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AQ Designer vs. KCL: Choosing the Right Foodservice Design Tool (or Both)

A promotional banner showing the KCL and AQ Designer logos alongside a laptop displaying a technical drawing and a 3D model on a blue gradient background.

How to pick the best fit for your quoting and kitchen design workflow, or why you might not need to choose at all.

When it comes to foodservice design, having the right tools can mean the difference between smooth collaboration and messy bottlenecks. But when both AQ Designer and KCL are available to you the big question becomes:

Which one should you use, and when?

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Do I need both?” or “Which one fits my workflow better?”, this post is for you.
Let’s break it down.

First, Ask Yourself:
Do you only design, or do you also quote and price projects?

That one question can help guide the right tool choice, or even whether you need both.

Same Goal, Different Strengths

Both AQ Designer and KCL help foodservice professionals move faster, reduce errors, and design with confidence, but they approach the problem from different angles.
Here’s how we at AutoQuotes like to frame it:
  • AQ Designer is your end-to-end CPQ + design platform, ideal when you need quoting, pricing, configuration, and catalog access with Revit/CAD assets, and backend integrations all in one place.
  • KCL is your industry-standard design catalog with layout tools, quick sketches, and 350K+ symbols built-in for everything from initial concepts to final spec packages.
Both tools support different stages of the same process. That’s what makes them such a powerful combo.

Feature-by-Feature: AQ Designer vs. KCL

AQ Designer KCL
Primary Function Configure, price, and quote (CPQ) platform with kitchen design tools CAD and Revit symbol library with intuitive kitchen layout tools
Design Tools Full-featured CAD/Revit integration with over 200K CAD object and Revit families. 2D/3D CAD blocks, Revit BIM families, custom block, and spec sheets
Catalog Access 1M+ products from 800+ manufacturers 350K design-ready CAD/Revit assets
Target Users Dealers, reps, consultants handling quoting, pricing, configuration and design Designers, architects, and engineers focused on detailed blueprints.
Integration ERP/CRM integrated workflows, with Revalize Integration Hub Import files from KCL into AQ, works with latest CAD/Revit version
Spec Tools Advanced product configuration with options and accessories Industry standard and design ready CAD/Revit symbols, updated regularly
Ease of Use Robust platform for full quoting and end-to-end design workflows Design from anywhere with desktop, mobile, and web access
Unique Value All-in-one design + pricing + quoting Industry-ready CAD/Revit layers for any projects
Best For Complex quoting workflows, full project and pricing Deep design work, quick concepting, fast symbol access, and layout sharing

Where Each Tool Shines

Still not sure which fits your workflow best? Let’s look at a few common scenarios.

You’re a dealer managing complex proposals:

Use AQ Designer to streamline your workflow: quoting, spec sheets, CAD/Revit files, product descriptions, images, videos, supporting documents, and Energy Star information.
It’s ideal for large or ongoing projects where accuracy, design assets, and system integration matter.
The AQ Designer plug-in is available for Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD.

You’re a designer sketching out concepts for a new commercial kitchen:

Fire up KCL. Use NapkinSketch to create fast layouts without opening CAD. Drop in symbols, drag and drop equipment, and collaborate quickly with clients or consultants.

Not a CAD pro? Not a problem. KCL’s intuitive tools let you create layouts without needing AutoCAD or Revit experience, and deliver professional designs that are ready to present, review, or render.

You’re doing both:

Many professionals do. You might:
  • Start with KCL to rough out your ideas or grab symbols
  • Import KCL groups into AQ CPQ to price, specify and quote projects
You don’t need to choose one or the other, in fact, the two work better together.

Why Use Both?

Because speed + structure is a winning combo.
  • KCL helps you ideate and communicate faster with access to CAD, Revit, SketchUp, images, and PDF files, searchable by item number, category, or manufacturer.
  • AQ Designer keeps your quote accurate, your files organized, and your team in sync.
KCL and AQ Designer complement each other in workflow, and when used together, they give you flexibility without forcing you into a one-size-fits-all system.

KCL is trusted by over 20,000 users in 150+ countries.

The Future of Foodservice Design is Flexible

At AutoQuotes, we’re committed to giving foodservice professionals tools that make design and quoting more efficient, more accurate, and better aligned with how real teams work.
Whether you’re:
  • Designing on the fly
  • Managing a multi-phase proposal
  • Or doing both every day...
You’ve got two powerful tools at your fingertips, and the flexibility to use them in the way that works best for you.

Still unsure which tool is right for your workflow?

Speak with one of our technical consultants to better understand which tool can help you save time, reduce design cycles, and simplify your quoting process from the first sketch to the final quote.

Your workflow. Your tools. Your way.

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