As product configuration has become an increasingly popular tool, companies across a wide range of industries have come to understand the array of benefits that come with integrating configuration solutions into their eCommerce websites. But not all product configurators are made equal, and to fully reap the benefits you need a truly robust solution that allows customers to have the utmost choice and flexibility while also ensuring transparency of price and allowing them to create a product that will be able to be produced accurately and without a long lag in turnaround time. Here we will discuss the differences between a sales configuration vs a product configuration and which is the best solution for your business.
Introduction to Sales Configuration (CPQ)
Sales configuration, otherwise known as Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ), started as a tool primarily used in B2B companies, often manufacturing. It allowed customers to choose from a drop-down menu of options and order products that were specialized for their individual needs. As they were walked through the eCommerce guided selling tools, the price for each product would update giving them an accurate quote for their items. This was a useful tool because B2B companies that cater to the manufacturing industry needed the ability to provide flexibility in a scalable way, and it also helped their customers budget more appropriately.
In recent years, however, CPQ solutions have made their way to companies in all kinds of industries, including B2C companies, that have begun to see the benefit that this type of streamlined quoting for custom products could have for their bottom line as well. Customers enjoy being able to customize their products and with the help of CPQ tools, are able to see how much it will affect the price. A sales configuration solution also allows companies to predict what kinds of customizations customers will want and offer them at a fraction of the price they might have cost previously. So while customers pay more per product, the custom elements cost less than they otherwise would.
How is a product configurator different?
Product configuration takes the technology of CPQ one step further by providing customers with a visual rendering of their product as they customize it. A product configurator allows customers to view their products in real-time and in augmented reality to give them a full, 360-degree experience of what they will be purchasing. This solution has been shown to be extremely beneficial for a wide variety of products, including clothing, furniture, vehicles, and more. It’s easy to see the appeal— who wouldn’t want to be able to customize their products before they buy them, and see a lifelike to-scale version to make sure that the product they order will be exactly what they want when it arrives?
Configurator solutions function by incorporating a digital prototype into your eCommerce site, utilizing the necessary rule parameters to give your customers ample choice and freedom while ensuring that the product they are making can actually be produced. And to top it all off, the very best product configurators out there incorporate sales configuration, allowing users to see how their choices will affect the price of each item.
Which configurator solution is right for your brand?
So, in the battle of sales configurator vs. product configurator, which one is right for your business? If you’re looking purely for a tool that provides accurate quotes for customers, then a simple CPQ (sales configuratorion) might be enough. The reason this system works so well for the manufacturing industry is its ability to shorten the sales cycle, benefitting B2B companies. B2C businesses, however, are often dealing with a customer base that is less informed and would benefit from having the visual configuration and accurate custom pricing that a product configurator provides.
The truth is, that customers have come to expect 3D product configuration, along with a standard CPQ solution, making an integrated solution the best bet for most businesses. That’s one reason that companies like Expivi have become so popular— we offer eCommerce guided selling tools that come with visual product configuration to ensure that your customers get the best of both worlds. They can customize their order, see exactly how the products will look and operate, and view updated pricing as they make their selections. This means that in most cases, you’ll want to go with a full product configuration tool that incorporates CPQ.
Why choose Expivi?
What makes Expivi stand out from the other production configuration solutions out there? Well, to start with, we offer state-of-the-art 3D product visualization, along with custom sales configuration solutions that provide accurate pricing at every step along the way. In addition, we enable you to connect our visual solution to your existing CPQ via an API. Expivi will work with you from start to finish to create accurate 3D renderings of each of your products that provide an augmented reality experience for your customers. We then load all of this data right into your existing eCommerce website, ensuring a smooth process for both you and your customers.
We also guarantee global content delivery, ensuring that your customers will experience no lag time when creating their custom items. While some 3D product configurators can be extremely unwieldy, creating a slow and arduous check-out process, Expivi has servers all around the world to ensure that the integration is seamless, regardless of your location.
In addition to all of these benefits, utilizing product visualization helps to automate order processing, allowing for more accurate delivery, fewer man-hours for inputting data, a lower likelihood of mistakes being made on the backend, and an increase in satisfied customers. All of which means that you will see fewer returns and save money in the process. Expivi’s product configurator will help increase your bottom line by increasing sales and decreasing expenses. What more could you ask for?
Did you like this article on Sales Configuration? Then read all about how you can boost sales with customization.