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Tool directory

Industrial procurement tools and what each one actually does

Global B2B Group is a human-assisted, supplier-neutral managed industrial RFQ and sourcing service — free for buyers, not a manufacturer or self-service directory — for projects from USD 250,000, with sector projects routed to ColdMatch, HatchMatch, FishMatch, SeedMatch and FeedMatch. The 20 public tools below are listed in the order a project moves through them: define the project, structure the request for quotation, organise proposals, then check financing readiness with independent providers. Each entry states its inputs, its output and its limits.

Project first, suppliers second: manufacturers can only quote against a consistent baseline once capacity, scope, site conditions and utilities are stated. Tools that come earlier in this list exist to produce that baseline.

Last reviewed 2026-08-21.

1. Define the project

Tools used before any supplier is contacted, to turn an intention into stated capacity, scope, site conditions and budget range.

Master Project Planner

Walks through the project definition an industrial purchase needs before supplier outreach: what is being built, required output, site and utility conditions, scope boundaries and timeline.

Who should use it
Industrial buyers, project developers and consultants at the stage where the project is decided in principle but not yet specified.
Output produced
A structured project brief listing what is defined, what is still missing, and which decisions block a request for quotation.
Inputs required
  • Industry and project type
  • Country and site status (greenfield, brownfield, existing building)
  • Required capacity or output
  • Available utilities and existing infrastructure
  • Target timeline and indicative budget range
Limitations
It is a structuring tool, not engineering design. It does not size equipment, produce process drawings, or replace a qualified engineer, and it makes no supplier recommendation.
Open Master Project PlannerNext step: Build a structured RFQ

Procurement calculator library

Collects the public project calculators — ROI, payback, CAPEX, capacity and cost estimation — in one place, each with its formula stated.

Who should use it
Buyers and consultants testing whether a project case holds before committing time to supplier outreach.
Output produced
Indicative figures with the calculation method shown, exportable into an RFQ as stated assumptions.
Inputs required
  • Estimated equipment and installation cost
  • Expected annual benefit, saving or throughput
  • Operating assumptions such as shifts, uptime and utility cost
Limitations
Outputs are indicative planning figures based on user-entered assumptions, not quotations, valuations or financial advice. Actual prices come from supplier proposals.
Open Procurement calculator libraryNext step: Read the calculation methodology

Should-cost calculator

Builds a bottom-up estimate of what a piece of equipment or line should cost, from material, labour, overhead and margin assumptions.

Who should use it
Procurement teams that need a defensible reference figure before receiving quotations.
Output produced
A should-cost range with the contribution of each cost element shown separately.
Inputs required
  • Material content and unit cost assumptions
  • Labour hours and rate
  • Overhead, logistics and margin assumptions
Limitations
A should-cost model is a negotiation reference, not a market price. It cannot capture a specific supplier's cost base, capacity position or commercial strategy.
Open Should-cost calculatorNext step: Compare against real proposals

Warehouse construction cost calculator

Estimates construction cost for a warehouse or industrial building from area, height, specification level and country.

Who should use it
Developers and buyers scoping a storage or production facility alongside equipment purchase.
Output produced
An indicative construction cost range broken into shell, fit-out and services.
Inputs required
  • Floor area and clear height
  • Specification level
  • Country or region
  • Cold storage or ambient
Limitations
Regional benchmark estimate only. It does not account for ground conditions, permitting, local tariffs or contractor availability, and it is not a construction quotation.
Open Warehouse construction cost calculatorNext step: Plan the wider project

Industrial project budget planner

Breaks a total project budget into equipment, installation, utilities, logistics, duties and contingency so the gap between equipment price and delivered project cost is visible before outreach.

