The Future of Online Ordering in the Glass Industry

The Shift Toward Digital Ordering in the Glass Industry

For decades, ordering glass has relied on strong relationships, detailed drawings, and deep product knowledge. The industry’s complexity made digital ordering seem unrealistic. Yet that perception is changing quickly.

In this blog, we look at why more glass processors and hardware suppliers are exploring digital ordering, the benefits they are seeing, and how tools like Smart Glazier Connect are helping businesses modernise without disrupting existing systems.

Before diving in, here’s a quick look at what you’ll take away from this article.

Key Takeaways: What You’ll Learn About Digital Ordering for Glass Businesses (TL;DR)

• The glass industry is seeing increasing interest in online ordering systems, but many order workflows are still manual.
• Installers and glaziers now expect faster responses, more control, and mobile access.
• Early adopters are seeing measurable improvements in efficiency, order accuracy, and customer satisfaction.
• Smart Glazier Connect provides a practical way for glass processors and hardware suppliers to digitise their ordering process.
• When your customers win more work through better tools, your business benefits too.

The Current State of Glass Industry Ordering

Most glass processors have already adopted digital tools for production. Software like A+W, Lisec, Optima, and Fenevision has made manufacturing more traceable and efficient.

However, order intake remains one of the most manual stages in the process. Many teams still rely on emails, spreadsheets, or phone calls. These methods work, but they create bottlenecks:

• Delays while clarifying details
• Re-keying information into multiple systems
• A higher chance of errors and costly rework

The result is a clear gap between modern, digital production systems and outdated order intake methods. As customer expectations evolve, this gap is becoming harder to ignore.

Why Customer Expectations Are Driving Digital Ordering

Across industries, people are used to ordering online. Whether booking a flight or buying building materials, convenience and transparency now come standard.

Recent studies show that more than 80% of B2B buyers prefer to place and pay for orders online. Many use mobile devices to research, configure, and compare products during working hours. These habits are reshaping expectations in the glass trade.

Glaziers and installers want to:

• Configure products accurately
• Access live pricing
• Submit orders without waiting for confirmation
• Receive instant visibility of order status

If your business cannot offer that experience, customers may eventually turn to one that can.

How Online Ordering Helps Your Customers Win More Jobs

Online ordering isn’t only about internal efficiency. It’s about giving your customers an advantage.

Imagine a glazier meeting a homeowner to discuss a frameless shower. Within minutes, they can configure the layout, select hardware, and produce a professional 3D quote on their tablet. The result looks polished and inspires confidence.

Or consider a contractor preparing a commercial bid. Using an online catalogue, they can choose hardware, finishes, and glass types while verifying compatibility in real time. No calls, no catalogues, no delays.

These examples show how digital ordering helps your customers look more professional, quote faster, and win more jobs. And when they win, you win.

The Benefits of a Unified Glass Ordering Platform

Many glass processors use different systems for different products: one for quoting, another for showers, another for storefronts. This fragmentation increases training time, creates data inconsistencies, and complicates the customer experience.

The real opportunity lies in unifying the order intake and design process into a single, connected platform. This is where Smart Glazier Connect stands apart.

Real Examples of Glass Processors and Hardware Suppliers Going Digital

Early adopters of online ordering are already seeing impressive gains:

• Precision Glass Industries (Texas) increased daily order capacity from 200 to over 450 without adding staff.
• C-Glass (Poland) launched a digital portal now processing over 180 customer orders per day.
• National Glass (Australia) introduced online ordering as a standard feature, cutting turnaround times and reducing errors across all product lines.

These businesses didn’t use generic e-commerce tools. They implemented software built specifically for glass and hardware workflows.