Summary
Manual bid preparation took too long and was inefficient.
A web-based calculator automated calculations and proposal generation.
Bid preparation time was reduced from days to hours.
Client story
Certus designs and builds ventilation systems for large-scale construction like malls and factories. Each new project required a custom bid - a time-consuming task where specialists manually calculated areas and prices from Excel files. It took up to three days per bid, making the process costly and slow. Certus wanted to automate this.
Working closely with 2410, they co-developed a solution where all calculations are handled automatically, with minimal input. Now, managers just upload an Excel file, and the system does the rest - from classification to full commercial offer - ready for download and client delivery in just hours.
Project overview
2410 developed a tailored online calculator for CLBK, a company producing industrial HVAC systems. The platform was built to automate complex engineering calculations, speeding up commercial bid creation while eliminating manual errors.
Users upload structured Excel files listing HVAC components. The system classifies each item using keyword logic and geometric parsing. It then calculates surface areas based on element type - ducts, elbows, transitions - applying accurate formulas. The results are displayed in a clean, interactive interface where users can adjust values, apply discounts, and export documents.
Our approach focused on backend intelligence, using ready-made UI blocks styled with Material Design to keep the interface clean and functional. Admins can fine-tune coefficients and price tables, ensuring accurate estimates. The result is a scalable web application hosted on a subdomain, ready for secure internal or external use.
This custom B2B calculator streamlines the entire workflow - from Excel import to BRV-formatted export - improving productivity, accuracy, and client response time. It’s a prime example of how web tools can modernize production planning and quotation in industrial sectors.
- Jurijs, CLBK
Key features delivered
- Excel import with validation and template structure
- Product classification by keywords and geometry types
- Surface area calculation with customizable coefficients
- Code generation and searchable database of elements
- Commercial proposal export and BRV file output
- Admin panel for real-time coefficient management
- Multilingual UI (Russian, Latvian, English)
- Final deployment on client hosting
Technology stack
The result
Faster, Smarter Workflow
After weeks of collaboration, Certus received a fully functional B2B web calculator tailored for the HVAC manufacturing industry. It transformed a previously manual, time-consuming process into a fast, accurate, and user-friendly system.
File upload page
File upload page for the online calculator
The online calculator was deployed as a web-based internal business system, helping project managers process specifications and prepare commercial proposals in minutes, not days.
Note: Previously, engineers needed up to 3 days to prepare an accurate estimate. Now, the same process takes just a few clicks.
How it Works
- Upload Excel File
The manager uploads an Excel file with listed ventilation components and specifications. - Automated Geometric Calculations
The system applies geometry-based algorithms to calculate:- Surface area
- Contact area
- Material requirements
- Data Display & Customization
A dynamic table shows results, allowing users to:- Search or filter products
- Edit discounts
- Apply panel and flange types
- Mark elements for export
- Commercial Offer Generation
The user exports a ready-made Excel file formatted for commercial proposals, including all financial and technical data.
Offer generation page
Offer generation page final result
Mathematical Calculations for Each Element
Ventilation system components often have non-standard shapes, which means there's no one-size-fits-all formula. Each element type requires its own geometric formulas for calculating perimeter and surface area.
This logic is built directly into the system - ensuring precision, even with complex shapes like elbows or transitions. That’s how the calculator ensures accurate material estimation and cost breakdown.
Options of modifications and sizes of ventilation system elements
Options of modifications and sizes of ventilation system elements
Business Benefits
- Time-saving: Quote generation now takes hours instead of days.
- Error reduction: Automated calculations eliminate manual mistakes.
- Standardized output: All estimates follow a consistent structure and format.
- Searchable library: All generated product codes are stored and searchable.
Tip: Codes like GV30x500x300L1200 are generated automatically and reused in other internal systems (e.g., CNC machines, BRV exports).
Scalable & Maintainable
Built using PHP, MySQL, and JS/jQuery, the platform is:
- Easy to maintain
- Open for further integration
- Secure for internal use or customer-facing scenarios
Admins can update:
- Panel and flange pricing
- Product classification rules
- Export structure and formatting
Admin panel preview
Admin panel preview
Future Potential
This kind of online estimation system isn’t limited to HVAC. Similar calculators can benefit:
- Industrial manufacturing
- Construction
- Custom fabrication
- Engineering services
Note: By automating calculations, any company can scale faster and respond to clients quicker - without increasing overhead.
Thinking about building a similar system?
These questions come from companies exploring the development of a tailored B2B platform - like the HVAC calculator we built for CLBK. If you're looking to automate workflows, reduce manual calculations, or build internal tools with real business impact, this should help you get clarity.
Yes, we adapt the system to your internal formats. During planning, we review your real Excel files or data samples and create an import logic that fits your structure. If needed, we help you unify the formats across departments. This flexibility is crucial for smooth onboarding.
Not necessarily. If you already have formulas, we can use them. But we can also build logic from scratch based on your specifications. For HVAC, we used geometry-based models - but in other industries, this could be financial rules, production logic, or dimensional calculations.
We usually build admin panels that allow non-technical users to adjust key parts: pricing, coefficients, templates, export formats, etc. You won’t need developers for everyday changes, and we document everything clearly so your team can stay in control.
We always include onboarding support. That might be a live demo, documentation, or short tutorial videos. Since the system is tailored to your workflow, your team usually picks it up quickly - but we stay in touch to help during the rollout.
Yes. We can export in standardized formats like .xlsx, .csv, or custom ones. If you have an ERP, CRM, or a production control system, we can build integration points or APIs as part of the project.
Absolutely. Many projects begin with a “core feature” MVP and expand over time. We help prioritize features for phase one, then leave the foundation open for future add-ons like multi-language support, reporting dashboards, or user roles.