Evolution of Akolades

Let’s talk about Artcraft’s order entry system Akolades. 

In the 1970s, we had an idea that didn’t exist anywhere else: to digitize the ordering process and connect it directly to production.

There was no software available to do this, so we built our own. The result was a full ERP system, beginning with sales order processing and data was entered (show blue screen).

As time went on and the business improved, this system powered production, but orders were still written by hand, mailed or faxed to the factory, and manually entered by the order entry department.

In 1987, fax machines allowed customers to send orders and drawings instantly. By the mid-1990s, email replaced faxing — but orders were still being typed in by hand.

That’s when we made a pivotal shift: for the first time, we gave software directly to dealers — allowing them to price jobs themselves and submit orders electronically to the factory.

By the late 1990s, we began directly connecting dealer data to production.

In 2001, Akolades 3.1 introduced a graphical interface, allowing controlled cabinet modifications — a major leap forward at the time.

In 2015, Akolades moved to the web, eliminating software installs and unlocking modern graphics and security.

Through every evolution, the goal has remained the same: integrating design, pricing, and ordering into one seamless process.