Manufacturing ERP UX redesign drives StartProto growth

Redbrix redesigned StartProto's manufacturing ERP with intuitive interfaces and AI agents capabilities, becoming a major selling point for new clients.

startproto.com

About client

StartProto was founded by Georgia Tech graduates to modernize operations for manufacturing facilities. Their platform offered comprehensive tools from job scheduling to inventory management, but users found it difficult to navigate. They partnered with Redbrix to enhance usability, streamline workflows, and integrate AI-driven agents capabilities.

Industry

Manufacturing Software

Services we provided

– Product architecture
– UI design
– UX design and interactions
– Design system
– Brand identity

Challenge

StartProto needed to balance technical sophistication with usability for shop-floor personnel. Their initial ERP system featured a cluttered interface that hindered adoption. In the competitive industrial software market, they required a partner experienced in manufacturing software UX design to transform their platform into an accessible yet powerful tool.

Solution

Redbrix applied a user-first approach to optimize the ERP system while preserving its technical capabilities. We reimagined key modules like scheduling and inventory with intuitive interfaces that simplify complex processes. Our digital portal streamlined RFQ submissions and quote approvals, reducing reliance on emails. The enhanced AI-powered quoting feature made it easier to process data from CAD drawings, positioning StartProto as a standout enterprise software solution.

Measurable impact

212%
new client growth

3.7x
user engagement
3x
ARR increased

82%
new clients cite UI as deciding factor
The redesigned ERP unifying quoting, scheduling, purchasing, and customer communication in one consistent system.

Our approach

We began with stakeholder interviews and user journey mapping for operators, managers, and engineers to identify workflow inefficiencies. Through UX audits, wireframing, and shop-floor testing, we developed solutions driven by real-world demands.
We enhanced navigation for critical modules while introducing a scalable design system with standardized UI components, demonstrating our commitment to industrial software UI/UX design that balances complexity with usability.
A manufacturing ERP dashboard that brings sales, purchasing, production, and quality into one switchable view, with quote volume, win rate, and deal status up front.

Key design highlights

Our interfaces highlight essential manufacturing data without overwhelming operators, enabling quick adoption across skill levels.
We integrated interactive task tracking for improved collaboration and intelligent scheduling tools that eliminated manual spreadsheet updates.
A shop-floor interface giving operators real-time oversight of every job as it runs, with status and run controls at the machine.
A job operation screen that enforces the right process, with pre-op checklists, setup and machining instructions, and run controls tied to each step.
A smart purchasing list with demand-driven items selected for a one-click, on-demand purchase order across multiple jobs and vendors.

Reengineering Quotes UI for faster sales cycles

We overhauled the cluttered quotes interface with clear status markers and high-level sales insights. The redesigned layout features logical grouping that streamlines pricing discussions and accelerates the sales cycle.
The original quotes screen, a cluttered table that made quote status hard to read.
The redesigned scheduling board with live job status, operator, machine, timers, and queue load per work center.
An AI assistant that reads drawings to prefill RFQ line items, pull part images, and match parts to inventory, removing manual quote entry.
A quote with internal and customer messaging built in, keeping pricing discussions on the platform instead of email.

Web portal from scratch

We also designed a complete web portal from scratch that transformed how job shops interact with customers. This custom-built platform enables seamless RFQ processing and quote delivery, with customers reviewing and approving orders digitally. StartProto's clients consistently praised the portal, significantly increasing platform engagement and becoming one of the product's strongest selling points in competitive situations.
A quote with internal and customer messaging built in, keeping pricing discussions on the platform instead of email.
A customer portal where clients review a quote, upload a PO, and approve the order digitally.

Optimizing the Scheduling module for real-time production control

The previous scheduling interface lacked clarity, making it difficult for manufacturing teams to manage production workflows efficiently. Following manufacturing software design best practices, we reorganized the scheduling interface to enhance visibility into workloads and production flow. The enhanced interface provides real-time insights into resource allocation with smart filtering options and a TV dashboard mode that displays live schedules, reducing miscommunication and downtime.
The old scheduling board, look-alike cards and placeholder text that obscured production status.
The redesigned quotes screen with clear status markers and grouped line items that make the sales pipeline easy to scan.
A scheduling kanban that maps jobs to machines and color-codes them by run state, showing live shop floor status.
A scheduling timeline mapping jobs against a live now marker to reveal machine load and timing conflicts across the day.

Outcome & Impact

Redbrix's expertise in industrial software design guided StartProto's ERP transformation. By integrating AI-driven quoting with a digital web portal, we created a SaaS platform that balances advanced engineering with intuitive interfaces. The redesigned system delivers time savings, improved accuracy, and seamless task execution for job shops and contract manufacturers.
With AI-accelerated quoting and streamlined RFQ management, StartProto distinguishes itself from rigid, one-size-fits-all systems. Our user-focused enterprise software design empowers manufacturing teams to optimize efficiency, minimize errors, and drive profitability.
New clients said the new UI was one of the main reasons for choosing StartProto.
Tim Felbinger
Founder & CEO, StartProto, Inc.
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