[GC AI-Estimator] How to Use the New Estimate Setup Page to Configure AI-Estimator

Configuring and maintaining estimation systems is one of the hardest parts of running a print operation. We built Estimate Setup page to change that — an AI-native configuration experience where you can import data or make changes with support from built-in AI assistant.

For existing AI-Estimator users, Estimate Setup replaces the previous workflow of editing Google Sheets and syncing through the Estimate Configuration page. Everything is now in one unified interface inside GelatoConnect, with AI assistance, version history, and a structured editing workflow built in.

(Video) Walkthrough: Introduction to the New Estimate Setup Page

AI assistant built into the setup page. This is the centerpiece of the new experience. A chat-based AI configurator is docked directly into the Estimate Setup page. You can ask it to create new machines, update substrate pricing, bulk-edit finishing steps, or answer questions about your configuration — all using natural language. It understands your current setup and can make changes on your behalf. You can also upload files (CSV, Excel, JSON, PDF) and have the AI process them into configuration changes. This is what makes the experience fundamentally different from editing spreadsheets or filling out forms.

One unified page for all configuration. All configuration that previously lived across multiple Google Sheet tabs (Product Setup, Machine & Substrate Setup, finishing tabs, price model tabs, and more) and the Estimate Configuration page is now in a single Estimate Setup view inside GelatoConnect. No more switching between spreadsheets and the app, and no more manual syncing.

Finishing Machines are now a dedicated section. Previously, finishing operations like cut, fold, crease, laminate, spot finish, and folder/gluer were spread across various Google Sheet tabs. They now have their own top-level section in the sidebar with clear subcategories. Binding machines (saddle stitch, perfect bind, wire-o, case making, pad glue) also have their own dedicated section, making post-press configuration much easier to find and manage.

Price Models are now associated directly with machines. Rather than being a separate standalone section in the Google Sheets, price models are now linked to the machines that use them. This makes the relationship between a machine and its pricing logic explicit — you can see and edit pricing in context rather than cross-referencing between tabs.

Settings are consolidated in one place. Email Template, General Settings, and Connections — which were previously separate tabs in the Estimate Configuration page — are now grouped under a single "Settings" section in the sidebar.

Hierarchical sidebar navigation. Instead of a flat set of tabs, the Estimate Setup page uses a structured 3-level sidebar menu. For example, under Print Machines you'll find Commercial Print, which breaks down further into Sheet Fed Digital, Sheet Fed Offset, Web Digital, Web Offset, and more. This hierarchy reflects how your production environment is actually organized and makes it faster to navigate to exactly what you need.

Card view and Table view. You can toggle between two ways to browse your configuration. Card view shows a visual grid of categories with item counts, giving you a quick overview. Table view gives you a detailed, spreadsheet-like layout with sorting, filtering, and column management — familiar if you're used to working with Google Sheets, but with much more powerful filtering and search built in.

Pending Changes workflow. Changes are no longer saved immediately. Instead, they are staged as "pending changes" that appear in a sidebar panel. You can review everything you've modified, then apply all changes as a batch or discard them. This gives you a safety net — you can experiment and explore without worrying about accidentally changing your live configuration.

Version history with rollback. Every batch of changes you apply is tracked — who made it, when, and what was changed. If something doesn't look right after applying changes, you can roll back to a previous state. This audit trail gives you confidence to make changes knowing you can always undo them.

Global search across all configuration. A search bar at the top lets you find any machine, substrate, category, finishing step, price model, or setting instantly. Results show which section each item lives in, so you can jump directly to what you need without navigating through the menu.

When you open Estimate Setup, you'll see three main areas:

Left sidebar — This is your navigation. It shows all configuration sections organized hierarchically: Print Machines, Finishing Machines, Binding Machines, Substrates, Products (Categories, Parts, Production Steps), Field Rules, Pricing Rules, and Settings. Click any item to view its contents in the main area. A badge shows the count of pending changes.

Main content area — This displays the configuration for the section you've selected. Use the toggle in the header to switch between card view (visual overview) and table view (detailed data). The toolbar provides actions for adding new items, importing/exporting, and managing columns and filters.

AI chat panel — Docked to the side (or floating), the AI configurator is available at any time. You can ask it questions about your configuration, request bulk edits, or have it create new items for you. It supports file uploads for bulk imports and understands the context of what you're currently looking at.

During the pilot period, both pages coexist:

This pilot period is your opportunity to explore the new experience and share feedback with us so we can refine it before rolling out to everyone.

If you're familiar with the old setup, here's where to find things now:

As a pilot customer, your feedback is invaluable. As you explore the new Estimate Setup page, we'd love to hear: