AI-Powered Quoting and Submittals: How Distributors Can Save Time and Protect Margins

Quoting and submittals are some of the most time-consuming tasks in construction distribution. Many teams spend 30+ labor hours per project preparing bids and assembling documentation. In this episode of The Project Advantage Podcast, host Cory Peterson sits down with Parspec CEO & Co-founder Forest Flager to discuss how AI is helping distributors and sales agents cut that time in half while improving accuracy and profitability.

Why quoting takes so long

Extracting requirements from drawings, matching products to specifications, and compiling submittals is a manual, error-prone process. Traditional quoting workflows drain margins and limit how many projects a team can pursue.

How AI speeds up workflows

Parspec’s platform uses AI to:

• Automate bill of materials extraction from plans and specifications

• Surface compliant product options ranked by inventory, rebates, and past approvals

• Generate professional submittals and O&Ms in minutes instead of days

The result: faster response times, higher win rates, and better project margins.

Beyond the bid: full project visibility

Forest also shares how distributors can leverage AI for post-sale project management. From order status to lead time tracking, AI-enabled tools give contractors and distributors greater transparency and coordination across the jobsite.

Market shifts and sourcing trends

With tariffs creating pricing pressure, many teams are now searching for U.S.-made alternatives. AI simplifies this process by quickly identifying compliant options without slowing down quoting.

Watch the full podcast episode with Cory Peterson and Forest Flager: