48-HOUR, 5-DAY & 10-DAY SEQUENCE
The quote that doesn't go quiet.
AI quote follow-up can schedule an agreed sequence for eligible unanswered quotes, such as messages at 48 hours, 5 days and 10 days. Before each send, it checks status, replies, opt-outs and manual holds. Replies can be classified for a person to review; the customer's decision and any quote changes remain with the team.
Updated
What you’ll find here.
Lays out the exact trigger logic behind a quote follow-up sequence, 48 hours, 5 days and 10 days after an unanswered quote, as a flow you could rebuild in your own CRM or in n8n or Make, rather than describing follow-up in general terms.
- The three-stage timing and what each message says is shown step by step, not just claimed
- The service-message versus marketing line is cited to ICO guidance, with message purpose, content and context checked before classifying a quote follow-up
- Built on general-purpose automation platforms with published documentation, such as n8n
The job, broken down.
- Sending a 48-hour check-in after a quote with no reply
- Sending a firmer nudge at 5 days
- Sending a final, polite follow-up at 10 days
- Reading replies and sorting accepted, wants changes or not going ahead
- Stopping the sequence the moment someone replies
The same job, handled.
| The task today | With AI doing the legwork |
|---|---|
| Quotes are chased by phone whenever there is a spare moment | A fixed sequence chases every quote the same way, on schedule |
| A quote that goes quiet is often simply forgotten | Eligible unanswered quotes follow the agreed sequence, stopping when the status or permissions change |
| Replies get missed among other messages | Received replies pause further sending and can be classified for human review |
Built in steps.
Connect
We check the supported connection to your quoting system and how it exposes sent dates, status and replies. Processing intervals and failed-check handling are agreed before use.
Sequence
If there is no reply, a check-in goes out at roughly 48 hours asking if there are any questions, a second nudge at 5 days asking if the customer wants to go ahead, and a final, polite message at 10 days closing the loop unless they reply.
Sort replies
A received reply pauses further sending. Suggested categories can help the team review it; uncertain or conflicting replies and changes to a quote require a person.
Hand over
Your team sees every message sent and every reply, and any quote that needs changing or chasing by phone is flagged rather than guessed at.
Do the maths.
Chasing every unanswered quote by phone or a one-off email, one at a time.
| Input or step | Value |
|---|---|
| Times a week | 25 |
| Minutes each time | 8 |
| People doing it | 1 |
| Cost per hour | £16 |
| Hours a year | 173 (about 23 working days) |
| Cost a year | £2,773 |
Illustrative inputs, not a client's figures: twenty-five quotes a week needing a follow-up, at eight minutes each. Change the inputs to your own with the calculator. See how we calculate this.
These are illustrative workflow scopes. The audit checks the actual software, supported access, licences, permissions and human review rules before a build is agreed.
Why quotes go quiet, and why chasing them by hand does not scale
An unanswered quote needs a status check: the customer may have questions, need a change or no longer want to proceed. A planned sequence can organise those checks. Its timing and wording are agreed for the business, and each message still needs the appropriate permission and stop conditions.
The three-stage sequence, as an actual flow
The trigger is a quote being sent with no reply logged against it.
- 48 hours: a short check-in asking whether there are any questions about the quote, nothing more.
- 5 days: a slightly more direct nudge asking whether the customer wants to go ahead, with an easy way to reply either way.
- 10 days: a final, polite message that closes the loop, for example noting that the quote will be treated as no longer wanted unless there is a reply, which keeps the pipeline honest.
Before each send, the workflow checks for a reply, accepted or declined status, an opt-out or a manual hold and pauses where any applies. Replies can be classified for review; unclear or conflicting replies go to a person. Built in a platform such as n8n, described in its own documentation as “a fair-code licensed workflow automation tool,” this is three scheduled checks against a quote’s sent date, plus a step that reads incoming replies, not a single automated email.
Checking the message purpose and marketing rules
The ICO’s guidance on identifying direct marketing considers a message’s purpose, content and context. A quote follow-up is not automatically exempt from marketing rules because the customer requested a quote or the wording is neutral. The business must assess the actual sequence, check the applicable consent or other permission requirements and respect opt-outs before it is configured. Promotional offers require particular care.
Businesses that quote often, trades, agencies, solicitors giving fee estimates, are usually the first to feel the benefit, because the volume of quotes makes manual chasing the first thing to slip.
On the tools you already use.
- Your CRM or quoting software
- Gmail or Outlook
- n8n
- Make
- Email and SMS sending services
Who needs it most.
What it costs.
Every price is published and fixed in writing before any work starts.
AI Opportunity Audit
In person across Leeds and West Yorkshire, or by video call. A written report of your top 5 automations, yours to keep.
AI Lead & Ops Sprint
Enquiry capture through to booking, follow-up and CRM logging, plus one ops automation. The monthly fee covers monitoring, tuning, a monthly review and up to 2 hours of changes.
Fractional AI Team
Ongoing AI builds, staff training and a monthly review.
Prices exclude VAT where applicable.
The build guarantee. We agree written acceptance criteria before any work starts. If the build doesn’t meet them, we fix it at no extra cost, and if we can’t, you don’t pay for it.
Where the facts come from.
- Identify direct marketingInformation Commissioner's Office
- n8n documentationn8n
Questions, answered straight.
Why 48 hours, 5 days and 10 days?
The 48-hour, 5-day and 10-day timings are illustrative, adjustable intervals. They are agreed for the business and channel rather than proven optimal timings. Before each send, status, replies, opt-outs and manual holds are checked; any relevant change pauses the sequence for the team.
Is a quote follow-up classed as marketing?
A quote follow-up is not automatically a service message. The ICO considers purpose, content and context; neutral wording alone does not settle the classification. Check applicable marketing, consent and opt-out requirements before configuring the sequence.
What happens when a customer replies?
A received reply pauses sending and can be classified for review. The team confirms the customer's decision and handles unclear replies or changes to scope and price.
What does a quote follow-up automation cost?
A workflow like this is usually a fixed-price package agreed in writing before any work starts (most clients begin with the AI Opportunity Audit at £495, credited against a build). The Fractional AI Team at £1,500 a month covers ongoing work if you want it looked after. Prices exclude VAT where applicable.
Will it work with my quoting system or CRM?
It may be feasible where the quoting system exposes the required status and replies through an authorised API or connector. The audit checks licensing, access, messaging permissions and stop conditions before scope and price are agreed.
Where to go next.
Silence isn't a no. Follow up properly.
Start with a 20-minute call.
Tell us the job that keeps coming back. We’ll tell you honestly what’s worth automating and what isn’t, and put a number on each one.