Quoting is where a packaging order is won or lost. A brand sends a spec sheet, a dieline or a half-finished email, and somebody has to turn it into a price for substrate, print, finish and freight before a competitor does. In 2026 the software for that job changed quickly, with AI reading RFQ emails becoming a standard feature rather than a novelty.
This roundup covers the quoting and estimating tools packaging businesses in Australia and the USA actually run. It is written for owners and operations managers at converters, printers and distributors choosing or reviewing their estimating setup.
How we chose
We included tools that are sold to packaging or print businesses, that quote packaging jobs (cartons, labels, flexibles or corrugated), and that have public evidence of customers in Australia, New Zealand or the USA. “Best” here means best for a stated kind of business, not a single winner. Pricing is shown only where the vendor publishes it; none of the tools below does.
What to look for
- Your segment. Corrugated, folding carton, labels and flexibles cost differently. Pick a tool built for the boards and presses you run.
- How RFQs arrive. If most requests come by email with attachments, check how the tool reads them and how it flags missing details.
- Price breaks and MOQ. The quote should show several quantities and respect minimum order quantities from your suppliers.
- Where the price goes next. A quote should become a sales order in your ERP without re-keying.
- Local support. Check who will help you in your time zone.
The tools compared
| Tool | What it does | Best for | AU and US presence | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amtech (EnCore, Label Traxx) | Packaging ERP with Quick Quote, which reads quote emails with AI | US corrugated, carton and label plants | US strong; Australia not listed | Not public |
| HiFlow Quote | AI estimating that sits on top of an existing ERP | Converters who want to keep their ERP | US; Australia not found | Not public |
| ePS (Radius, Tharstern) | Packaging ERP and estimating, including iQuote | Carton, label and flexibles converters | US strong; Australian office not found | Not public |
| printIQ | Print management with a packaging module | Printers moving into packaging | Australia, New Zealand and North America | Four editions, prices not public |
| PrintVis | Print and packaging management inside Microsoft Business Central | Businesses already on Business Central | Available in Australia and New Zealand | Not public |
| Kiwiplan | Corrugated ERP, scheduling and plant software | Mid to large corrugated plants | Both, founded in New Zealand | Not public |
| CERM | Label management software from estimate to invoice | Label converters | Australian office; North America | Not public |
| Packway | Pre-sales quoting and estimating | Corrugated, displays and carton | US site | Not public |
Amtech
Amtech sells EnCore and Label Traxx, and in May 2026 bought Clarico, a machine learning quoting engine for corrugated, folding carton and flexibles. Its Quick Quote product now reads inbound quote emails and attachments, pulls out board, style, dimensions and quantity with a confidence score, and flags gaps for the estimator. Amtech says it runs in more than 1,250 plants, with Australia not listed among its regions.
HiFlow Quote
HiFlow Quote, launched in March 2026, is an AI estimating product that works on top of a converter’s existing ERP. It reads RFQs from email, PDF or portal, extracts dimensions, substrate, print, quantities and finishes, and drafts questions about missing information. HiFlow also sells a full ERP of its own. Customers and pricing are not public.
ePS
ePS sells Radius and its CommandCore platform to carton, label, flexibles and corrugated converters, with more than 700 customers and AI features branded Pack AI. Its iQuote estimating tool is aimed at carton and label converters. ePS also owns Tharstern.
printIQ
printIQ was founded in 1999 and has staff in New Zealand, Australia and North America. It sells a packaging module with per-unit and per-carton pricing in four editions, from Small Business to Enterprise. It suits printers adding packaging work to an existing print business.
PrintVis
PrintVis is the print and packaging management system built into Microsoft Business Central. It is available in Australian and New Zealand localisations and has more than 350 customers, including packaging firms. It suits businesses that have already chosen Business Central as their ERP.
Kiwiplan
Kiwiplan started in Auckland in 1981 and is now owned by Advantive. It covers corrugated order management, scheduling and plant floor systems, and its owner says it supports more than 80% of US corrugated production. It is built for box plants rather than distributors.
CERM
CERM is a Belgian label management system with more than 480 customers. It has an Australian office and names Australia, New Zealand and North America as main markets. It suits label converters who want estimating, production and invoicing in one system.
Where Otopack fits
Otopack is not another estimating system. It works alongside whichever tool you choose. Otopack reads the RFQ, chases the brand for missing details, sends supplier RFQs to your approved converters, and hands a complete job to your estimating system. After the quote, it carries the job through artwork proofing, supplier approval and new brand setup, which estimating tools leave to email.
If you run one of the tools above, see how Otopack connects: Amtech, ePS, printIQ, PrintVis, Kiwiplan or CERM.
