Stop Losing High-Value Leads to Manual Tracking Nightmares Custom CRM Built for Your Shop Floor Reality
Imagine ditching the chaos of scribbled notes on blueprints and endless follow-up calls that go nowhere. Our AI-powered lead management captures every inquiry from job bids to supplier intros, scoring them based on your fabrication cycles, so you close 30% more deals without the guesswork.
Join 150+ businesses with streamlined lead flows that boost ROI by 25%
The "Lead Leakage" Problem
RFQ Responses for Custom Steel Fabrications Buried in Overloaded Email Inboxes
Missed Follow-Ups on Custom Weld Job Inquiries Involving TIG or MIG Processes
Disjointed Tracking of Supplier Overlaps for Raw Material Sourcing and Client Project Bids
Overloaded Estimators Juggling Structural Steel Leads and Detailed Fabrication Quotes
Lost Opportunities from Unscored Leads on Specialized Alloy Material Sourcing for Pipe Fabrication
Manual Data Entry Errors in Bids for Large-Scale Metal Fabrication Projects
Tailored CRM Solution That Fits Your Fabrication Workflow
With over a decade in manufacturing tech, we've helped shops like yours replace fragmented tools with unified systems that handle the grit of daily operations.
Why Choose Us
Let's be honest, off-the-shelf CRMs treat your metal fab business like just another widget factory. They ignore the nuances of quoting laser-cut parts or tracking CNC leads. That's why we build custom AI-driven CRMs from the ground up. You're probably thinking, 'Another software pitch?' But here's the thing: we start with your exact processes— from capturing leads at trade shows to prioritizing bids based on steel grade demands. No cookie-cutter nonsense. Our system integrates with your CAD software and ERP, creating a single dashboard that feels like an extension of your shop floor. It's flexible, scalable, and owned by you, not some vendor locking you into subscriptions.
What Makes Us Different:
Why This Delivers Real ROI for Your Shop
Prioritize Leads That Match Your Expertise
Prioritize Leads That Match Your Expertise: No more chasing low-margin sheet metal jobs like simple brackets. Our AI scores leads based on project complexity (e.g., multi-part assemblies), material types such as stainless steel or aluminum, and your team's capacity for CNC machining, helping you focus on high-ROI fabrications that align with your welding specialties. Shops see a 25% uptick in closed deals within the first quarter, often turning a single scored lead into a $50K+ contract.
Cut Follow-Up Time by Automating the Grind
Cut Follow-Up Time by Automating the Grind: You're swamped with quotes for custom enclosures and shop orders for beam welding—why waste hours on manual outreach? The system auto-sends personalized emails referencing specific tolerances (e.g., ±0.005 inches) or alloys like 6061 aluminum from the lead's RFQ, syncing with your calendar for timely check-ins around production shifts. This frees your estimators for actual bidding, slashing admin time by 40% and boosting on-time quote delivery by 30%.
Own Your Data, Ditch the Subscription Trap
Own Your Data, Ditch the Subscription Trap: Unlike rented CRMs that nickel-and-dime you for every integration with CAD software or ERP systems, our custom build gives you full ownership. Export leads enriched with fabrication insights—like weld joint specs or material yield data—anytime, without vendor lock-in. This means better cash flow control and the flexibility to scale as your shop grows from 50 to 500 tons of monthly structural steel output, adapting seamlessly to new project demands.
What Clients Say
"Before AIQ, our leads from fabrication expos were disappearing into spreadsheets, especially those for heavy-duty I-beam projects. Now, the custom CRM flags urgent structural steel inquiries right after they're entered—complete with auto-populated load-bearing specs—and we've landed three major contracts worth over $200K in six months that we would've missed otherwise. It's like having an extra salesperson who never forgets a detail on tolerances or certifications."
Mike Harlan
Operations Manager, Precision Weld Fab Inc., a 75-employee structural steel fabricator in Ohio
"We were bogged down quoting custom brackets for HVAC systems without a clear view of which leads were worth the time, often overlooking alloy compatibility issues. Their system integrates our quoting tool directly, scoring based on preferences like 304 stainless or carbon steel, and our close rate jumped from 15% to 28% last quarter after prioritizing leads for complex assemblies. Finally, software that gets the chaos of metal fab in high-volume production runs."
Sarah Kline
Sales Director, Apex Metalworks LLC, specializing in precision CNC machining for construction components in Texas
"Handling leads for pipe fabrication was a nightmare with our old setup—emails scattered across teams quoting seamless carbon steel pipes. AIQ built us a dashboard that pulls in supplier intros for fittings and auto-schedules follow-ups around our mill runs, even factoring in API standards. Saved us 20 hours a week on admin, and we're tracking a 35% revenue bump from better lead nurturing on projects up to 24-inch diameters."
