Stop Losing Hours Chasing Client Appointments Automate Booking with AI Built for Your Shop
Imagine slashing 15-20 hours per week on scheduling calls for custom metalwork quotes, freeing your team to focus on fabrication runs and cut down on those $5K monthly overtime costs from missed deadlines.
Join 250+ businesses with streamlined workflows and real ROI
The "Appointment Chaos" Problem
Juggling client calls for custom weldments between welding shifts and steel beam deliveries
Manual booking errors delaying custom CNC-machined part quotes and production runs on plasma cutters
No-shows from field crews wasting shop foreman's time on unscheduled walk-ins for rebar inspections
Disconnected calendars causing double-bookings on CNC machine setups for structural steel components
Lost revenue from unbooked consultations during peak seasons for custom truss fabrication
Admin overload pulling estimators away from blueprint reviews for HVAC ductwork and site visits to job sites
Our Custom AI Booking System: Tailored for Fabrication Precision
We've deployed field-tested automations in over 50 manufacturing shops, turning chaotic schedules into seamless operations that deliver measurable ROI from day one.
Why Choose Us
Here's the thing: in custom fabrication, every minute counts—from quoting a steel beam bend to prepping for a rush order. We build your AI booking system from the ground up, integrating directly with your shop management software like JobBOSS or E2 Shop. No cookie-cutter templates. We map your exact workflow, whether it's routing calls for aluminum extrusion quotes or syncing with your inventory for material availability checks. You're probably thinking, 'Will this handle our variable shift patterns?' Absolutely. Our system uses AI to predict peak times based on your past project data, auto-suggests slots around machine downtimes, and even sends contextual reminders like 'Confirm your 2x4 steel frame consultation.' Let's be honest, this isn't just software—it's like adding an extra estimator who never sleeps, ensuring your shop runs like a well-oiled press brake.
What Makes Us Different:
Unlock Time and Cost Wins That Hit Your Bottom Line
Save 15+ Hours Weekly on Scheduling Drudgery
Save 15+ Hours Weekly on Scheduling Drudgery: Picture this: your shop foreman no longer spends mornings sorting voicemails from contractors needing custom railing quotes with exact load-bearing specs. Our AI handles inbound calls, qualifies leads on project details like ASTM standards for tolerances, and books directly into your calendar synced with shop floor software. That's 15 hours back for hands-on welding or assembly, translating to a 25% productivity boost on the floor. Shops like yours report cutting admin overtime by $3,000 monthly—real savings you can reinvest in upgraded MIG welders or laser cutters.
Achieve 3x Faster Project Starts with Zero Errors
Achieve 3x Faster Project Starts with Zero Errors: Manual bookings are like faulty welds—they create cracks down the line. We automate the entire flow, from initial client inquiry about custom ductwork fabrication to confirmed slots synced with your ERP and inventory for sheet metal stock. Efficiency gains mean projects kick off 3x quicker, reducing idle time on mills and lathes during tight deadlines. One client saw their lead-to-fabrication cycle drop from 48 hours to 16 for structural components, directly boosting throughput and ROI on high-margin jobs like bridge girders.
Cut No-Shows by 80% and Maximize Shop Utilization
Cut No-Shows by 80% and Maximize Shop Utilization: In manufacturing, empty slots are lost revenue—like scrap metal piling up from unused presses. Our system sends smart, personalized reminders (e.g., 'Your galvanized pipe fitting quote for the high-rise project is set for tomorrow—reply YES to confirm') and reschedules automatically if needed, factoring in travel from job sites. This slashes no-shows, fills gaps in your schedule, and keeps your fabrication lines humming with back-to-back runs. Expect a 20% uplift in billable hours for welding and assembly, with ROI hitting positive in under 90 days through higher project volume on commercial builds.
What Clients Say
"Before AIQ Labs, our shop was buried under phone tag for every custom bracket order tied to concrete formwork—lost a full day each week just coordinating with site supers. Now, the AI books 90% of consultations automatically, factoring in our TIG welding lead times, and we've shaved two weeks off our average lead time for delivery to job sites. It's like having a dedicated scheduler who gets our fabrication quirks, from material certs to OSHA compliance checks."
Mike Harlan
Shop Foreman, Precision Metalworks LLC – Specializing in Structural Steel Components
"We handle a lot of on-site measurements for structural steel beams, and missed bookings were killing us with idle crane time. Their system integrates with our field tablets, auto-adjusts for travel time between fab shop and urban job sites, and has cut our no-show rate from 25% to 4%. Saved us about $4,500 in the first quarter alone by keeping our plate rollers running—no exaggeration, it's transformed our workflow for high-volume contracts."
