The information needed to prepare a quote is often already in the mailbox. The request, drawings, revisions, previous quotes and orders may nevertheless be spread across different conversations and attachments.
Typelens Quote Intelligence links these contents to the same request, searches the available history and prepares a draft for review. Every result shows its source and missing data remains visible.
The key point: Typelens prepares the available material and references. The estimator sets price, margin and terms and approves the quote before sending.
The first version is for manufacturers that manage RFQs, technical drawings, quotes and orders mainly through email. The AI manufacturing quote automation page shows the available workflow.
Why manufacturing quotes are difficult to automate
A single request may include an email, several PDFs, an Excel BOM, a CAD assembly and commercial notes written in natural language. None of these elements describes the full job by itself.
Price is not contained in a single document. It also depends on material, tolerances, quantity, operations and commercial terms. A 3D model or an old quote is therefore not sufficient on its own.
Typelens reduces the work required to open files, rebuild the conversation and find precedents in the connected mailbox. The final decision remains with the estimator.
How Typelens works for quotes
- Connect the mailbox. Typelens identifies RFQs in the selected mailbox.
- Read email and files. It groups conversations and technical files and retrieves the information available in the documents.
- Search the history. It finds similar orders and quotes when they are available across received and sent messages.
- Prepare the draft. It suggests references and flags missing data. The estimator sets the price and approves the result.
What Typelens Quote Intelligence does
Typelens works with the contents available in the selected mailbox and, when agreed, an external price database.
- Requests and files: email, PDF, Excel, BOM, STEP and DXF are linked to the same request.
- Sent quotes: prices, revisions and terms from previous negotiations become searchable references.
- Orders and confirmations: received orders help distinguish accepted quotes from the wider history.
- External prices: an agreed database or price list can add a current raw-material reference.
- Draft for review: Typelens organises references and flags missing data. Price, margin and terms remain under the estimator's control.
See the complete workflow on the Typelens Quote Intelligence page.
CAD, STEP and STL: what can actually be read
Typelens collects the technical files linked to the request and uses the information actually available. It does not derive complete production time and cost from a 3D model alone.
STEP and DXF may contain useful technical data, while a PDF drawing may carry dimensions, tolerances and notes that are not in the model. STL mainly describes shape and normally lacks material, tolerances and production structure. Files are therefore considered together with the email, drawing and available history.
The value of mailbox history
Suggestion quality depends on history quality. Quotes without revisions, unlinked orders or inconsistent descriptions reduce the number of reliable comparisons. Typelens shows the evidence it found and flags cases where it is insufficient.
Sent quotes provide earlier prices, revisions and terms. Orders and confirmations help show which quotes were accepted. These records are references to review, not a price list to copy.
Why human review remains essential
Typelens prepares a draft, shows its sources and flags data to review. The estimator sets price, margin and terms, edits what is needed and approves the result.
No quote is sent without approval. The aim is to reduce collection and search work, not remove the estimator from the process.
How to implement the solution
Configuration starts with the estimating mailbox. Typelens checks which requests, files, quotes, orders and confirmations are available and how much history can be used. When needed, an external price source is agreed as well.
ERP connections: direct access to actuals, purchasing data and business-system master data is planned as a later development and is not part of the first version described here.
See the complete workflow on the AI manufacturing quote automation page.