How to Choose Fabrication Software
Choosing fabrication software is a decision that affects every part of your stone shop -- from the front office quoting jobs to the saw operator cutting slabs to the installer loading the truck. Pick the right platform and your operation gets faster, more accurate, and more profitable. Pick the wrong one and you spend six months fighting with software that doesn't fit your workflow, then start the search over.
TL;DR: How to Choose Fabrication Software
- Start with your biggest pain point -- waste, remakes, slow quoting, or too many customer calls
- Match features to your shop size -- a 10-kitchen/month shop needs different tools than a 50-kitchen/month shop
- Test with real data -- every platform offers trials; use them with your actual jobs and slabs
- Check CNC compatibility -- confirm DXF import/export works with your specific machines
- Budget $200-$400/month -- the industry standard range, typically pays for itself in the first month
- Plan for adoption -- involve your team in the selection process so they actually use it
The 5-Step Selection Framework
Step 1: Audit Your Current Problems
Before looking at any software, list your shop's top problems by cost. Be specific with numbers:
Cost Worksheet:
| Problem | Frequency | Cost per Incident | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remakes from template errors | __ per month | $1,500-$4,000 | $_______ |
| Slab waste above 15% | __% waste rate | $__ per slab | $_______ |
| Time spent on manual quotes | __ hours/month | $__ hourly rate | $_______ |
| Staff time on customer calls | __ hours/month | $__ hourly rate | $_______ |
| Lost/misfiled DXF files | __ per month | $__ rework cost | $_______ |
| Scheduling conflicts | __ per month | $__ delay cost | $_______ |
| TOTAL MONTHLY PROBLEM COST | $_______ |
Most shops discover their problems cost $3,000-$10,000 per month when they actually add them up. Software at $200-$350/month looks very different when you compare it to $5,000/month in waste.
Step 2: Rank the Features That Matter
Not all features matter equally for every shop. Rank these by importance for your operation:
For shops losing money on waste (>15% slab waste):
- AI slab nesting / layout optimization
- Remnant tracking and management
- Slab inventory with photo cataloging
- Cross-job batching capability
For shops losing money on remakes (>3% remake rate):
- Template verification / DXF checking
- Digital approval workflows
- Job documentation and photos
- Quality control checklists
For shops drowning in phone calls (>10 calls/day from customers):
- Customer portal with real-time status
- Automated email/text notifications
- Online scheduling for templates and installs
- Digital material selection and approval
For shops losing quotes (conversion rate <25%):
- Fast quoting tools (under 5 minutes per quote)
- Professional proposal templates
- CRM features for follow-up
- Online payment processing
Step 3: Compare Platforms Against Your Priorities
Map each platform's strengths to your ranked priorities:
| Priority | Moraware | ActionFlow | EasyStoneShop | SlabWise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI nesting | - | - | - | Strong |
| Template verification | - | - | - | Strong (3-layer) |
| Customer portal | Basic | Yes | - | Strong (70% call reduction) |
| Fast quoting | Manual | Semi-auto | Manual | AI (3 min) |
| Job scheduling | Strong | Strong | Basic | Yes |
| Slab inventory | Basic | Yes | Basic | Yes |
| CNC integration | Limited | Good | Limited | Yes |
| QuickBooks sync | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes |
| User community | Largest (2,600+) | Growing | Growing | Growing |
| US-based support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Step 4: Run Parallel Trials
Narrow your list to 2-3 platforms and run them in parallel with the same real jobs:
Trial checklist:
- Import your current slab inventory
- Build a quote for a job you're currently working
- Import a DXF file from your templating system
- Run through a full job lifecycle from quote to installation
- Have your shop floor personnel use the system for at least 3 days
- Check that DXF output works with your CNC machines
- Evaluate mobile/tablet usability for shop floor
Red flags during trials:
- DXF files don't import correctly from your templating system
- Quote output doesn't match your pricing model
- Shop floor staff find it too complicated to use between cuts
- Customer-facing features look unprofessional
- Support takes more than 24 hours to respond during trial
Step 5: Make the Decision
Score each platform on a simple 1-5 scale across your top priorities:
| Your Top 5 Priorities | Platform A | Platform B | Platform C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Priority 1: ________ | _/5 | _/5 | _/5 |
| Priority 2: ________ | _/5 | _/5 | _/5 |
| Priority 3: ________ | _/5 | _/5 | _/5 |
| Priority 4: ________ | _/5 | _/5 | _/5 |
| Priority 5: ________ | _/5 | _/5 | _/5 |
| TOTAL | /25 | /25 | /25 |
The highest score wins -- not the cheapest price or the flashiest demo.
Software Selection by Shop Size
Small Shops (5-15 Kitchens/Month)
What matters most: Quoting speed, basic job tracking, affordability Budget: $150-$200/month Best fit: Start with a platform that nails quoting and basic job management. You can add features as you grow.
At this volume, you likely have 1-3 employees touching the software. Simplicity trumps feature depth.
