Building a Selector Tool (or Variation Options) with pricing

Overview
A selector tool (variation options) lets your client choose between different versions of an item, such as flooring material and price level, directly in the proposal. Each combination is its own variant with its own cost and price, and the item total is calculated from the quantity on the estimate. This gets your client involved in the estimating process.

Create the Parent Item

The parent item holds all of your variations together. Set it up the way you want every variation to be built, because the variations are created from it. You can do this in either the Sheet or Cards view.

1. In the left-hand menu, click Jobs.

2. Click Job list and select the estimate. You can also click Pipeline and select it from there.

3. In the estimate's left sidebar, click Estimate.

4. In the Name column, enter a name for the parent item (for example, Flooring Selection).

5. Choose the cost type for the item. For example, if the selection is material only, keep only Materials selected.

6. In the Quantity column, change the unit (for example, from each to ft2).

7. Save the item to your catalog.

Set Up the Variation Traits

Variation traits are the choices your client makes, in order. For example, first the flooring material, then the price level.

1. Click the icon next to the item name to open the item.

2. Click Sales, optionality and upgrades.

3. Scroll down to Add upgrades for this item? and click Variation options. The Selection options editor opens on Step 1: Variation traits.

4. In the variation type field, enter the name of the first choice (for example, Flooring Material).

5. Click the first Option box and enter a name (for example, LVP).

6. Click + to add another option, and enter its name. Repeat for each option (for example, Tile, Hardwood and Carpet).

7. Click Add variation type to add the next choice (for example, Price Level).

8. Add its options (for example, Entry, Mid and Premium). A price level works like good, better, best. You can also use a variation type for colors, types or anything else you offer.

9. Optionally, enter a Selection description (optional). The Preview on the right shows how the selection will appear to your customers in the proposal.

Create the Variants

The traits only build the tree of choices. Next, you create the actual variants as items.

1. Click Step 2: Variants list.

2. Under Add your first variants, click Generate specific variants. You can also click Generate variants, but Generate specific variants lets you control exactly which variants are created.

3. In Generate specific variants, check the option for one trait and the options it comes in for the other trait (for example, LVP with Entry and Mid).

4. Click Generate. The variants are added to the list.

5. Repeat for each option (for example, Tile with Mid and Premium, Hardwood with Premium, and Carpet with Entry). To open the window again, click Generate specific variants below the list.

6. Close the Generate specific variants window.

Price Each Variant

1. For each variant, enter a cost in Your unit costs. The Customer unit price is calculated from the Profit % (for example, a cost of 4.00 at 30% becomes 5.71).

2. If you know what an option sells for, enter it in Customer unit price instead. The cost is calculated backwards (for example, a price of 15.00 at 30% gives a cost of 10.50).

3. Click Save and close.

4. In Confirm, click Yes, go ahead. This saves the changes to the selector tool, and affects all selector tools that use these items, including those in future estimates. A message confirms Saved this item and its variants.

See the Selection in the Proposal

1. In the estimate's left sidebar, click Proposal presentation.

2. Scroll down to Project breakdown. The item is marked Selection required.

3. Click Make a selection. The first trait's options are shown with their prices.

4. Select an option (for example, LVP). The second trait shows only the options available for it (for example, Entry and Mid), with the price difference for each.

5. Click Continue. The chosen variant is priced using the quantity on the estimate.

Add Pictures to the Option Buttons

Pictures make the selection look much better. The first place you can add them is the option buttons.

1. In the estimate's left sidebar, click Estimate.

2. Open the item, then under Sales, optionality and upgrades, click the button to manage the options (for example, Manage 6 options). The Selection options editor opens.

3. On Step 1: Variation traits, hover over an option box and click the six-dot handle.

4. Under Image, drag a picture onto the box, or click + to upload a saved picture.

5. Repeat for each option.

Add Larger Pictures to Each Variant

The second place you can add pictures is each variant. These show in a larger format in the proposal, so pictures of a whole room work well.

1. Click Step 2: Variants list.

2. In the Pics column for a variant, click +.

3. Drag a picture onto the box, or click + to upload one.

4. Repeat for each variant.

5. Click Save and close, then click Yes, go ahead.

In the proposal, the option buttons now show their pictures, and the selected variant shows its larger picture. Your client can click Other variants to see each option.

Tips & Best Practices

• Set Up the Parent Item First: Decide on the cost type and unit before you build variations, because each variation is created from the parent item.
• Only Generate What You Offer: Use Generate specific variants so you only create combinations you actually sell (for example, if your showroom only offers hardwood at a premium level).
• Use Your Own Pictures: Pictures from your showroom show your clients what you currently have.

Why This Matters

• Your client gets involved in the estimating by choosing their own options in the proposal.
• Each variant has its own cost and price, so the total updates with whatever your client chooses.
• Pictures show your client exactly what they are choosing.

Summary

To build a selector tool, create a parent item with the right cost type and unit, then open Sales, optionality and upgrades and click Variation options. Add your variation traits in Step 1, generate the variants you offer in Step 2, price each one, and save. Your client can then click Make a selection in the proposal. Add pictures to the option buttons and to each variant to make the selection clearer.