Machines and Tools - Wood processing techniques - Furniture Production Machinery

Bia Software, the first Romanian software for online configuration of custom furniture

Nika Machinery has created the first Romanian 100% online furniture configuration software - BIA Software - which brings the whole process online. So factories can set up their showrooms online at lower and more affordable costs, and the customer can model the fixtures to configure their room and find out the price of the furniture in real time. When the configuration is complete, the software transfers the information directly to production, reducing time and streamlining the whole process.

Why such a programme was needed

After the technologization that industry has benefited from in recent years, digitization of production was the next logical step. Pandemic was a kind of litmus paper that highlighted the need for digitization in all areas and showed its benefits. Faced brutally with the impossibility of coming into direct contact with the customer many manufacturers realized that the solution could come online. Thus the need for software to facilitate the meeting between customer and manufacturer or between collaborating companies and to streamline production by reducing the time from order to production and eliminating the costs of organizing and running a physical shop.

Nika Machine has made BIA Software based on requests from customers who knew their skills. The request came due to their need for digitization and to remove the limitations that physical stores had. The development of such a program was based on Nika Utilaje's experience and skills in furniture design software solutions and is mainly aimed at custom furniture manufacturers.

Bia software Nika Machine tools

How the program works

BIA Software is structured on two interfaces, one for the beneficiary and one for the factory. In the customer interface we find functions:

  • room sizing
  • placement of fixtures in the room,
  • resizing bodies,
  • partitioning of buildings,
  • selection of materials and accessories,
  • real-time price visualization,
  • order placement.

Basically, after creating an account in the app, the customer logs in and first sizes their room to be identical to the one they want to furnish. He then enters the room and starts adding fixtures. There is a library of fixtures created by manufacturers based on their preferences. These are either fixed fixtures or fixtures that can be resized and recompartmentalized by the user. A photo of the actual image can be attached to each of these by the factory.

Unlike other applications, BIA Software allows you to resize and compartmentalize these fixtures. For all fixtures, you can choose the desired material and color and accessories such as handles, hinges or slides. The limits within which the customer can move in terms of choice are set by the factory. With each body, material or accessory added, the program shows the price of the furniture in that version. Once placed, the factory has the opportunity to intervene to point out any errors. Once the final version of the furniture is determined the order is placed.

The factory interface has functions related to the creation of the elements required for the customer's design, customer constraints and functions related to the transmission of information to production. The functions of the factory interface are:

  • body construction rules,
  • price calculation,
  • creating libraries,
  • limitation settings for the client (e.g. no higher than..., no wider than...),
  • production reports,
  • Vision+CNC Cabinet integration

To launch the order in production there are two possibilities: production reports with the type, material and dimensions of the bodies, parts list with the dimensions of each part in the case of machining with classic machines or importing the project and sending it to the computer controlled machines (CNC), in this case the program is integrated with the Cabinet Vision software.

A practical demonstration of the software can be found here here (demo from min.15).

What advantages does BIA Software bring to the factories where it is implemented?

One of the most important advantages is cost reduction. The costs of an online shop are much lower than a physical one. It also reduces the need for qualified staff.

BIA Software streamlines production by reducing the time it takes to process an order. The program allows the customer to design their own furniture, reducing the time it takes the company to do this. The program also sends all processing information directly to production, eliminating human error.

Bia software Nika Machine tools

Using the program allows digitization of business and target more potential customers. If a physical shop only attracts customers from nearby, an online shop can reach customers from hundreds of miles away.

The program will allow accurate costing, for both the beneficiary and the factory. Another advantage is that the factory will know at the time of placing the order all the materials needed and their costs.

How you can benefit from this program

The software was designed to be very easy to implement. All the databases are hosted on the Nika Utilaje server, at the factory there is just a file on the server and a link on the website. This also has the advantage that updating is done immediately and easily. And speaking of updates! Nika Machine Tools will be coming very shortly with updates. One will concern the introduction of milled MDF panels in the configuration. More details will be provided as we go. - Adrian Broșiu, Sales Director Nika Machinery

Bia software Nika Machine tools

In order to be accessible to factories with different levels of development, BIA Software has been structured in 3 modules:

  • Online showroom - for companies at the beginning of the digitalization process. In this case the factory interface outputs production reports in PDF form.
  • Connected showroom - for companies with a medium level of automation. Variant for factories that have Cabinet Vision, and BIA Software exports the project to Cabinet Vision and further on to the CNCs.
  • Industrial - for highly automated companies. In this case BIA Software is supplied with the Cabinet Vision license.

Either way, BIA Sofware is delivered as 3, 6 or 12-month monthly subscription.

About the author

Mihaela Radu

Mihaela Radu is a chemical engineer but has a great passion for wood. She has been working in the field for more than 20 years, wood finishing being what defined her during this period. She gained experience working in a research institute, in her own company, as well as in a multinational. She wants to continuously share her experience with those who have the same passion - and more.

Add comment

Add a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Categories

Subscribe to newsletter

Newsletter Friday morning
Information and advice from the experts

en_USEnglish