From Email to Execution: Your AI Assistant in StartProto

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We all know the drill: a new purchase order comes in, complete with a PDF of the part and a 3D model. What follows is a series of steps – creating the item, defining the routing, and then logging the sales order. This can easily eat up several minutes of your valuable time, time that could be better spent on more strategic tasks.

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But what if you could automate this entire quoting process to an intelligent assistant? StartProto offers an innovative solution: an AI Assistant email address. Think of it as onboarding a new, highly efficient employee whose sole purpose is to automate these repetitive tasks within StartProto.

How It Works: A Seamless Workflow

Let's walk through a real-world example. Your colleague, Mark, sends over a purchase order for a "machine component." Attached are the PO in PDF format, a drawing of the part, and a 3D model. Instead of diving into StartProto's user interface, you simply forward this email to your AI assistant's dedicated address.

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Along with the forwarded email, you include a simple request: "Please create a part with the files attached and create a sales order with the purchase order attached." Then, you hit send.

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Just like delegating to a human employee, the AI assistant gets to work. It might take a few minutes – in one instance, it took about 14 minutes, which is still incredibly efficient for the amount of work performed.

The AI Assistant's Output: Ready for Action

When the AI assistant responds, you'll be amazed at what it accomplishes:

• Part Creation: It intelligently extracts the part name (e.g., "Titan 85 L") from the drawing and automatically creates a make item in StartProto with that name. It even analyzes the machinery and suggests a manufacturing process.
• Routing Definition: The AI assistant generates a comprehensive routing for the newly created part, complete with estimated run times and setup times. While the cost breakdown can be refined, it provides an excellent starting point, saving you significant time in initial setup.
• Sales Order Generation: It meticulously creates a sales order, pulling the customer number and PO number directly from the purchase order Mark sent. It even includes taxes and charges, and, most importantly, links the newly created item to the sales order.

The Bottom Line: Time Saved, Efficiency Gained

The results are clear: the AI-generated manufacturing quotes in StartProto saves a tremendous amount of time. It handles the initial data entry, item creation, routing definition, and sales order generation with remarkable accuracy and thoroughness. While you always have the option to make adjustments, the AI assistant provides a robust and reliable foundation, freeing you up to focus on higher-value activities.

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This integration of AI into your workflow isn't just about automation; it's about empowerment. It's about transforming tedious tasks into seamless processes, allowing you to work smarter, not harder.