January 2, 2023

Software plays an essential role in both the creative and the operational side of the design business. Here’s a survey of some of the latest programs and technology that target kitchen and bath professionals in all sectors of the industry.

Constructo
A powerful tool for documenting existing conditions, Constructo generates a set of as-built plans, including tentative plot plan, scaled floor plan and elevations – done with a single site visit and in fraction of time and cost of traditional process. From pre-demo scans to mid-project utility lines mapping and finished job hand-over, a digital twin of the space is the best way to properly document your project. The software supports a fully interactive 3D modeling feature for exteriors and interiors of the. A comprehensive mark-up tool allows you to easily add notes, shapes and upload files directly to the plans.

Design Appy
Maria Martin ASID, a designer in Austin, Tex. developed the digital drafting app Design Appy (shown above) to solve several pain points designers encounter when working with clients. Currently available for iPads, it works in two ways. A designer can start from scratch with the dimensions of the wall to draw, add tile patterns to scale and add objects to build an elevation.Alternatively, the user can start from an image and modify the space with items curated from the camera roll. It takes the designer smoothly from concept to client approval in one meeting, eliminating delays and repetitive meetings. Faster than pen and paper, the app lets designers quickly create a quality visual in 10 minutes to share with the client for inspiration and approval. Mood boards and specifications can also be shared with the contractor.

Kabs
Kabs was created by Thad Wittenburg, a 30+ year veteran of the kitchen and bath industry, to fill a need for software that could significantly improve the efficiency of running a kitchen and bath dealership. Compatible with 2020 Design and Intuit Quickbooks, it integrates the management of main business processes from inventory to pricing to sales and marketing. Cloud-based, Kabs is accessible from mobile devices, tablets, computers and smartphones.

Mozaik
Mozaik provides software solutions tailored to custom cabinet shops, enabling the creation of cabinets, closets and casework with ease and efficiency. The product suite covers the entire process from design to manufacture and is CNC-machine ready. The team at Mozaik is equipped with decades of experience in the cabinetmaking industry and have developed solutions driven by customer needs and simplicity. This has resulted in strong brand loyalty and consistently high growth. Mozaik is owned by Cyncly, a leading global provider of end-to-end software and content solutions to the spaces for living industry, including the kitchen, bathroom and furniture manufacturing segment.

Mydoma
Mydoma NEXT, an upgrade to the Mydoma platform, enables designers to meet the growing needs of their design clients, earn more revenue, and reduce administrative burden. Its core set of features include time-saving project management tools, a modern client portal, product sourcing and curation capabilities, automated discovery calls and proposals, time-tracking billable hours, and purchase orders and invoicing. It has integrations with Stripe, Quickbooks, Zapler, Calendly and Acuity Scheduling.

Raken
Today’s project managers have a wide variety of technology at their disposal to help collect and assess critical information from the field. If a construction company isn’t utilizing historical data, they’re missing out on major opportunities to build better bids and make more informed decisions about timelines, budgets, hiring and more.

Raken makes compiling reports from the jobsite simple, without increasing field crews’ responsibilities. Using voice-to-text capability, the software records notes on what happened on-site, where it took place, and any other details to be included in the report. Construction photos and video can be captured, automatically time-stamped and incorporated into the daily log, documenting conditions. The system seamlessly integrates with accounting, project management, and cloud storage software, meaning that data can be shared in real time with team members.

Vergo
Vergo is a digital banking platform for the AEC industry that serves a broad range of customers such as general contractors, subcontractors, interior designers, architects and home service pros. It offers a variety of fintech products, including virtual and physical debit and credit cards that digitize the current paradigm of making payments with cash or check and reconciling payables and receivables manually. Vergo adds transparency to these historically opaque processes by making it easy to distribute cards to employees or hired contractors and assign cards to specific projects that roll up to a single ledger in the cloud.

Vergo’s aspiration is to allow contractors to pay counterparties and finance and insure purchases digitally and instantly at the click of a button from a single application. By embedding additional products and services within its core platform it will allow Vergo to increase wallet share, reduce churn and become even more engrained within their customers’ critical daily workflows. Vergo’s “connective tissue” software results in less paperwork, reduced errors, shorter turnaround times, decreased costs and higher customer satisfaction.

—By Leslie Clagett