Mid-Size Shops (15-35 Kitchens/Month)
What matters most: Slab nesting, production scheduling, customer communication Budget: $200-$350/month Best fit: A platform with strong production management and customer portal. This is where AI features start paying for themselves.
At this volume, waste reduction of 10-15% through better nesting saves $1,000-$3,000/month on materials alone. Template verification prevents the 2-4 remakes per month that cost $3,000-$16,000.
Large Shops (35+ Kitchens/Month)
What matters most: Automation, multi-user management, analytics, CNC integration Budget: $300-$500/month Best fit: Enterprise-tier platforms with strong automation, reporting, and multi-location support.
At this volume, every manual step in your workflow is multiplied 35+ times per month. Automation of quoting, nesting, template verification, and customer communication provides the biggest impact.
Questions to Ask During Software Demos
About Integration
- "Can you show me importing a DXF from a [your templating system] on screen right now?"
- "How does your system connect to my [specific CNC machine brand]?"
- "Do you integrate with QuickBooks [Online/Desktop]?"
- "Can I import my existing customer and job data?"
About Support
- "What is your average response time for support tickets?"
- "Do you offer phone support or only email?"
- "Who handles my onboarding -- a dedicated person or a help desk?"
- "What training resources exist for my shop floor team?"
About Cost
- "Are there per-user fees beyond the base subscription?"
- "What happens to my data if I cancel?"
- "Are there setup or data migration fees?"
- "Do you lock in pricing or does it increase annually?"
About Fit
- "Can you share references from shops my size running similar CNC equipment?"
- "What percentage of your customers are countertop fabricators vs. other trades?"
- "How many shops have switched from [competitor] to your platform?"
Mistakes That Cost Shops Money
Buying on Demo Dazzle
Demos show the best-case scenario with perfect data. Your shop has messy data, impatient operators, and real-world constraints. Only a trial with your actual data reveals how the software performs in your environment.
Choosing for Today Without Planning for Growth
If you're at 15 kitchens/month and plan to reach 30 within two years, choose software that handles 30. Switching platforms mid-growth is expensive and disruptive.
Letting the Office Manager Choose Alone
The office manager uses the quoting and scheduling features. But the templater, saw operator, polisher, and installer are also affected. Include at least one shop floor representative in the evaluation.
Ignoring the Hidden Costs of Staying Manual
The "free" option of spreadsheets and whiteboards has real costs: $1,500-$4,000 per remake, 15% slab waste, 20 minutes per quote, 8-15 customer calls per day. Add these up before you decide that $200/month is too expensive.
FAQ
How long does it take to set up fabrication software?
Basic setup (account creation, pricing tables, user accounts) takes 1-3 days. Full implementation including data migration, CNC integration, and staff training takes 4-8 weeks.
Can I use fabrication software on my phone?
Most modern platforms have mobile-responsive interfaces. Some offer dedicated mobile apps. Mobile access is useful for installation crews, templaters, and shop owners who need to check status remotely.
What if I choose the wrong software?
You can switch. Most platforms export data in standard formats, and the data migration process takes 1-2 weeks. The real cost of switching is retraining your team and the productivity dip during transition.
Do I need to be tech-savvy to use fabrication software?
No. Modern fabrication platforms are designed for stone shop operators, not IT professionals. If you can use email and a smartphone, you can use fabrication software. Training takes 1-4 weeks depending on the platform.
Should I wait for AI features to mature before buying?
No. The operational improvements from basic quoting, job tracking, and scheduling are worth the investment today. AI features (nesting, template verification, auto-quoting) are available now on platforms like SlabWise and provide immediate ROI.
How do I get my team to actually use the software?
Involve them in the selection, provide dedicated training time (not just a link to tutorials), make the software mandatory for daily tasks, and show them how it makes their specific job easier. The first month is critical.
Is fabrication software worth it for a one-person shop?
If you are doing even 5 kitchens per month, quoting software alone saves several hours of time. Slab tracking prevents the costly mistake of cutting the wrong slab. For a solo operator, the time savings is even more valuable since you are the only person doing everything.
Can fabrication software replace my estimator?
It won't replace a person, but it can reduce the time your estimator spends from 20 minutes per quote to 3-5 minutes. This frees them to handle more leads, follow up on pending quotes, and focus on closing jobs.
Try SlabWise Free for 14 Days
See how AI-powered quoting, template verification, and slab nesting work with your actual data. No credit card required to start. Visit slabwise.com and run your first quote in under 3 minutes.
Sources
- ISFA -- Technology Adoption in Fabrication Shops, 2025
- Stone World Magazine -- Software Selection Guide, 2025
- Natural Stone Institute -- Fabrication Business Management Best Practices
- Fabricator's Business Quarterly -- Software ROI Benchmarks, 2025
- Freedonia Group -- U.S. Countertop Fabrication Market Report, 2024
- Software Advice -- Stone Fabrication Software Category Report, 2025