Find Boxes vs D-Tools:
The Modern Alternative to the Industry Incumbent
D-Tools has been the AV industry's go-to platform for over two decades. But its complexity and price tag aren't for everyone. Find Boxes delivers the inventory, project, and proposal tools most integrators actually need — without the enterprise overhead.
Modern Inventory & Project Management
Purpose-built for AV, staging, and event production. Item-and-unit inventory model, QR code scanning, custody tracking, AI invoice processing, pull lists, sub-rentals, proposals with Stripe payments, client portal, time tracking, and diagrams — all cloud-native and mobile-first.
Enterprise Integration Platform
The industry's legacy standard for system design, estimation, and project management. Two products: D-Tools Cloud (SaaS, starting $99/mo) for proposals and project tracking, and System Integrator (SI) ($150+/user/mo) for full enterprise design-to-install workflows with Visio/AutoCAD integration.
The Short Version
D-Tools is a powerful, mature platform — especially D-Tools SI for large firms that need deep Visio/AutoCAD integration, complex engineering documentation, and service contract management. But that power comes with significant cost, complexity, and a learning curve that many small-to-mid-size integrators don't need. Find Boxes gives you the core workflows that run your daily operations — inventory tracking, custody chain, project management, proposals, and client communication — in a modern, intuitive package that your team can start using on day one.
Side-by-Side Feature Breakdown
How Find Boxes compares to both D-Tools products across the features AV teams depend on.
| Feature | Find Boxes | D-Tools (Cloud / SI) |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory Model | ✓ Two-layer: Item (product catalog) + Item Units (individual serial-tracked pieces) with precise per-unit availability | ✓ Product library with serialized assets. Cloud added inventory module in Jan 2025 |
| QR Code Scanning | ✓ Per-unit and per-category QR codes. Scan to check in, check out, or view unit details. Bulk QR print jobs. | ✗ No native QR code system. SI uses barcode-based workflows |
| Custody / Chain-of-Custody | ✓ Full custody lifecycle: reserve units → check out → check in. Standalone or project-linked. Overdue tracking, room views, date-range filtering | ◐ Project-based assignment. No dedicated standalone custody workflow |
| Installation Projects | ✓ Dedicated project type. Equipment reserved indefinitely with no return date. Units marked "Installed" excluded from availability | ✓ SI handles installation lifecycle including service post-install |
| Pull Lists | ✓ Build pull lists per project. Reserve specific units. Bulk check-out/check-in. Export to CSV. Pull list templates for reuse. | ◐ Equipment lists within projects. No pull-list-specific workflow with templates |
| Sub-Rentals | ✓ Add outside-vendor gear to project pull lists alongside your own inventory with vendor and date tracking | ◐ Procurement tracking, but no integrated sub-rental concept in pull lists |
| AI Invoice Processing | ✓ Upload a PDF invoice → AI extracts line items → review and approve → creates procurement records on project | ✗ Not available |
| Proposals & Invoicing | ✓ Sections, line items from library + inventory, tax, discounts, terms templates, PDF export, public sharing, e-signatures, Stripe payments with split/installment billing | ✓ Multimedia proposals with visual quoting, room-by-room pricing, eSignatures, and payment collection (ProPay/Stripe) |
| Client Portal | ✓ Read-only project view for clients. Configurable tabs: pull list, files, order status, notes, announcements, and messaging | ✓ Customer portal with project visibility, approvals, and payment processing |
| Project Task Management | ✓ Multiple task lists per project. Task items with dates, notes, assignments, completion. Importable task templates | ✓ Task management and scheduling across projects |
| Time Tracking | ✓ Per-project labor logging with start/end, employee, requester. CSV export. Configurable permissions | ✓ Labor tracking with budgeted vs. actual dashboards |
| Diagrams | ✓ Built-in flow diagrams and rack diagrams that pull from your inventory catalog | ✓ SI: deep Visio/AutoCAD/CAD integration for engineering drawings. Cloud: system layouts |
| Engineering Documentation | ✗ Not a CAD/engineering tool | ✓ SI excels here: wiring diagrams, system schematics, floor plans, 2D/3D design |
| CRM | ◐ Customer management within proposals | ✓ Built-in CRM with lead tracking, sales pipeline, and forecasting |
| Service Contract Management | ✗ Not available | ✓ Service plans, recurring revenue tracking, service dispatch |
| QuickBooks / Xero Integration | ✗ Not yet | ✓ QuickBooks and Xero integration on both products |
| Reporting | ✓ Verify (reconciliation), low count, overdue, wishlist, usage/activity, and full audit log with CSV exports | ✓ Sales, project, and labor reporting with analytics dashboards |
| Bundles / Kits | ✓ Bundles of units that check out together. Units auto-excluded from individual availability | ✓ Package/allowance system for grouping products |
| Service History | ✓ Per-unit service event log with dates and descriptions | ✓ Full service ticket system with field dispatch |
| Mobile Access | ✓ Mobile-first web app. QR scanning from any phone | ✓ SI Mobile Install App + D-Tools Cloud mobile app |
| Deployment | ✓ 100% cloud — no install, no server | Cloud: SaaS · SI: hosted or on-premises (requires setup) |
See how Find Boxes stacks up — start your free trial and explore every feature listed above.
