It's no longer enough just to buy a new car, a new kitchen, or a new pair of glasses. Customers want to put their personal touch on things they buy. They want the product in exactly their favorite color and with the right features. More and more companies are trying to meet this demand, but it can lead to challenges such as a lack of internal and external overview of product options, unclear pricing and inaccurate quotes leading to frustrated customers. These challenges can be solved with a digital solution known as a product configurator. This article will describe:
- What a product configurator does
- 5 unnecessary hurdles to getting started
- 5 key prerequisites for a successful start
- Benefits of using a product configurator
What is a product configurator?
A product configurator is a digital tool that allows customers to customize your product according to their preferences and needs. This solution is often used in e-commerce and industrial production to provide customers with a visual representation of the product (often in 3D) and an interactive customization option. For example, a customer buying a kitchen can use a product configurator to choose modules, colors, handles, and more.
A digital product configurator helps reduce errors in customer orders while enhancing the customer experience by making it easy to visualize the product they will ultimately order.
5 unnecessary hurdles to getting started
It’s always easy to find reasons to stick to the status quo. Maybe you recognize some of the following obstacles that make it hard to get started with a configurator?
- Higher costs:
Developing and maintaining a product configurator can be an investment, especially for smaller businesses. But the long-term savings and efficiencies often outweigh the costs.
- Uncertainty about usability:
There's no need to worry about frustrated customers during the purchase process. As long as the configurator is designed to be intuitive, your customers will only experience increased ease of use during the buying process.
- Data integration and system requirements:
Ensuring seamless integration with existing IT systems like ERP, CRM, and production management is possible with the right tools and experts. Even complex or older systems can be integrated without major challenges.
Handling variations:
Although more customization options can complicate quality assurance and delivery times, a well-set-up product configurator and an efficient production line can manage these variations without compromising quality.
5 key prerequisites for a good start
We recommend keeping the following five phases in mind during implementation of your configurator:
- Careful planning and design:
Start with a detailed analysis of what customers want and how products can be customized. Prioritize usability and focus on the most in-demand customization options to avoid making the configurator too complex.
- Choosing the right technology:
Select a flexible and scalable platform that can integrate with your existing systems (ERP, CRM, etc.). Specialized software solutions can simplify the development process and ensure the configurator runs smoothly.
- Iterative development and testing:
Develop the product configurator gradually and conduct thorough testing with real users to identify and solve problems early. This minimizes the risk of user frustration and technical errors.
- Investing in training and support:
Ensure both customers and internal teams are trained in using the configurator. Offer support and guidance so users can get the most out of the tool.
- Optimizing the supply chain:
Work closely with production and logistics departments to ensure they can handle the various product variations generated by the configurator. This may include automating processes and improving inventory management.
By considering the above factors, you are well-prepared to successfully launch a product configurator.
5 benefits of a product configurator
If you get off to a good start with your configurator, you'll be able to reap the benefits, which can generally be categorized as:
- Increased customer satisfaction:
Customers can customize products to their exact preferences and needs, resulting in a more satisfying and personalized shopping experience.
- Higher sales volume:
By offering tailored solutions, you can attract more customers and increase your sales.
- Market differentiation:
A product configurator allows you to offer unique products that stand out from competitors' standard solutions.
- Efficient production and reduced errors:
The production process adapts automatically to customer choices, reducing the risk of errors.
Better data insights:
The configurator provides you with valuable data and insights into market trends, which can be used to improve your products and strategies.
Should we discuss how You can benefit from a product configurator?
Everything is easier when you've done it before. At twoday, we have experience developing configurators for various business needs. We offer freelance consultants and developers on a consultancy basis. Additionally, we provide strategic advice if you need to turn your thoughts and ideas into a solution that makes it easy for your customers to visualize and personalize your products.
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