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integrate the primary choice for secondary glazing specialists.

Oct 31, 2024

In the ever-evolving world of window and door technology, we’re always looking for ways to make more impact in the window and door industry (see what the data shows in our recent blog here). Today, we’re sharing another milestone in our journey: welcoming Storm Windows, a leading secondary glazing specialist, to our growing family of satisfied clients.

This recent partnership, forged just a few months ago, marks integrate’s successful entry into the specialised world of secondary glazing. It’s a testament to our software’s versatility and its ability to adapt to niche markets within the broader window and door industry.

Storm Windows, with their 20 years of expertise in crafting bespoke secondary glazing solutions for listed and historic properties, presented us with a new challenge. Their specific needs tested the flexibility and quality of our integrate system, proving once again that when it comes to specialist work, specialist software is key.

Given that Storm is our first secondary glazing customer, and is relatively early into their integrate adoption, we asked Director, Jayne Griffiths, to share her experience of working with EndtoEnd.

Read on to discover more about how Storm Windows is leveraging integrate to propel their brilliant business forward and find out how your company, regardless of its specialisation, can benefit from our industry-specific software solution.

Who are you, what is your company?

We’re a family-run company, with 20 years’ experience specialising in the manufacture and installation of handcrafted bespoke secondary glazing.

We’re proudly based in the Midlands, which means we’re perfectly placed to reach customers all around the UK – on any given morning, you’ll find the team setting off from our central base and spreading out across all directions of the compass to reach our clients.

Specifically, we work with listed, classic and historic properties all over the UK. Think of those beautiful buildings where character, original features and authenticity are key to the heart and identity of the story and design.

Yet at the same time, we recognise the increasing pressure on listed property owners to meet tighter planning regulations. We’re also conscious of the ever-increasing environmental and sustainability requirements for buildings, not to mention the consideration for all to ensure cost-efficiency.

You can see why our secondary glazing has quickly become an important part of the industry.

A table describing the 20 updates made to integrate, a window and door software.

So, tell us some more about your work. What does secondary glazing mean in practice?

Our bespoke secondary glazing offers an answer to the question, “How do we keep the character of a period building, but make sure it’s as energy efficient as possible?”

Put simply, historic buildings are important. We all enjoy looking at beautiful buildings, don’t we? We’re very lucky to be able to enjoy lots of stunning architecture across the UK, and windows and their frames are undoubtedly key how they look.

Storm Windows make secondary glazing units to seamlessly fit inside existing single-panel glass, carefully matching the frame and internal aesthetic.

The result? Windows that keep their classic look but are more thermally efficient, sound-proofed and future-proofed.

I always make a noise about our talented team of craftsmen, as they manufacture each individual product. This lets us make units which are out-of-square, shaped, arched or curved. For our customers, it means they’re suitable for many different types of windows, including sash, casement and York sliders. Next time you’re at a National Trust or a Historic Scotland property, take a look and you might see some of our work.

What sets you apart?

We want to see secondary glazing become an even more integral part of historic properties, while making sure we conserve the character of the classic homes and buildings we all enjoy across the UK.

We offer something other manufacturers just can’t deliver, and we’ve been developing our craft over many years. I imagine you can already start seeing why our processes and the complex work behind the windows needed to be backed up with a system to match our bespoke offer.

A table describing the 20 updates made to integrate, a window and door software.

Why did you seek out a software solution?

Tell us what was happening (or not happening) within your company.

Like many companies, we had an inhouse quotation system – it had developed and grown over time. And (you guessed it!), it predominantly consisted of complex Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.

I like a good spreadsheet as much as the next person, and we had been able to make it do what we wanted to, but we knew its overall effectiveness and efficiency had run its course. It was accurate, but it was time-consuming as each quotation needed to be typed for the customer. You also end up with ‘experts’ and gatekeepers with this type of process. Only a handful of people know the details and nuances of how it works… or what to do when it doesn’t.

With Integrate, we are now able to send a quotation once it is completed by our Estimator, at the click of a button.

What were you hoping new software could offer your business?

Time.

Is it possible to move everything onto one system to keep all notes, emails, customer records and quotations in the same place? If we could do this, we knew we could speed up the time it takes to get quotations to customers.

Did you have any preconceptions or concerns about the integrate software?

I thought our existing system would be too bespoke to be fully replaced by a purchased CRM system. I was expecting EndtoEnd to say the only way was to operate using the system we already had in place. But integrate isn’t an ‘off the shelf’ generic product. It’s a specialist, like us.

The integrate system completely changed my thinking. The software has allowed us to maintain our bespoke product design, and then provide quotations to fully reflect this.

We’ve got the support of software experts behind us, combined with the flexibility that comes from working with industry experts who understand our business.

EndtoEnd promised they’d be set up for a company like us and they were.

A table describing the 20 updates made to integrate, a window and door software.

You’re a few months into using it now, how has it been going?

It works! We’re seeing our quotations go out much quicker and we can easily keep track of all our leads.

As with all new systems, there have been some teething problems and ironing out of little bits.

For example, we needed to ensure the new system reflected the same values as our previous system, and the EndtoEnd team have worked closely with us in the quotations module to include all options on the costing matrix.

The strength of any software system is the flexibility, support and responsiveness of the team. We’ve got there and have continued to evolve the system to accommodate the individual requirements of Storm Windows, including all the additional details on the quotation summary and invoices.

Have there been any challenges? How did you overcome them?

We’ve had to learn a new system… old dogs and new tricks spring to mind.

But, in truth, we’ve always been open to change as a business, so perseverance has resolved this. The fact integrate is so intuitive also helps.  

If you had one piece of advice for someone seeking new software solutions in the window and door business, what would it be?

Don’t hesitate to ring EndtoEnd to see how they can help you.

We threw a complex set of requirements at the team, and they’ve delivered throughout. We know we’re now benefiting from an extra edge with integrate software in our corner.

The successful adoption of integrate by Storm Windows, a specialist in secondary glazing, underscores our software’s ability to adapt to niche markets within the window and door industry. As we continue to welcome new and diverse clients, we’re excited to see the expanding impact of integrate across the sector.

It was lovely to hear Jayne mention many of the things we’ve been developing for our customers. EndtoEnd’s Director Gareth says ‘I remember reaching out to Storm Windows – it’s brilliant when these conversations with colleagues in the industry bear fruit.

We’re delighted with our growth and pleased to see this reflected in a case study like this. Just like with increasing energy efficiency in period properties, improved business processes aren’t just a nice to have, they genuinely increase the value of your company. It’s this kind of responsiveness and efficiency that’s making waves across the window and door industry.’

Fancy another look inside integrate? Take a read of our recent article about choosing the right software for your window and door business.

To discover more about integrate, get in touch today!