Try Find Boxes Free →Where Find Boxes Wins
D-Tools does a lot of things. But here's where Find Boxes delivers features D-Tools doesn't — or does better for the price.
QR Code-Driven Inventory
Every item unit gets its own QR code. Scan with any phone to check in, check out, or view full details — serial number, storage location, custody history, and service log. Print QR sheets by category or run bulk print jobs. D-Tools has no native QR code system.
AI Invoice Scanning
Upload a distributor invoice PDF and Find Boxes uses AI to extract every line item. Review the proposed items, approve or edit, and they become procurement records linked to your project. D-Tools doesn't offer AI-powered document extraction.
True Custody Chain
Find Boxes has a dedicated custody system — standalone or project-linked. Reserve specific units for a date range, check them out, track them as overdue if they don't come back, and view custody by room or by item. This is a core workflow with its own views and reporting.
Pull List Templates
Save standard equipment sets as templates and import them into any project in one click. If a requested item isn't available, it goes to the wishlist for procurement automatically. D-Tools doesn't have a comparable pull-list template workflow.
A Fraction of the Cost
D-Tools Cloud starts at $99/month (Solo). The Team plan is $249/month. D-Tools SI starts at $150/user/month with $200/hour professional services for setup. Find Boxes gives you inventory, projects, proposals, and custody at a price that doesn't require a budget committee.
Zero Setup, Zero Learning Curve
D-Tools SI is notoriously complex to implement — users report it takes significant time and ongoing maintenance to integrate into a business. Find Boxes is cloud-native and intuitive: sign up, add your gear, start scanning QR codes. Your team is productive on day one.
QR scanning, custody tracking, pull list templates, AI invoicing — all included from day one.
Start Your Free Trial →When to Choose Each Platform
🟢 Choose Find Boxes when…
- You need to know where every unit is — by serial number, QR code, and storage room
- Custody tracking (check-out, check-in, overdue alerts) is a core workflow
- You want AI to handle invoice data entry from distributor PDFs
- Pull list templates would save your team hours per project
- You need proposals with Stripe payments and a client portal
- You're a small-to-mid-size team that can't justify $150+/user/month
- You want field techs scanning QR codes from their phones
- Installation projects with indefinite custody are part of your business
- You want built-in flow and rack diagrams without CAD software
🟣 Choose D-Tools when…
- You need deep Visio or AutoCAD integration for engineering documentation
- Complex system design with 2D/3D floor plans is essential
- You manage recurring service contracts and field dispatch
- A full CRM with sales pipeline and forecasting is required
- QuickBooks/Xero accounting integration is a must-have today
- You're a large firm with 20+ users who need enterprise-grade project controls
- You've already invested in D-Tools and the switching cost is high
Pricing Comparison
What it costs to run each platform for a typical AV integration team.
Find Boxes
- ✓ Item + item unit inventory tracking
- ✓ QR code scanning & bulk printing
- ✓ Full custody lifecycle
- ✓ Project management with pull lists
- ✓ AI invoice processing
- ✓ Proposals with Stripe payments
- ✓ Client portal with messaging
- ✓ Diagrams (flow + rack)
- ✓ Time tracking, bundles, reports
- ✓ No setup fees · Free trial
D-Tools
- Cloud Solo: $99/mo (1 user)
- Cloud Team: $249/mo
- Cloud Company: $499/mo
- Cloud Enterprise: $999/mo
- SI: $150+/user/month
- SI Professional Services: $200/hour
- Implementation & training additional
- On-premises SI requires server setup
Frequently Asked Questions
All the Tools. None of the Enterprise Tax.
Inventory, custody, projects, proposals, diagrams, and a client portal — built for AV teams who need to move fast without a $150/user/month price tag.
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