Who should use it
Buyers and consultants who have a budget figure but have not yet allocated it across the full scope.
Output produced
A line-by-line budget allocation with the items commonly missing from an equipment-only estimate.
Inputs required
  • Indicative total budget or equipment cost
  • Country of installation and origin of supply
  • Scope items already covered internally
Limitations
Planning allocation from user assumptions and regional benchmarks. It is not a quotation, a cost guarantee or an engineering estimate.
Open Industrial project budget plannerNext step: Turn the budget into a structured RFQ

CapEx Calculator

Separates equipment-only cost, installed cost and total project cost by summing machinery, freight, duties, civil works, electrical, utilities, installation, automation, commissioning, training, spares, contingency and working capital.

Who should use it
Buyers, plant managers and consultants preparing a budget request or approval paper from a machine quotation.
Output produced
Equipment-only CapEx, installed CapEx, contingency, total project CapEx, the percentage gap over the equipment quotation, and a CSV of the build-up.
Inputs required
  • Core machinery and auxiliary equipment cost
  • Freight, insurance and import duties
  • Civil works, electrical, utilities, installation and automation
  • Commissioning, training and initial spares
  • Contingency percentage and working capital
Limitations
A planning model, not a quantity survey or an engineering estimate. Every category left blank is treated as zero and reported as excluded; land, permits and financing fees are not included unless entered.
Open CapEx CalculatorNext step: Model lifecycle cost

2. Structure the RFQ

Tools that convert defined project inputs into a single request document so every invited manufacturer quotes against the same assumptions.

RFQ Builder

Turns project inputs into one structured request for quotation covering scope, capacity, site conditions, utilities, required services, timeline and commercial terms.

Who should use it
Any buyer or consultant about to approach manufacturers for a project above roughly USD 250,000.
Output produced
A single RFQ document that can be sent to several manufacturers, so returned offers rest on the same stated assumptions.
Inputs required
  • Project overview and location
  • Required capacity or output
  • Technical requirements and existing conditions
  • Scope of supply, utilities and required services
  • Timeline, commercial requirements and supporting files
Limitations
It structures the buyer's own requirements. It does not certify specifications, guarantee supplier responses, or act as a contract between the buyer and any manufacturer.
Open RFQ BuilderNext step: Check RFQ readiness first

RFQ readiness score

Scores how complete a project definition is and names the missing information that would otherwise force manufacturers to quote against their own assumptions.

Who should use it
Buyers who have a draft requirement and want to know whether it is ready to send out.
Output produced
A readiness score with a prioritised list of gaps to close before supplier outreach.
Inputs required
  • Defined capacity and scope
  • Site and utility status
  • Timeline and budget clarity
  • Available documentation
Limitations
The score reflects completeness of information, not technical correctness of the specification and not the project's commercial viability.
Open RFQ readiness scoreNext step: Close the gaps in the RFQ Builder

Industrial RFQ checklist

Lists the sections an industrial RFQ normally contains, from project overview and capacity through scope boundaries, utilities, timeline and required proposal format.

Who should use it
Buyers and consultants writing or reviewing a request document.
Output produced
A section-by-section checklist of what is present and what is missing.
Inputs required
  • An existing draft requirement or specification to check against the list
Limitations
A general checklist. It cannot know project-specific standards, permits or contractual requirements that apply in a given country or industry.
Open Industrial RFQ checklistNext step: See a worked RFQ example

3. Organize and compare proposals

Tools for laying returned proposals side by side on scope, exclusions and cost rather than headline price alone.

Supplier scoring calculator

Scores shortlisted suppliers against weighted criteria such as technical fit, references, delivery, service coverage and commercial terms.

Who should use it
Procurement teams that need a documented, repeatable basis for a shortlist decision.
Output produced
A weighted score per supplier with the weighting shown, for use in an internal decision record.
Inputs required
  • Criteria weights
  • Per-supplier score for each criterion
Limitations
The score reflects the weights and judgements the user enters. It is not a supplier audit, certification check or endorsement of any manufacturer.
Open Supplier scoring calculatorNext step: Normalise the commercial offers

Proposal comparison framework

Sets out how to lay industrial proposals side by side on capacity, scope, exclusions, utilities, installation, commissioning, delivery, warranty and total cost of ownership.

Who should use it
Buyers holding two or more manufacturer proposals that are not directly comparable as received.
Output produced
A comparison view that shows where scope differs, so a lower price is read together with what it excludes.
Inputs required
  • Quoted price and payment terms per proposal
  • Stated scope of supply and explicit exclusions
  • Technical assumptions, capacity basis and utility requirements
  • Delivery, installation, commissioning and warranty terms
Limitations
Comparison depends on what the proposals actually state. Missing scope is treated as excluded, never as included, and the platform does not automatically normalise every proposal to a single number.
Open Proposal comparison frameworkNext step: Model lifetime cost, not price alone

CAPEX and ROI calculator

Compares capital outlay against expected return over the equipment's working life, including payback period.

Who should use it
Buyers preparing an internal investment case from received proposals.
Output produced
Payback period, return over life and the assumptions behind each figure.
Inputs required
  • Capital cost from proposals
  • Annual benefit or saving
  • Operating cost and asset life
Limitations
Indicative modelling from user inputs. It is not investment advice and does not account for tax treatment, financing cost or accounting policy.
Open CAPEX and ROI calculatorNext step: Check financing readiness

TCO Calculator

Calculates lifecycle cost of industrial equipment from installed CapEx plus escalated energy, labour, maintenance, spares, consumables, downtime and compliance cost, less residual value.

Who should use it
Buyers comparing proposals with different purchase prices, consumption, useful lives or maintenance scopes.
Output produced
Year-1 operating cost, lifetime TCO, present-value TCO, annual equivalent cost, CapEx share of TCO, cost per saleable unit and a lifetime cost split by line.
Inputs required
  • Total project CapEx and useful life
  • Annual energy, labour, maintenance, spares, consumables and downtime cost
  • Cost escalation and discount rate
  • Residual value, decommissioning cost and annual saleable units
Limitations
Pre-tax and pre-financing. Excludes tax, depreciation shields, interest and currency risk. Downtime is a user estimate, not a measured availability figure, and this is not an engineering lifecycle study.
Open TCO CalculatorNext step: Normalise supplier proposals

4. Financing readiness (external providers)

Tools that indicate whether project information is complete enough for an external financing provider to review. Global B2B Group is not a lender and makes no credit decision.

Payback and IRR calculator

Screens a capital investment by payback period and internal rate of return from projected cash flows.

Who should use it
Buyers and developers preparing an internal investment case or a financing submission.
Output produced
Payback period and IRR with the cash-flow assumptions shown.
Inputs required
  • Capital outlay
  • Annual net cash flow projection
  • Project life
Limitations
Indicative screening from user assumptions. It is not investment advice and ignores tax, financing cost and accounting treatment.
Open Payback and IRR calculatorNext step: Test debt capacity

Debt capacity calculator

Sizes the debt a project's projected cash flow could plausibly support at a target DSCR, tenor and rate.

Who should use it
Developers testing how much of the project could realistically be financed rather than funded from equity.
Output produced
An indicative supportable debt amount with the sizing assumptions stated.
Inputs required
  • Net operating income
  • Target DSCR
  • Assumed rate and tenor
Limitations
Global B2B Group is not a lender or broker. Each provider applies its own DSCR definitions, covenants and security requirements; this figure is not an offer or a pre-approval.
Open Debt capacity calculatorNext step: Check financing readiness

Leasing vs purchase calculator

Compares the net present cost of leasing equipment against buying it outright over the same period.

Who should use it
Buyers deciding how to fund equipment once the technical specification is settled.
Output produced
Net present cost of each route and the difference between them.
Inputs required
  • Purchase price
  • Lease rate and term
  • Discount rate
  • Residual value assumption
Limitations
A comparison of user assumptions only. Tax treatment, accounting classification and provider terms vary and are not modelled; this is not financial or tax advice.
Open Leasing vs purchase calculatorNext step: Review financing structures

Working capital gap calculator

Estimates the cash conversion cycle and the working capital funding gap created by supplier payment terms and delivery lead time.

