D-Tools System Integrator v23: Specialized Software for a Specialized Industry

Coming off our first annual and very successful D-Tools Users Conference, I was reminded of how incredibly specialized our industry truly is, and how uniquely SI is built to serve it. According to the data, only 0.3% of the U.S. workforce is employed in the AV integration industry. Yet, 50% of Integrators interact with our technology every day. SI was purpose-built as an integrator's design tool, unlike any other software platform available to AV technology integrators.

For those ready to upgrade your prior version of SI, please reach out to our Customer Success team. For those considering the acquisition of D-Tools SI software, please contact our Account Management team.

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SI Product Library

The SI Product Library is a unique data repository in AV integration software, with more than 1.9 million product SKUs. This database gives SI users a unique advantage compared to other platforms in the industry. Some of the critical features include:

• ​Many items include specifications like dimensions and power consumption details.
• ​Many products include input and output values for use in the design environment.
• ​Complete categorization of all products with an application of the labor effort (Labor Type) and time required to install the item listed.
• ​The data set includes files and links for SI’s Submittals feature, allowing users to include detailed spec sheets and other documentation along with their client reports.

If you’re unfamiliar with all of the offerings of the SI Library, reach out to our team to learn more.

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Vendor Partner Pricing Updates

Another standout feature of SI is pricing updates through D-Tools Vendor Partners. This mechanism allows SI users to register their dealer cost to be updated to the corresponding catalog items. Updates can be set to run automatically or triggered manually as needed.

Currently, there are 198 vendors that offer dealer pricing for hundreds of different brands of equipment. This feature eliminates the need to constantly update pricing for the items your team uses and ensures pricing accuracy for high-volume dealers as they generate project quotes. Automated pricing updates are a genuine game-changer for teams generating a high number of project quotes.

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Design Environment

SI is, at its core, a design tool. For those who work with Visio and AutoCAD, SI offers a unique experience for AV integrators:

• ​Single-line diagrams, rack elevations, floor plans, wiring schedules, and schematics are all actively linked to your live BOM within the SI project.
• ​Dragging any item into the drawing environment automatically pulls in all associated labor, accessories, and specifications from that item's entry in the SI Catalog—even if it wasn't already in the BOM.
• ​Access to hundreds of industry-standard shapes/blocks in the design environment.
• ​Ability to assign custom shapes/blocks to project items.
• ​Access to default, industry-standard templates and the ability to use custom templates.
• ​Use the actual size and scale of inserted background drawings for plotting shapes in Visio, including CAD backgrounds or PDFs inserted via D-Tools Cloud converter.
• ​Full control over scalability—clone items or drag multiple items into the design grid at once.
• ​Visio users can save time by pulling prior design drawings directly from a past file into a new one.

The ability to work exclusively within Visio or AutoCAD to complete your SI materials list is one of the primary reasons SI remains the software of choice for AV integrators.

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End-to-End Workflow Structure

SI’s success with integrators in the AV industry is due to its “end-to-end” tailored workflow structure that focuses on maximizing profit. From lead creation to final commissioning and beyond, SI gives users the ability to track all steps of progress when their team takes on the challenge of winning a bid opportunity.

Some of the critical feature sets available in SI include:

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  Workflow Rules: Allows users to set rules of dependency for certain actions to alert team members to critical updates as the bid assessment process unfolds. Available for Projects, Purchase Orders, Tasks, Service Orders, and Service Plans, these rules offer multiple data point considerations for criteria and triggering, along with control of the message details.

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  Speed of Project Creation:

  • ​Project Templates: Any prior SI Project can be saved as a basis for future projects, organized around market sectors, clients, Price Types, Labor Types, Location/System lists, or other structures.
  • ​Project Cloning: Copy any prior SI Project to get a head start on the next one, with all prior project details and data loaded into the new project.
  • ​Data Importation: Quickly add items to an SI Project using CSV importation, useful if a parts list exists outside of SI.
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  Project Management:

  • ​Project Status: Designations keep everyone informed of job status, while Workflow Rules automatically alert the right people when action is needed.
  • ​Procurement: Team members can create and submit POs directly in the software, with all related details automatically fed back into the project.
  • ​Gantt View: Deployment managers and schedulers can create field tasks, project workload, and necessary materials to complete the job.
  • ​Job Cost Module: Analyze profit success by phase or labor type. Multiple projects can be selected for inclusion, making it easy to review specific estimators’ jobs or jobs in a specific time range. As long as Procurement and Time Sheets are being utilized, users can get a real understanding of their overall project profit analysis.

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Conclusion

SI has proven itself to be the software of choice for specialists in an industry that touches the lives of the majority of consumers, yet employs just 0.3% of the U.S. workforce. D-Tools SI was specifically created by integrators, for integrators, and this is exemplified in every project our users create. Over 7,000 firms trust D-Tools to help them boost revenue, cut costs, and win more complex integration, AV, and security jobs.

This is a brief look into a few aspects of the specialized world of D-Tools SI v23. There is much more than just these features, so please reach out to our account team for more information.

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Looking Ahead: SI V23 and Beyond

The last few years have seen tremendous updates and enhancements to the System Integrator platform. The updates in v23 (and prior recent releases) reflect our commitment to addressing the real-world challenges faced by system integrators. D-Tools System Integrator v23 is more than just a software update—it’s a strategic partner for AV integrators navigating a complex and hectic industry landscape. By combining robust multi-office settings with seamless data synchronization, v23 empowers businesses to operate with unprecedented efficiency and offers the flexibility to craft a custom software environment.

Are you ready to experience SI v23? Visit the D-Tools website to request a demonstration or explore the full range of utilization with our PSG training and implementation team. With V23 as your ally, your business will be poised for a brighter and more profitable future.

Be sure to tune back in for future installments on SI’s v23 and beyond. Our team is continually evaluating ways to improve and enhance your team’s usage of and experience with our SI platform. Explore these and other features by securing time with our Professional Services Group of SI and integration industry veterans to maximize your team’s ability to succeed with the software.

For more information on these and other features of SI, see the D-Tools v23 resource center, our videos, and our support documentation. You can also get more detailed information about v23 via upcoming webinars and by enrolling in SI training with our PSG team.

That’s why we are here—to ensure your success with our product! Check back next time for more on v23!