The verdict in three sentences
For a subcontractor receiving 300 requests for quotation a month, response time often decides the deal before price does. AI-assisted quoting, which reads drawings and bills of materials and then draws on quote history, costs EUR 25,000 to 60,000 excl. VAT and cuts response time from 4 days to 1 day. Reliability rests on a simple rule: a technician validates every quote before sending, the AI prepares and never signs.
What the AI does, and what it does not
The tool does not invent a price. It extracts technical data, finds similar parts already quoted and applies your costing rules (machine time, material, surface treatment, margin).
| Quoting step | Average manual time | With AI | AI role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading the PDF or DXF drawing | 15 min | 2 min | Extract dimensions, thickness, material, bends |
| Reading the bill of materials | 10 min | 1 min | Quantities, references, treatments |
| Searching similar parts | 20 min | 1 min | Comparison with 5 to 10 years of history |
| Cutting and bending time | 15 min | 3 min | Routing rules per machine |
| Material, treatment, outsourcing | 10 min | 3 min | Current material prices, supplier rates |
| Technician validation and adjustment | 0 min | 8 min | Mandatory human check |
| Total per request | 70 min | 18 min | About 75% saved |
On highly unusual parts (prototypes, complex welded assemblies), the AI flags a low confidence score and hands over to the technician. These cases usually represent 15 to 25% of requests.
Budget and options in 2026
| Option | Setup cost | Recurring cost | Expected reliability | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard sheet metal quoting software | EUR 8,000 to 20,000 | EUR 300 to 1,000 per month | Good on simple parts | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Custom AI, flat sheet metal scope | EUR 25,000 to 35,000 | EUR 400 to 900 per month | Under 10% gap on 80% of parts | 8 to 12 weeks |
| Custom AI, sheet metal and welding | EUR 40,000 to 60,000 | EUR 700 to 1,500 per month | Under 10% gap on 70% of parts | 12 to 16 weeks |
| ERP integration (Sage X3, Divalto, Clipper) | +EUR 5,000 to 12,000 | Included | Quote created directly in the ERP | +2 to 4 weeks |
| Customer portal for drawing uploads | +EUR 6,000 to 10,000 | Included | Structured requests from the start | +3 weeks |
History quality drives everything: with fewer than 2,000 usable archived quotes, similar-part search stays approximate, and rule-based quoting software may be enough.
Measuring reliability before rollout
| Indicator | Go-live threshold | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Price gap vs senior technician | Under 10% on 80% of parts | Blind test on 200 past quotes |
| Correct dimension extraction rate | Over 95% | Check on 100 drawings |
| Share flagged "low confidence" | 15 to 25% | Monthly tracking |
| Deals won at a loss (price too low) | Under 2% | Analysis of won deals |
| Average response time | 1 business day | Request and send timestamps |
Mini case study
Stéphane, account manager at an 85-employee sheet metal subcontractor near Saint-Étienne, receives 300 requests for quotation a month. He answers in 4 days on average and converts 18% of quotes, with an average order of EUR 6,500.
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After an EUR 38,000 AI project, response time drops to 1 day and conversion rises to 21.6%, a 20% lift. Calculation: 300 x 12 months x 3.6 points = 130 extra deals won per year, or EUR 845,000 of additional revenue. At an 8% net margin, that is EUR 67,600 per year. Add 260 hours of quoting saved per month (300 x 52 minutes). With EUR 9,600 of annual costs, the project pays back in about 6 months.
FAQ
Can the AI send quotes without human review?
Not recommended in 2026: even with 90% accurate quotes, the remaining 10% can be costly on EUR 20,000 parts. Technician validation takes 5 to 10 minutes and protects the margin.
Which drawing formats can it read?
Vector PDF, DXF, DWG and STEP files work, with over 95% correct extraction on clean drawings. Scanned or photographed drawings lower that rate to 75 to 85%.
Does our pricing data go to an AI vendor?
Quote history and costing rules stay in your database, hosted in the EU or on your servers. Only drawing excerpts may be sent to the model, under a contract with no reuse for training.
How many historical quotes do we need?
Aim for at least 2,000 quotes with drawing, quantity and final price, ideally over 3 to 5 years. Below that, start with a rules engine and add AI as history grows.
Are fluctuating material prices handled?
Yes, steel, stainless and aluminum prices are updated weekly from your suppliers or an index. Each quote automatically recalculates the material share, which often weighs 30 to 50% of the price.
Let's scope your project. We analyze your quote history and typical drawings, then price an AI-assisted quoting tool at EUR 25,000 to 60,000 excl. VAT, delivered in 8 to 16 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
