Create Quotes Hands-Free with Voice Input

Imagine walking around a job site, describing the work out loud, and having a professional quote ready before you leave. That's exactly what voice-to-quote does. SemaQuote's AI-powered voice feature transforms your spoken descriptions into structured, itemized quotes, no typing required.

This is a game-changer for contractors who need to quote quickly while their hands are busy or when they're talking through a project with a client.

Note: Voice quoting is a Pro feature available exclusively on the SemaQuote mobile app.

How Voice Quoting Works

When you speak your description, SemaQuote's AI listens and automatically extracts:

• Client information like name, phone number, and address
• Job description and scope of work
• Line items complete with quantities, units, and prices
• Item categories (labor, materials, equipment, and more)

You describe the job naturally, as if you were explaining it to a friend, and SemaQuote structures it into a professional quote you can send right away.

Getting Started

Ready to try it? Here's how to create your first voice quote.

Step 1: Open the Voice Quote Screen

1. Open the SemaQuote mobile app
2. Tap the + button on the bottom navigation
3. Select Voice Quote from the menu

Alternatively, start a new quote and tap the microphone icon to switch to voice mode.

Step 2: Describe the Job

1. Tap the microphone button to start recording
2. Speak naturally, covering the job details and pricing
3. Tap the button again when you're finished

Here's an example of what to say:

"This is a quote for John Smith at 123 Oak Street. We're doing a bathroom remodel. Labor will be 40 hours at $65 per hour. For materials, we need a new vanity at $450, a toilet for $275, and tile, that's 50 square feet at $8 per square foot. We'll also rent a tile saw for two days at $50 per day. The whole job should take about a week."

Notice how natural that sounds? You don't need special commands or a robotic tone.

Step 3: Review What SemaQuote Extracted

After you finish recording, SemaQuote processes your audio and shows you the results:

• Client details at the top
• Job description
• Itemized line items with quantities and prices

Take a moment to review everything. AI is impressive, but it's not perfect. A quick check ensures your quote is accurate before it reaches your client.

Step 4: Make Any Corrections

If something doesn't look right, you have options.

Edit manually: Tap any field to change it by hand.

Use voice corrections: Tap the mic again and say things like:

• "Change the labor rate to $70 per hour"
• "Add electrical work for $300"
• "Remove the tile saw rental"

Add missing items: Use the Add Item button for anything that wasn't captured.

Step 5: Send or Save

Once everything looks good:

• Tap Save as Draft if you want to review it later
• Tap Send Quote to deliver it to your client immediately

Tips for Better Voice Recognition

A little technique goes a long way. These tips will help SemaQuote understand you more accurately.

Speak Naturally

Talk as if you're explaining the job to your client. Both of these work:

Conversational: "We'll need about 200 square feet of hardwood flooring at $6.50 per square foot"

Quick and direct: "Hardwood flooring, 200 square feet, six fifty a foot"

Include the Key Details

The more context you provide, the better the results:

• Client name and contact info if you know it
• Job location if it's different from the client's address
• Specific quantities and units like hours, feet, or each
• Clear pricing such as per hour, per unit, or flat rate
• Item types when helpful ("materials for the vanity", "labor for installation")

Pause Between Items

A brief pause between line items helps the AI separate your charges clearly:

"Labor for demo, 8 hours at $50 per hour. [pause] Drywall, 20 sheets at $15 each. [pause] Labor for installation, 16 hours at $50 per hour."

Correct Yourself as You Go

If you misspeak, just correct it:

"The faucet is $200... actually, make that $250."

The AI will typically use your corrected value.

Voice Corrections After Recording

You can also modify your quote using voice commands after the initial extraction:

Just tap the microphone icon in the edit view and speak your changes.

What Voice Quoting Does Well

The AI excels at:

• Extracting dollar amounts and quantities accurately
• Understanding common trade terminology
• Parsing contact information like names, phones, and addresses
• Categorizing line items into the right types automatically

Current Limitations

Voice quoting isn't perfect for every situation. Keep these in mind:

• Uncommon technical terms might be misspelled (always double-check spelling)
• Long recordings over 2 minutes may miss details toward the end
• Background noise on job sites can reduce accuracy
• Strong accents may require clearer enunciation
• Complex pricing structures like tiered rates or conditional fees work better with manual entry

Getting the Best Results

1. Find a reasonably quiet spot when possible
2. Keep recordings under 90 seconds for optimal accuracy
3. Review every item before sending
4. Use manual entry for unusual items or complex pricing

Troubleshooting Common Issues

"Unable to process recording"

• Check that you have an internet connection
• Make sure your recording is at least 3 seconds long
• Try moving to a quieter location
• Close the app and reopen it

Some line items are missing

• The AI may have grouped related information together
• Try recording items one at a time for complex quotes
• Add missing items manually using the form

Wrong quantities or prices

Numbers can be tricky. "Fifty" and "fifteen" sound similar, as do "hundred" and "hundreds."

• State numbers clearly: "one hundred fifty dollars" instead of "hundred fifty"
• Always review quantities and prices before sending

Pro Subscription Required

Voice quoting is part of the Pro plan. To upgrade:

1. Go to Settings > Subscription
2. Select Pro Plan
3. Complete the purchase

Pro also includes unlimited quotes, advanced reporting, and priority support, so you get more than just voice features.

Your Privacy Matters

We know you're sharing business information, so here's how we protect it:

• Voice recordings are processed securely and deleted after extraction
• Only the resulting text data is saved with your quote
• All processing happens over encrypted connections
• See our Privacy Policy for complete details

Start Quoting Faster

Voice quoting saves time, reduces typos, and lets you create quotes while your hands are busy. Give it a try on your next job site visit. You might be surprised how quickly it becomes part of your workflow.

Ready to learn more? Check out these related guides:

• How to create a quote
• Adding and managing line items
• Sending quotes to clients