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38 | Kitchen & Bath Design News | November 2015 By Janice Costa Technology Report Technology Tools Designers are increasingly relying on a wide variety of design, ordering and business management software to increase speed, accuracy and organizational tasks, as well as to help clients better envision their dream spaces. I n today's fast-moving and increas- ingly high-tech world, software has become a must-have for many design professionals. From design soft- ware and product ordering software to contact management, accounting and business management programs, soft- ware addresses myriad needs: doing client presentations and helping them better visualize what the fnished proj- ect will look like, enhancing speed and accuracy, managing fnancial aspects of the frm and staying in touch with prospects and clients. As Ed Hantel, owner of Nashville, TN-based Hantel Construction Com- pany – Hantel Kitchens and Baths explains it, "I am as good as the tools that I use – and [today's software] makes me more profcient." But software programs can also present challenges, from steep learn- ing curves and the need for increased tech support to lack of fexibility, is- sues with integration and, in some cases, high costs. This month, Kitchen & Bath De- sign News spoke with kitchen and bath dealers and designers to see what they like best about today's soft - ware, what they view as the greatest challenges with these programs and what's on their wish list for the future. PROGRAM CHOICES While Computer Aided Design (CAD) programs are the most commonly cit- ed among design professionals, kitchen and bath dealers and designers con- tinue to explore a wealth of diferent programs to help do their jobs better. W hen asked what programs they use in their business, respons- es included 20/20, Chief Architect, AutoCAD, KCD Software, Cabinet Vision, Sketchup, Revit, SoftPlan De- sign, Advanceware, BuilderTREND, Rhino, SolidWorks to KeyShot, Proj- ect, Sketch X, zBrush, Eclipse, SEN's Network Management System, Quick- Books, ConstantContact, AWeber and TurboTax, among others. Many designers use multiple pro- grams for different purposes. For instance, Anne Harvey, AKBD, owner and principal designer at the Raleigh, NC-based Fresh Kitchen & Bath Design explains, "I use Chief Architect to draw my plans and QuickBooks to manage my business fnances." Karen Kupferer of Interior Expres- sions LLC, in Issaquah, WA states, "I personally use ProKitchen. I like the way it renders a design for the sale and it is also [very] afordable. Our ofce uses 20/20. And I also use a tile design program that I like very much." Carrie Brandstrom, owner of the Lindenhurst, NY-based Brandstrom Interiors says, "I use AutoCAD for my designs 99% of the time, since my background is more architecturally based and I am used to designing cus- tom cabinetry; I use 2020 to produce quick renderings and layouts. I don't really like using automated ordering processes, as I feel there is more room for error and I just don't know the pro- gram well enough to feel confdent in using its full capabilities." Oxnard, CA-based remodeling & building consultant Rick Harrell is another designer who uses mul- tiple programs, noting, "I use Chief Architect, Project and my own Excel spreadsheets. I look for fexibility in software for achievement over the range of projects in my work." He says he'd like to add a good customer rela- tionship management (CRM) program but adds, "I have yet to fnd a CRM program that works for my abilities and business." Patricia Caulfeld, owner of the York, PA-based Patricia L. Caulfeld, LLC, says her frm uses several dif- ferent programs as well, noting that not every program is right for every designer. "I have one person that does 2020 for me, another that does [AutoCAD]. I use QuickBooks for ac- counting, but I still hand draft to have a working knowledge of how to build/ design the cabinets. I can better visu- alize the space if I hand draft; that is how I process the design and install." BENEFITS For those who use software, some of the greatest benefts include en- hanced speed, improved accuracy and the ability to be more profcient in everything from pricing and or- dering to developing proposals, tracking expenses and updating de- sign changes. According to Patsy Stowell, CKD, of the Corning, NY-based Corning Build- ing Co., one of the biggest benefts of design software is that, "We are able to show clients what the designed space will look like – few people un- derstand a blueprint. And, we are able to show several options in a relatively short period of time and try various iterations with the client at our desks when reviewing the ideas." Tiare Pinto, president and lead designer at the Kailua, HI-based Archipelago Hawaii is also a fan of using software, largely because "it makes our business more stream- lined. And, there's less room for error." Designer Cindy Woyton cites the benefts of using 2020: "[I'm able] to design and price cabinetry, to experiment with layouts and to allow customers to visualize their space in a diferent way." Chief Architect is popular with designers like Ebony Stephenson because it allows her "to show detailed renderings to clients and installers so that everyone is on the same page."