Customer Portal for a Made-to-Order Manufacturer
A spec build for a custom fireplace screen manufacturer - replacing six fragmented tools and a brittle Zapier setup with a single portal that runs the full order lifecycle, from intake to production to payment.
The Challenge
This manufacturer produces custom metal fireplace screens for high-end residential projects. Every order is bespoke - custom dimensions, materials, finishes - which means their operation runs on relationships and precision, not catalog SKUs.
Their tech stack had grown into a patchwork: ActiveCampaign for CRM and deal tracking, QuickBooks for quotes and invoicing, Asana for production management, Shopify for their website (without using any of its commerce features), a Jotform embed for intake, and spreadsheets for reporting. These systems don't talk to each other natively, so the whole thing was held together with Zapier - and corner cases kept breaking the automations. Data fell through the cracks. Leads went unfollowed. Order statuses lived in a system customers couldn't see.
The result: a high-end product experience let down at every digital touchpoint.
The Solution
We designed and built a unified portal - a Next.js application that replaces the fragmented stack with a single system purpose-built for custom order workflows.
Native intake form. The process starts with a detailed inquiry form built directly into the site - collecting project dimensions, materials, room context, timeline, and reference images. No third-party embed, no data handoff, no broken Zaps. Every submission lands directly in the platform as a new lead.
Customer portal. Once a project is underway, customers log in to their own dashboard: view quotes, approve or request changes, track order status in real time, and pay invoices - all in one place. No more chasing down emails or waiting on a callback to find out where their order stands.
Staff dashboard. The internal team sees a live queue of new leads, active orders, and who needs follow-up. Deal stage, assigned rep, and next action are all visible at a glance - no toggling between ActiveCampaign and a spreadsheet to figure out what's open.
Production view. The shop floor has its own interface: the orders assigned to them, priority order, current status, and the ability to push status updates that flow instantly to the customer portal. Customers see real movement without anyone having to send a manual update.
Financial reporting. Revenue, pipeline value, average order size, and conversion metrics are built into the platform - pulling from the same data that runs the operation, not from a spreadsheet someone updates manually every month.
The Result
This portal was built as a spec for a client that wasn't ready to move forward at this time. The demo is live and fully functional - every role, every workflow, every screen. It represents exactly what we'd build for a manufacturing or trades business running on a fragmented tool stack.
What We Built
- Unified intake form - native to the site, feeds directly into the order pipeline
- Customer portal - quotes, approvals, invoices, and real-time order tracking
- Staff dashboard - lead queue, order status, and follow-up visibility
- Production interface - order assignments and status updates for the shop floor
- Role-based access - customers, staff, and production each see exactly their slice
- Built-in financial reporting - no spreadsheet exports required
The same portal foundation adapts to any made-to-order operation. If you run a fabrication shop, see how it works as a customer portal for glass fabricators.