Staircase Design: A Case Study in Custom Manufacturing Software

The Problem

Even in low-tech industries, custom software can provide the best solutions. One client in particular, a large international staircase parts manufacturing company, used a custom-built application as a way to better their business.

For over 100 years, this company had been one of the leading innovators in the industry. Historically, staircase parts manufacturing has been a low-tech field, but the Client felt that embracing the digital age could be a way to facilitate their ordering process and differentiate themselves in the marketplace.

They needed a computer application that would allow outside sales representatives to design staircases from their computers and instantly produce a price quote and order form ready to submit back to the company.

This application would have to be easy-to-use, produce accurate 2-D and 3-D renderings of the user’s staircases, and, most importantly, incorporate the company’s full catalog of over 65,000 staircase parts and accessories.

The Custom Software Solution

Entrance Software developed a software program for designing staircases based on the client’s unique business rules and part compatibilities.

Customers now had a way to design the staircase of their choice with a user-friendly and intuitive configuration tool modeled after the client’s proprietary staircase configuration process.

The configuration of these custom staircases had always required an intimate knowledge of the intricate interactions of each small part in the stair system to design a stair that conformed to regional building codes, was structurally sound, and aesthetically pleasing.

With this program, users of any background could design these custom staircases, because their design would be constrained by the real-life physical compatibility of the parts as pre-approved by the client.

The program then could generate a three-dimensional rendering of the staircase, price the required parts, and quickly produce both a visual comparison and price comparison between two different styles.

After completing the design, users could produce a complete cost estimated that includes a plan view layout of the stairs, 2-D and 3-D renderings of the staircase, a page of building code selections, materials list, and a step-by-step instruction guide for installation of the staircase.