As always, new solutions enter our market sector regularly, but none can say they match the full delivery capacity of D-Tools SI. More importantly, none has stood the test of time as the industry's go-to software solution for AV and integration professionals.
While new products and competition are welcome, we remain focused on the foundational aspects of the System Integrator platform that got us here. Being a data-driven platform has served our users well and will continue to serve them in the future.
Along with SI’s foundational features, recent enhancements serve to set SI at the forefront of AV software. To highlight these capabilities and show you what's new, here's today's deep dive into SI's latest advances.
For those of you who are ready to “get with the program” and upgrade your prior version of SI, please reach out to our Customer Success team. Moreover, for those of you who are still considering the acquisition of D-Tools SI software, please reach out to our Account Management team.
Where else would we begin with such a presentation than with the very basics of SI.
At the core of SI lies what has widely been recognized as the industry’s most comprehensive database ever assembled – The SI Library.
Replete with more than 1.5 million individual “sku’s” and thousands of manufacturers, this data collection is available to all SI users via our Software Assurance plan. Here, SI users can access all necessary manufacturers for the parts they need. This data also includes corresponding specifications, dimensions, power consumption, inputs/outputs, and related images.
Another critically important aspect of this database now includes the ability for dealers to source their pricing from the Vendor Partner interface in the SI Library.
Boasting now well over 200 participating vendors, this mechanism will provide automated pricing updates to SI users.
This enables SI users to seamlessly acquire and update the data they need to build and maintain their local SI Catalog.
This is where your data comes together — everything you need to build quotes and designs.
Via the default or custom Layouts offered in the SI Catalog, your team can quickly find exactly the data you need, even under deadline pressure.
With tariff-driven price swings, supply-chain disruption, and fast-moving product releases, having one source of truth for your catalog matters more than ever.
Long before 'standardization' became an industry buzzword, SI was already helping users do exactly that.
Project Templates is one of the best ways to ensure that all estimators in SI start their projects with all necessary and pre-loaded data.
Taking this a step further, Project “cloning” will bring all aspects of any prior SI Project into the new one.
This provides incredible time savings when replicating bids quickly, especially under tight deadlines.
More and more, project bids rarely start from scratch. A head-start — via a Project Template or project cloning — gives estimators the shortcut they need for a timely turnaround."
Available for Visio and AutoCAD users, SI offers the ability to create, modify, expand, or execute “quality control” of all associated design drawings.
This serves as a visual representation of all assembled Catalog data that is then loaded into any SI Project. Designers then have a head start as “categorized” items already have shapes and blocks assigned for their presentation in the design environment.
Supporting the standard drawing environments of line, elevation, plan, and schematic by default, SI users are then afforded the opportunity for items to load per these native designations, thus saving time when loading items in that space.
Most importantly, this keeps the drawing and the Project's items in sync as changes are made on either side. This matters most in areas like scope creep, change orders, or other exceptions that can complicate a team's drawing effort. In fact, this is so critical that many teams won't let a bid out the door without a corresponding set of drawings.
Product data is what makes SI so reliable for designers as they execute their work. This same data then translates seamlessly into client proposals, submittals, and other reports. And as mentioned with Project Templates and Cloning, design drawings come along for the ride — saving time when there's none to spare.
This multi-layered approach is what ultimately solidifies SI as the go-to platform for large-scale integrators.
Now, there is so much more we could dive into here but suffice it to say, we listed a few of SI’s foundational aspects that are still viable today! We do however, encourage you and your team to get more detailed information about all of these and other features of SI’s v24 by reaching out to our PSG team(Professional Services Group) of SI and integration industry veterans for further assistance. If you’d like to get a head start, you can review our new Product Release Notes for v24!
Well there it is! A brief look into aspects of d-Tools SI v24 and its tried and true tools.
Looking Ahead: SI V24 and beyond
The last few years have seen tremendous updates and enhancements to the System Integrator platform. With each successive development and addition, d-Tools has shown itself to be fully engaged in bringing to market one of the most effective software platforms available.
Further, the updates coming in future releases reflect our commitment to addressing the real-world challenges faced by system integrators. In addition, what’s to come will not disappoint.
Ready to see more? Request a demo or connect with our PSG training and implementation team. SI is built to help your business run better — and we’re here to help you get the most out of it.
Be sure to tune back in here for future installments on SI’s v24 and…beyond.
In closing…
Need hands-on help? Our Professional Services Group of SI and integration industry veterans is available here.
For more on SI v24, visit our website: D-Tools v24.
You can also find helpful videos on our YouTube channel and in our online support documentation.
For training, check out our upcoming Gold Support Webinars or enroll in SI training through our PSG team.
As always, we’re here to make sure you succeed with the platform. Check back for more on System Integrator software.