Sara Lopez
Operations Manager, FabForge Steelworks – Experts in Heavy Fabrication for Commercial Builds
"As a smaller shop focused on custom aluminum extrusions, we couldn't afford a full receptionist, but this automation feels like we do. It qualifies callers on project scale right away, like verifying fit for curtain wall systems against our CNC capacity, so we're only taking calls that match our throughput. Turned a 10-hour weekly headache into 10 minutes of oversight—game-changer for our margins on mid-sized construction projects."
Tom Reilly
Owner/Lead Estimator, Allied Custom Fabrications – Providers of Architectural Metalwork
Simple 3-Step Process
Discovery and Workflow Mapping
We dive into your shop's rhythm—talking shop about your quoting process for custom enclosures, shift patterns, and pain points like overlapping machine bookings. This ensures the AI fits like a custom jig, not some off-the-shelf clamp.
Custom AI Build and Integration
Our engineers craft the system using your data, linking it to tools like your CAD software or QuickBooks. We test rigorously, simulating busy days with multiple steel fabrication inquiries to guarantee it handles the heat without glitches.
Deployment, Training, and Optimization
Go live with hands-on training for your team—no steep learning curves. We monitor the first month, tweaking for things like seasonal rushes in construction bids, so your ROI builds fast and stays solid.
Why We're Different
What's Included
Common Questions
How does this automation handle variable shift schedules in a fabrication shop?
Great question—shifts in custom fab can be all over the place, right? Our AI learns your patterns from historical data, like blocking off nights for maintenance on the plasma cutter. During setup, we map your rotating crews and machine downtimes, so bookings only slot into live windows. It even predicts overflows from rush jobs, suggesting alternatives. One shop we worked with had 24/7 ops; the system adapted in week one, preventing 90% of overlaps. No more guesswork—it's built to keep your production flowing without interruptions. And if a last-minute change hits, like a delayed steel delivery, the AI auto-reschedules with client input.
Will it integrate with our existing shop management software like Shoptech?
Absolutely, integration is our bread and butter. We don't just slap on a band-aid; we create deep, bidirectional links with tools like Shoptech, JobBOSS, or even your CAD programs. For instance, when a client books a quote for custom HVAC ducts, the AI pulls real-time data on sheet metal stock and pushes the appointment straight to your job queue. We've done this for dozens of shops, cutting data entry errors that used to cause quote delays. Setup takes about two weeks, with testing to ensure it syncs flawlessly during peak hours. You're not adding another silo—you're unifying your workflow for that single source of truth.
What kind of ROI can a small fabrication shop expect from this?
Let's talk numbers, because that's what matters in manufacturing. Most clients see payback in 2-3 months. Take a mid-sized shop: they were losing 12 hours weekly to phone scheduling, costing $2,500 in labor. Our system automated 80% of it, saving those hours for billable fab work and adding $10K in monthly revenue from faster turnarounds. No-shows dropped 70%, filling slots that boosted utilization by 15%. We baseline your current costs during discovery, then track metrics like hours saved and bookings converted. It's practical ROI—think reduced overtime and more projects through the door, tailored to your scale.
How secure is the data for client project details during bookings?
Security is non-negotiable, especially with proprietary designs in custom fabrication. We build with enterprise-grade encryption and comply with standards like GDPR or whatever your contracts demand. Client info—like specs for a bridge component—stays locked, with access logs for audits. Our voice AI anonymizes sensitive bits until verified, and all data lives on your owned servers, not some cloud rental. We've audited systems for shops handling DoD contracts, ensuring zero breaches. You're in control: we set permissions so only estimators see quote details. Peace of mind, so you focus on crafting, not worrying about leaks.
Can the system handle international clients or multi-site bookings?
Yes, we design for the global side of manufacturing. If you're quoting for overseas construction projects, the AI supports time zone conversions and multilingual prompts—say, handling Spanish inquiries for rebar fabrication. For multi-site ops, it syncs across locations, like booking a consult at your main shop while checking capacity at the satellite weld facility. One client with plants in three states uses it to route calls based on regional expertise, cutting cross-site confusion. We customize the logic during build, testing with your real scenarios to ensure it scales without hiccups.
What if we need custom features, like tying bookings to material quotes?
Customization is why we exist—no one-size-fits-all here. If you want bookings to include instant material cost estimates, like pulling aluminum pricing from your supplier API, we build it in. During discovery, we uncover needs like auto-flagging high-volume steel orders for priority slots. It's all code-based, so we can add layers like integrating with your quoting tool for on-the-spot bids. A recent project for a pipe fab shop added this, letting clients self-select based on gauge availability—bookings up 30%. We iterate post-launch too, refining as your workflow evolves.
Ready to Get Started?
Book your free consultation and discover how we can transform your business with AI.