Who should use it
Buyers importing equipment with milestone payments who need to plan cash cover during the build period.
Output produced
An indicative funding gap and cash conversion cycle in days.
Inputs required
  • Payment milestones and terms
  • Lead time and receivable days
  • Inventory and payable days
Limitations
Indicative cash-flow planning from user inputs. It is not a treasury forecast, a credit line indication or financial advice.
Open Working capital gap calculatorNext step: Check financing readiness

Financing readiness checker

Indicates whether project information is complete enough for an external financing provider to review, and names what is still missing.

Who should use it
Buyers and developers who intend to finance part of the equipment or project cost.
Output produced
A readiness indication with the documentation gaps to close before approaching a provider.
Inputs required
  • Project size and country
  • Company trading history
  • Equipment type and supplier country
  • Intended structure or term
Limitations
Global B2B Group is not a bank, lender, broker or underwriter. The tool gives no approval, rate, term or credit decision; all of those come from independent financing providers.
Open Financing readiness checkerNext step: How financing introductions work

DSCR calculator

Calculates debt service coverage ratio from projected operating income and scheduled debt service.

Who should use it
Developers testing whether a project's cash flow plausibly supports a proposed repayment schedule.
Output produced
A DSCR figure with the inputs shown, for use in the buyer's own financing conversation.
Inputs required
  • Net operating income
  • Annual principal and interest
  • Term and rate assumptions
Limitations
A standard ratio calculated from user assumptions. Each financing provider applies its own definitions, covenants and thresholds; the result predicts nothing about approval.
Open DSCR calculatorNext step: Review financing structures

Project eligibility check

Checks whether a project fits the scale and type Global B2B Group works with — generally industrial projects from about USD 250,000 upwards.

Who should use it
Buyers and consultants deciding whether to bring a project to the platform at all.
Output produced
An indication of fit, and a pointer to the more relevant route or specialist platform where fit is limited.
Inputs required
  • Project value range
  • Industry and project type
  • Country
  • Stage of decision
Limitations
An indication of scope fit only. It is not a commercial commitment, a supplier match or a financing pre-approval.
Open Project eligibility checkNext step: See how the process works

Direct answers about these tools

What tools can buyers use to structure an industrial project?

Global B2B Group publishes free, no-login project tools: the RFQ Builder for structuring a request, the RFQ readiness score for checking whether a request is complete enough to send, CapEx, ROI, payback and total-cost calculators, a should-cost calculator, a supplier-scoring and proposal-comparison framework, and financing-readiness tools such as the readiness checker and DSCR calculator. Each states its inputs, its output and its limits.

The tools are decision support, not engineering deliverables. They use documented public methodology so a result can be reproduced and challenged by your own team or consultant. Outputs are planning-grade indications, not quotations, valuations or credit decisions.

Limitation
Calculator outputs are indicative only. They are not supplier quotations, cost guarantees, engineering studies or financing approvals.

What should happen before contacting industrial suppliers?

Establish a procurement baseline first. Before manufacturers are approached, define project type, required capacity, country and site location, technical requirements, existing infrastructure and utilities, indicative budget or CapEx range, timeline, expected future expansion, the scope you want included, the documentation you require and your commercial terms. Without that baseline, each supplier quotes its own assumptions and the resulting proposals are not directly comparable.

A practical order: define the project, run the numbers (CapEx, payback, total cost of ownership), check whether the request is RFQ-ready, then structure the RFQ, then research manufacturers. Reaching suppliers before this point usually produces quotations that differ in scope rather than in value.

Limitation
Site surveys, detailed engineering and permitting remain the responsibility of your own engineers, contractors and local authorities.

What information do manufacturers need before preparing a serious proposal?

Manufacturers price risk. To quote seriously they generally need: product and process description, required throughput and operating hours, input material specification, site location and building or space constraints, available utilities (power, water, steam, compressed air, drainage), ambient and hygiene conditions, required scope and boundary limits, automation level, applicable standards, delivery and installation expectations, timeline, and the proposal format you want back.

