---
title: "The dashboard and where everything lives"
description: "Find your way around QuotWay - what the dashboard summarizes, how the needs-attention view works, and where every feature sits in the app nav."
url: "https://www.quotway.com/docs/getting-started/dashboard-and-navigation"
type: "documentation"
category: "getting-started"
updated: "2026-06-20"
locale: "en"
source: "QuotWay - B2B Quote & Negotiation App for Shopify"
---

# The dashboard and where everything lives

**Read time:** 4 minutes.
**Last updated:** June 20, 2026
**Who it's for:** Merchants finding their way around QuotWay - what the dashboard shows, how to spot quotes that need a reply, and where each feature sits in the app nav.

When you open QuotWay you land on the dashboard. This article is the map: what the dashboard summarizes, how the "needs attention" view keeps you from missing a buyer, and where to click for every feature.

## What the dashboard shows

What's on the QuotWay home screen? The dashboard is your at-a-glance summary of quote activity:

- **Pipeline snapshot** - open quotes and their combined value, so you know what's in flight.
- **Recent activity** - the latest requests, proposals, acceptances, and conversions, newest first.
- **Headline metrics** - conversion rate and response time across a recent window, so you can see how the program is doing without leaving the page.

The dashboard is read-only - it's a starting point. Selecting any item takes you to the quote or section behind it.

## The "needs attention" view

How do you know which quotes need you? The dashboard surfaces a **needs attention** view: quotes waiting on a merchant action - new requests with no proposal yet, accepted quotes not yet converted, and anything flagged (for example, a quote whose buyer email bounced). Work this list top to bottom and nothing slips.

Each row links straight into the quote, so you can reply, send a proposal, or convert without hunting through the full list.

## Where each feature lives in the nav

Where do you find a given feature? The left-hand nav groups everything. Some items appear only on the plan that includes them, or for staff roles with access.

- **Quotes** - the full list of every quote, filterable by status (`PROPOSAL_SENT`, `FULLY_ACCEPTED`, `FULLY_CONVERTED`, and more). Open a quote here to send a proposal, review a counter-offer, or convert. This is also where **Create quote** lives for merchant-started quotes.
- **Approvals** - set up who must sign off before a proposal goes out or before a buyer's acceptance is final. Approval workflows are a **Professional+** feature.
- **Automation** - build When → If → Then rules: auto-send a proposal, auto-decline, auto-assign, send follow-ups, or auto-accept under safe conditions.
- **Quote button** - control where the **Request a quote** button appears (product pages, cart) and how it's targeted to products and customers.
- **Quote form** - choose the fields buyers fill in, add custom fields, and arrange the layout.
- **Analytics** - pipeline value, conversion rate, and response time. Every plan sees a recent 7-day view; date ranges and CSV export are a **Professional+** feature.
- **Settings** - everything else: staff and roles, PDF branding, notifications and sender name, buyer experience, multi-currency, attachments, and data retention.

> 💡 Don't see a nav item? Some features are plan-gated, and some are hidden from staff roles that can't use them. Check your plan in **Settings → Billing**, and your role with an admin.

## A note on staff and roles

Why might two people see different navs? QuotWay uses role-based access. Anyone who opens the embedded app is set up as an admin by default; an admin can downgrade other staff in **Settings → Staff**. A staff member with a limited role sees only the sections their role allows - so the nav adapts to who's signed in.

## Related articles

- [Getting started with QuotWay](./index.md) - install and finish the onboarding wizard.
- [Your first quote in 5 minutes](./quickstart-first-quote-in-5-minutes.md) - run a full quote loop end to end.
- [Create a quote yourself](./create-a-quote-yourself.md) - start a quote from the admin.