While both platforms offer product specification and design solutions, the main difference is in the level of technical detail provided. Programa is designed to cater to the technical specification needs of designers and architects, providing product specification schedules that are detailed enough to be distributed to external consultants such as engineers & builders, as well as presenting exceptionally well for clients.
Studio Designer to Programa
Almost 40% of our users have made the switch to Programa from another platform, and many say they prefer Programa's intuitive and simple design, as well as the overall aesthetic. Our product schedules, pinboards, and client dashboards all have a purposeful design focus, making designers look more professional and presentable with less effort.
Feature Comparison
| Studio Designer | Programa | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Subscription-based pricing starting at $69, essential $79 or premier $99 - per month | Subscription-based pricing with a 20% discount off annual memberships.See 'Pricing' for details |
| Invoicing | This feature provides an efficient way to bill clients and track payments, streamlining the financial management | Invoicing capabilities allow for the creation and issuance of detailed invoices directly from the platform. Supporting online payments, making it convenient for both designers and clients to manage financial transactions. |
| Design Tools | Comprehensive design tools including floor planning, 3D rendering, and product sourcing | Robust design tools including pinboard presentations, product library, visualisation tools and material selection |
| Project Management | Advanced project management features such as budget tracking, time tracking, and purchase orders | Advanced project management tools with task dependencies, timelines, and time tracking |
| Client Dashboard | Provides a client portal for communication, project updates, and approvals | Offers a comprehensive client dashboard for real-time project progress tracking and collaboration. With client approval functions. |
| Specification Sheets | Built-in functionality to create detailed specification sheets for products and materials | Built-in functionality to generate detailed custom specification sheets for materials, furniture, and fixtures. Generated into cloud based links or exported QR codes, PDF and Excel sheets. |
Why Programa is a Better Choice
- Cost-Effectiveness: Spend less time on administrative tasks and more on design.
- Efficiency: Streamline your workflow with our advanced project management tools.
- Collaboration: Enhance client engagement with interactive features.
- Aesthetics: Programa was built by and for interiors designers. With a strong focus on visual appeal and ease of use, tailored specifically to the needs of interior designers. The platform is not only aesthetically pleasing but also efficient, designed to streamline workflows and minimize the time spent on admin tasks. This allows designers to focus more on their core competency - creating beautiful spaces.
Easy Transition
Data Migration:
- Importing existing schedules can save you a vast amount of time and energy manually entering data. Rather than starting from scratch, Programa has built a way for you to translate your existing schedules into a format that our system can upload to your account.
- Easy transfer of your existing Houzz data with our Address Book & Schedule data import sheets.
- Simply import your information into our curated documents and we will do the rest!
Training Resources:
- Access to our comprehensive tutorials and live chat support to get you up and running.
FAQs
Programa is a continually evolving platform. We are always seeking to enhance our features and services based on the needs and feedback of our users. Currently, we are heavily focused on expanding our invoicing, budgeting, and reporting tools. We recognize that Houzz offers a robust suite of financial tools, and we are committed to ensuring that Programa is on par with, if not exceeding, this offering. We aim to provide a comprehensive, one-stop solution for all design studio needs, and this includes robust financial management capabilities. Stay tuned for exciting updates and enhancements to these features.
At this stage, our invoicing system only integrates with Xero. However, we are rebuilding our invoicing platform set to roll out 2nd quarter of 2024, and will integrate with Quickbooks online.
There is no mobile app at this stage, however many parts of the platform including studio WIP, To-Do List, Address Book and Product Library are all mobile responsive layouts. All shared documents (e.g. Schedules, Client Dashboard or Pinboards), are all mobile responsive too.
Next Steps
We understand that every design studio's needs are unique, and that's why Programa is built to offer flexibility, efficiency, and enhanced collaboration. We're excited to have you on board and are here to support you every step of the way.
Wherever you are, we’re here to help
Have questions or need assistance? Chat with us today or book a demo with our team of experienced designers.
