Kitchen & Bath Design News is the industry's leading business, design and product resource for the kitchen and bath trade.
Issue link: http://kitchenbathdesign.epubxp.com/i/758955
Floorvana What it is: A color matching app for floors. What it does: With the Floorvana app, the user can find the right color and type of floor needed. By uploading a photo of the room or just an inspirational photo, the app allows the user to select anywhere on the photo to gather color schemes in order to come up with the ideal color palette. Within the app, the user can select the type of floor (hardwood, carpet, tile, laminate, resilient, etc.), and then browse through matching floor options via color. Favorite floors, colors and inspirational photos can be organized into projects; the app can be used to find a local flooring dealer, and favorite products can be shared with friends and family. Who it's for: Designers and homeowners. Why kitchen and bath designers need it: Many homeowners know what materi- al they want for a floor, but have no idea how to coordinate the appropriate color floor into their new kitchen or bath. With the Floorvana app, designers can assist clients in selecting the right color scheme for the room they will be designing. Available since: 2014 Who makes it: Shaw Industries Group, Inc. Platform: iOS for the iPad and iPhone, Android OS Where to find it: On the iTunes Store, on Google Play Smith Pro What it is: An app that provides free business leads and tools. What it does: The Smith Pro app provides the user free leads, often including photos or videos, that match his/her professional services. Additional features include: allowing for easy and professional estimate genera- tion for prospective customers; sending professional invoices without having to do manual paperwork; managing a customer list both from Smith and from the user's own clientele; scheduling and managing appointments, and keeping track of all past and upcoming jobs. Who it's for: Designers, builders, contractors and anyone who works on a business lead basis. Why kitchen and bath designers need it: Word- of-mouth is good when it's good; however, being proactive and finding your own jobs with the help of a free service will ensure working as much as is desired. Available Since: August 2015 Who makes it: Friend Trusted Inc. Platform: iOS for the iPad and iPhone, Android OS Where to find it: On the iTunes Store, on Google Play Image to Excel Converter – OCR What it is: An app that converts photos or documents into editable Microsoft Excel documents. What it does: This app allows the user to save time from retyping or scanning and converting complex tables, receipts, invoices, notes, lists, etc. By taking a photo of a paper document or using an on- screen document, the app sends the files to the company's servers to be converted with OCR technology so as not to drain the mobile device's battery with the conversion. Once the file is converted, the result is downloaded back to the app, and the files are permanently deleted from the company's servers. Additional features include: no limits on file size or number of converted files; conversion of screenshots; sharing of and opening documents in other apps, and converted Excel (.xlsx) docu- ments that are editable either on the mobile device or on a computer. Who it's for: Anyone who needs an easier, streamlined way to digitalize work documents. Why kitchen and bath designers need it: Microsoft Excel is a com- monly used program for accounting, list-making, invoices, etc., that is available to PC and Mac users alike. This is another time-saving mecha- nism for designers so that they can spend more time on design, and less on business logistics. Available Since: June 21, 2016 Who makes it: Cometdocs.com Inc. Platform: iOS for the iPad and iPhone, Android OS Where to find it: On the iTunes Store, on Google Play 30 Kitchen & Bath Design News • December 2016 WHAT'S APP DESIGN, BUSINESS & PRODUCT APPS FOR KITCHEN & BATH PROS