Tom Reyes
Owner, Rivet Steel Co., a mid-sized pipe and tube manufacturer in California with 120 tons monthly capacity
Simple 3-Step Process
Discovery and Mapping
We dive into your shop's lead flow—from initial RFQs to bid handoffs—mapping pain points like overlooked custom part inquiries. This ensures the CRM is built around your unique fabrication cycle.
Custom Design and AI Integration
Using your input, we architect the system with AI for lead scoring tailored to metal types and project scopes. We integrate it with your existing tools, testing for seamless data flow without disrupting production.
Deployment and Optimization
Roll out the CRM with training for your team, then monitor performance over the first month. We tweak based on real usage, like refining alerts for high-volume stamping leads, to hit your ROI targets fast.
Why We're Different
What's Included
Common Questions
How does this custom CRM handle leads from trade shows specific to metal fabrication?
Trade shows are goldmines for fab shops, but following up can be brutal. Our CRM captures leads via QR scans or quick mobile entries, then uses AI to score them based on booth interactions—like interest in CNC machining or custom bending. It auto-pulls in details from your inventory for quick quoting. For instance, if a lead mentions stainless steel tubing, the system flags it against your stock levels and schedules a follow-up within 48 hours. We've seen shops convert 20% more show leads this way, turning casual chats into signed contracts without the post-event scramble. It's all built to fit your workflow, so no generic forms—just practical tools for your team.
What makes this different from standard CRMs like Salesforce for our shop?
Standard CRMs are like a one-size-fits-all hammer—great for some, but they pound your unique fab processes into submission. We custom-build yours to grasp the intricacies, like scoring leads on weld joint complexity or integrating directly with your nesting software. No wrestling with clunky add-ons that break during updates. You're probably thinking it'll cost a fortune, but here's the thing: our ROI-focused approach pays off fast. A client shop cut lead tracking time by 35 hours monthly, landing bigger structural jobs. It's flexible for your growth, from prototype runs to full production lines, and you own it outright—no subscription creep.
Can the system integrate with our existing ERP for inventory and quoting?
Absolutely, integration is our bread and butter. We connect the CRM to your ERP—like Epicor or similar—creating a two-way flow where lead data on required alloys updates inventory in real-time. When a prospect inquires about aluminum extrusions, it pulls current stock and suggests alternatives if low. This prevents quoting unfeasible jobs and speeds up bids by 50%. We handle the heavy lifting, testing rigorously to avoid downtime on your shop floor. One fabricator we worked with synced their system in two weeks, eliminating double-entry errors that were costing them $5K monthly in wasted bids. It's practical, field-tested, and scales as you add new machinery.
How secure is the data for sensitive fabrication client info?
Security is non-negotiable in manufacturing, where client specs can be proprietary gold. We build with enterprise-grade encryption, role-based access (so welders see only relevant leads), and compliance with standards like ISO 9001. Data stays in your controlled environment—no cloud roulette. For example, leads with detailed blueprints get auto-flagged for secure storage and audit trails. We've fortified systems for shops handling defense contracts, ensuring zero breaches in three years. Let's be honest, you're dealing with tight deadlines; the last thing you need is a data leak derailing a big project. Our approach gives peace of mind, letting you focus on fabrication, not firewalls.
What's the timeline for building and launching this custom CRM?
We keep it efficient because we know shops can't afford long downtimes. Discovery takes 1-2 weeks, where we map your lead flow around quoting cycles and shop shifts. Design and build follow in 4-6 weeks, with AI tuning for your specific lead types like pipe fittings or sheet metal. Testing and launch wrap in another 2 weeks, including team training. Total: 8-10 weeks to live, customized to your pace. A recent metal fab client went from chaos to capturing 150 leads monthly seamlessly in under two months, boosting their pipeline by 40%. It's not rushed junk—it's thoughtful engineering that hits the ground running, with ongoing tweaks to match your evolving needs.
How do we measure ROI from this lead management system?
ROI in fab is about tangible wins, like more bids won per ton of material. We embed tracking for key metrics: lead-to-quote conversion rates, average deal size by fabrication type, and time saved on manual follow-ups. Dashboards show specifics, such as how many CNC leads turned into $50K orders. Post-launch, we review quarterly— one shop saw payback in four months through 22% higher close rates on custom assemblies. You're probably thinking metrics sound fluffy, but here's the thing: we tie them to your bottom line, like reduced scrap from bad leads. It's ROI-driven from day one, helping you justify the investment to stakeholders with hard numbers.
Ready to Get Started?
Book your free consultation and discover how we can transform your business with AI.