Background

This case study examines the scenario of a small to medium sized business specialising in bespoke kitchens, bedrooms, and bathrooms. With a team of eighteen, they operate on a part-trade, part-retail model (30/70). Their projects include an average of five kitchens per month, average order value is between £20,000 and £50,000 for a complete project. The business faces challenges with its current software and manual processes, leading to inefficiencies and miscommunications.

Challenges Faced: Historical Processes

• Inefficiencies in Design & Visualisation

Existing design software used for elevations, plans and visuals do not fully meet requirements, needs and expectations and lack streamlined integration with other business processes.

• Manual & Disjointed Processes

Heavy reliance on Excel and spreadsheets for scheduling, cutting lists, customer quotes, and purchase orders.

Paper-based folders, handwritten notes, and customer and supplier address books lead to inconsistencies in information captured.

• Manufacturing Inefficiencies

Utilise a CNC machine for some processes but experience regular downtime for programming and tool changes.

Communication gaps in interpreting design details leading to lots of questions on all projects from the workshop.

Lack of detailed drawings also leads to frequent questions from workshops and fitters.

• Inconsistent Pricing & Documentation

Bespoke product pricing and paperwork lack uniformity.

Separate handling of trade and retail invoices, and PO's creates administrative burden.

Creating customer invoices and PO’s is very manual and there is nowhere to record payments received.

Solution: Implementing Woodge

Woodge manufacturing software for the kitchen and joinery industry provides an integrated kitchen and joinery software solution to streamline business operations, reduce manual workload, and improve accuracy in design and manufacturing.

• Streamlined Processes

In creating bespoke customer projects and designs, products can be selected from a central product catalogue and made bespoke by changing dimensions of the whole product or relevant parts and components like frame width or door stile thickness.

The centralised digital platform eliminates the need for multiple Excel sheets and paper files.

Automated scheduling, cutting lists, and workshop paperwork that include product images ensure consistency in manufacturing processes.

Workshop paperwork clearly summarises how many of each part or component needs to be produced across the whole project, so everything can be cut and finished systematically in batches, creating efficiencies. 

• Enhanced Manufacturing Accuracy

System generated and detailed product 3D and Plan views/drawings eliminate room for misinterpretations.

Digital cut lists and CNC integration helps to reduce errors and material waste in kitchen and joinery manufacturing.

• Unified Invoicing & CRM

Single interface to manage both trade and retail invoices efficiently.

Integrated CRM allows tracking of client communications, project tasks, project documents including plans, photos and images and facilitates easy capture of the full project history.

• Improved Visuals & Renders

  High-quality renderings and/or plan views enhance client presentations.

  Improved design clarity reduces misunderstandings with clients and the workshop.

Results and Impact

Before Woodge:

• Inefficient Processes: Heavy reliance on Excel, paper files, and handwritten notes led to disorganised workflows and inconsistent information.

• Manufacturing Challenges: CNC programming downtime, frequent design misinterpretations, and lack of detailed drawings caused production delays and material waste.

• Disjointed Invoicing & CRM: Managing trade and retail invoices separately was time-consuming, and there was no central system for tracking client communications or payments.

• Limited Design & Visualisation: Existing design software lacked integration, leading to unclear visuals and frequent revisions.

After Woodge:

• Streamlined Operations: A centralised digital platform automated scheduling, cutting lists, and workshop paperwork, reducing manual work and errors.

• Optimised Manufacturing: CNC integration and system-generated 3D drawings improved accuracy, minimized material waste, and reduced workshop queries.

• Efficient Invoicing & CRM: A single interface now manages trade and retail invoices, tracks payments, and provides a full project history for seamless client management.

• Enhanced Design Capabilities: High-quality renders and detailed plans improved client presentations and reduced misunderstandings.

Key Business Impact

By implementing a kitchen and joinery manufacturing software the business has improved efficiency, reduced costs, and enhanced customer satisfaction, positioning itself for scalable growth in the bespoke kitchen and furniture market.

Conclusion

Woodge transforms kitchen and joinery businesses by providing an all-in-one software solution that improves design quality, manufacturing precision, and operational efficiency. By addressing inefficiencies and automating key processes, Woodge Software enables businesses to operate with greater accuracy, reduced costs, and improved customer satisfaction, positioning them for sustainable growth in the bespoke kitchen and furniture market.

Visit www.woodge.co.uk to learn more.