sales staff to learn and use.• Quick and easy to modify conservatory models in front of a customer.• To be able to design and modify models in plan or 3D views.• Provide Drag & Drop tools for instantly modifying a model in 3D.• Ability to view multiple models on a single background photo.• Customisable report set, which collate any number of models.• Constant live checking of buildability and structural rules.• Optimisable bar selection from loads to give cheapest roof.• Extendable to take care of other product lines i.e. windows, doors etc.• Plug and play approach to modules for costing, checking, loading etc.• Highly and easily customisable between distributors.

2. Modelling

VS supports multiple models within a single project so that more than one conservatory can be designed within the same project. Each model has its own unique settings such that the models can have different profile colours roof glazing etc. Roof shapes can be input from a selection of standard shapes or via a free form editor. Any roof can then be post modified to include boundary interruptions such as chimneys and windows and fire walls. There is no limit to the number of alterations that the user can make and there is a full undo/redo available just in case the user makes a mistake.The building is constantly being verified that it can be fully manufactured and that it is structurally viable so removing many costly errors. The rules used to verify the roof are unique to each supplier and any components that become invalid are clearly highlighted to the user along with tips on how to rectify the problems. The user is allowed to work in either the stylised 2D views or the 3D view, making the expansive range of cut-out and modification tools very simple and easy to use. Modification

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tools are applied by using a drag and drop approach with valid drop zones being clearly highlighted in the appropriate display window.Commonly used roof shapes can be added to the Model Catalogue, allowing quick access to frequent and repeatedly used conservatories. The Catalogue stores the roof shape along with all properties such as glass types, materials and colours.

3. Visualisation

Conservatory models can be visualised against photos of the customers house. Lighting levels and direction can be altered, and textures can be taken from the background photo and applied to different elements of the conservatory model to give a more realistic sales image. More than one conservatory model can be displayed on a single background photo.

4. Costing

All aspects of the conservatory can be costed including non modelled items relating to site conditions and additional works. Costing of the model can be on a cost plus basis using the exact cost of the materials used and any labour or via a matrix type price book analysis. The costing module is a pluggable module which can if required be programmed on a user by user basis so giving a great deal of control and flexibility.

5. Reports

VS contains a unique report manager which allows fully customised Report Sets to be created very quickly and easily using drag and drop tools to ‘drop’ any number of individual report pages into a Report Set. In addition, a Report Set can contain ‘Separate Groupings’ and/or ‘Combined Groupings’ to determine if an individual report page is printed repeatedly for each conservatory model in the project, or just once by collating data from all conservatories.

6. Licensing

The licensing model used by VS has been designed with the intention of making distributors self sufficient in the controlling of who is able to use their version of the software. Licences are centrally managed by an on-line database and protection is via software licences without the need for any costly dongles. Licenses are enabled on a month by month basis and reactivation is normally achieved by across the internet communication. PST understands that this can be an issue for some computers and so there is also the possibility of enabling licenses without an internet connection. This



means that if a customer chooses to leave the distributor his version of the software will be operable for no more than an additional month and there are no expensive dongles to try and recover. The license can then be immediately reallocated to another user if required.

7. End user benefits

End user benefits associated with using VS are considerable and range from training speeds through to cost savings made by the highest of flat pack rates. The primary benefits are as follows:

• Easy to use so minimal end user training required.• Expansive range of modification tools reduces remodelling time and errors• Dynamic checking reduces unforeseen errors.• Virtually any roof shape can be input.• Extendable software allows new modules to be added, e.g. Roofline, garage

doors, standalone window & door products.

8. Conclusion

VS is the software solution for conservatory sales, which allows sales staff to reduce errors, improve efficiency and save money. By removing the requirement for trial erection, roofs can be made faster, with fewer errors and less material.


Virtual Salesroom – Features

1. User definable survey questionsCreate fully customizable survey questionnaire forms;

2. Standard roof shape selectionCreate complete conservatories directly from a library of roof shape templates;



3. Free form designUnusual roof shapes can be built from scratch using an array of free form tools;

4. Select complete models from the Model CatalogueQuickly access and add frequently used conservatory models;



5. Model error identificationBuild errors are automatically highlighted as the model is built;

6. Model error help on rectifyingInformation shows how to rectify any problems;



7. Dragging a cut out tool into the 3D view and display of the legal drop pointsEasily work in 3D by simply dragging modifications onto the model;

8. The result of applying the cut out.The full cutout is created straight away;



9. Build Report Sets using the Report ManagerDrag and drop individual report pages into a Report Set;

10. PDF report setsReports are easily viewed and distributed in PDF format;



11. VisualisationPosition conservatories against photos of a customer house;


Virtual Salesroom – Modelling examples

1. Continuous rafter running down to eaves 2. Skewed roof slope

3. Skewed box gutter cut out 4. Skewed chimney cut out

5. Double stepped box gutter cut out 6. Double dog legged wall bar

7. Asymmetric chimney cut out 8. Dropped valley

9. Fire wall 10. Hipped box gutter cut out


Virtual Salesroom – Modelling examples

11. Orangery 12. Raised hipped box gutter

13. Stepped roof space 14. In line ridge and half ridge

15. Chimney cut out in half ridge 16. Fascia fix half ridge

17. In line gable 18. Partial box gutter and soffit

19. Dropped ridge mid slope 20. Fully modeled gable end


Virtual Salesroom – Report examples

1. Visualise models against a photo of the customers house

2. Visualise numerous models on the same background photo


1. Introduction - PST · All aspects of the conservatory can be costed including non modelled items relating to site conditions and additional works. Costing of the model can be on

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