{
  "id": 15030184,
  "title": "Van-to-Quote",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/van-to-quote",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-16T19:50:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dev.to",
    "slug": "dev-to",
    "url": "https://dev.to/bhumika_sudarshani_a1605f/van-to-quote-ei6"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Van-to-Quote is a mobile application designed for tradespeople to quickly and easily generate priced PDF quotes for their work. The app allows tradespeople like plumbers and electricians to recite details of a job, such as \"replaced two radiators, three hours, forty meters of pipe,\" and instantly receive a draft quote with the correct items, quantities, labor, and VAT. Users can then make any necessary adjustments before downloading the finalized PDF.\n\nThe app operates offline once its models are downloaded, ensuring functionality even in areas with poor or no mobile signal. This feature makes it particularly useful for tradespeople who often work in rural or remote locations where internet connectivity may be unreliable.\n\nThe pricing structure of Van-to-Quote is designed to be cost-effective for users. As it does not charge per-quote, businesses can either purchase a one-time license or opt for a small flat fee, which still allows the company to maintain profitability. The app is built on a simple yet effective pipeline, utilizing local machine learning models and plain Python code to handle transcription, data extraction, pricing calculations, and PDF generation.\n\nThe key advantage of Van-to-Quote lies in its privacy and adaptability. All customer data, including names, addresses, and prices, remains on the user's device, ensuring complete data privacy. The app can be customized with different price lists for various tradespeople, making it adaptable to the specific needs of each professional. This flexibility allows plumbers, painters, electricians and other tradespeople to each maintain their own setup while ensuring the integrity of their pricing and terms.",
  "summary": "This is a submission for the Hacktoberfest Open-Source AI Challenge Week 2: Side Hustle * What I Built Van-to-Quote is a local app that turns a tradesperson's spoken job notes into a priced PDF quote. Plumbers, electricians and other tradespeople finish a job and then spend an evening typing up quotes. Cloud quoting apps charge a monthly fee, need a signal, and keep customer data on someone…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}