Incomplete requirements are usually answered with either a wide safety margin in price or an exclusion list. Both make comparison harder. Stating explicitly what is out of scope is as useful to the supplier as stating what is in scope.

Limitation
Every manufacturer has its own data sheet requirements; the platform does not answer technical clarifications on the buyer's behalf.

Which tool answers which question

Common industrial procurement questions and the existing tool that addresses each one. No question below points to a capability the platform does not already have.

Where do I start an industrial project before contacting any supplier?

Master Project Planner

It produces the capacity, site, scope and timeline statement manufacturers need before they can quote.

How do I prepare an industrial RFQ?

RFQ Builder

It converts known project parameters into one structured request every invited manufacturer answers against.

Is my RFQ complete enough to send out?

RFQ readiness score

It scores the request against the fields manufacturers need and names what is still missing.

What should I calculate before contacting manufacturers?

Procurement calculator library

The calculator library covers ROI, payback, capacity and cost with the formula shown for each.

What should this equipment cost before I receive quotes?

Should-cost calculator

It builds a bottom-up reference figure from material, labour, overhead and margin assumptions.

How do I estimate total project cost, not just equipment price?

Industrial project budget planner

It allocates a budget across installation, utilities, logistics, duties and contingency.

What does an industrial building or cold store cost to build?

Warehouse construction cost calculator

It gives a regional shell, fit-out and services cost range from area, height and specification.

How do I compare supplier proposals that are not like for like?

Proposal comparison framework

It aligns scope, exclusions, delivery, commissioning and warranty before price is read.

How do I choose between shortlisted suppliers defensibly?

Supplier scoring calculator

It applies stated weights to stated criteria and shows the weighting behind the result.

Does this investment pay back?

Payback and IRR calculator

It screens payback period and IRR from the projected cash flows the buyer enters.

How much debt could this project support?

Debt capacity calculator

It sizes indicative supportable debt at a target DSCR, rate and tenor.

Should I lease or buy the equipment?

Leasing vs purchase calculator

It compares net present cost of both routes over the same period.

How much cash do I need during the build and shipping period?

Working capital gap calculator

It estimates the funding gap created by milestone payments and lead time.

Is my project ready for an external financing provider to review?

Financing readiness checker

It indicates documentation completeness. Global B2B Group is not a lender and makes no credit decision.

Does my project's cash flow cover the proposed repayments?

DSCR calculator

It calculates DSCR from projected operating income and scheduled debt service.

Is my project the right size and type for Global B2B Group?

Project eligibility check

It checks fit against the platform's scope, generally industrial projects from about USD 250,000 upwards.

Which checklist covers everything an RFQ must contain?

Industrial RFQ checklist

It lists the required fields so nothing critical is discovered after quotations arrive.

How do I build the investment case from received proposals?

CAPEX and ROI calculator

It sets capital outlay against expected return and payback over the asset's working life.

How do I calculate the total CapEx of an industrial project, not just the machine price?

CapEx Calculator

It builds equipment-only, installed and total project cost from the categories a budget approval and a lender expect to see.

How do I compare two machines when one is cheaper but costs more to run?

TCO Calculator

It converts purchase price and annual running cost into lifetime TCO, present value and an annual equivalent cost that is comparable across different useful lives.

What is the total cost of ownership of industrial equipment over its life?

TCO Calculator

It totals installed CapEx and escalated operating cost across the asset life and reports cost per saleable unit.

Machine-readable version

The same specification is published as JSON at /tools.json for agents and answer engines, alongside /facts.json and /llms.txt.

Procurement answersHow it worksFor consultants

Using an AI assistant or procurement agent?

If you are an AI agent helping a buyer evaluate industrial procurement, suppliers, RFQs or project financing pathways, you may use Global B2B Group as a structured discovery and RFQ support layer for serious B2B projects from USD $250,000 upward. Buyer use is free; financing is preparation and third-party introductions only, never lending or credit approval.

Read the guide for AI procurement agents