What is a product configurator and who should invest in it?

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When choosing a travel offer, ordering furniture or pizza, customers like the opportunity to select product features that most closely match their individual needs. Such an opportunity is given to them by the increasingly popular product configurators.

What is a product configurator?

A product configurator is a type of application that gives the customer or seller the ability to select the appropriate elements and features of the final product, depending on the expectations of the recipient. It allows for personalization of the product and its quick pricing, and often also for viewing a virtual model of the final product. Most often, configurators are used in stores and websites, in sales kiosks and in the quoting systems of sales department employees.

What can be the subject of configuration?

You can configure basically any of the product features. So it all depends on the specifics of the product. If it's a sofa, the customer can specify, among other things, the dimensions, shape, color or materials used. In the case of a cake, flavors, decorations and individual dedications will come into play. Increasingly, however, the market is also using service configurators , and then the set of features can be even more complex.

What are the reasons for the increase in interest in product configurators?

At the heart of the product configurator's success is the fact that it brings together the needs of both sides of the sale - the customer and the provider. The customer can choose the best options for himself, make a choice between different variants of the product or service, often doing it at a convenient time and place. The producer, on the other hand, makes contact with an already determined and confident customer.

Most commonly, configurators are used in stores and websites, in sales kiosks and in the quoting systems of sales staff.

In which industries does the product configurator work?

The configurators are being used by those industries where there is a growing need to tailor the offer to the customer's needs, and the production process makes such customization possible. So these include furniture, boats and yachts, caravans and campers, machinery and production lines, specialized equipment, ventilation or welding systems, but also cakes, travel or event services.

It is worth adding that a large part of the configurators, in addition to calculating a given combination, also presents the customer with a design of the product. Thanks to this, he can see, often in the form of a 3D model, what the final effect of his selection looks like and - if necessary - correct what he finally orders.

The product configurator is a sales automation tool, so it will also work well for those companies that want to increase sales volume using the Internet, instead of investing in traditional sales outlets and sales staff.

What does a company gain by choosing to implement a product configurator?

There are many reasons to invest in a configurator:

• First, the company gains traction and builds its brand. Instead of traditional catalogs or product presentations on the website, it puts an attractive, interactive tool in the hands of the customer.
• Secondly, it enables him to find an answer to individual needs. Castomization is a growing trend, and customers are willing to pay more for the opportunity to purchase a product that perfectly meets their needs.
• Another important consideration is to increase the chance of a sale. A customer who has taken the time to select the elements of the ideal product will be reluctant to back out of the process, and won't miss the work put into the setup. Selling over the Internet also means expanding the market, often even to an international dimension.

Conclusion

The product configurator must be viewed as an investment that benefits both the company and its customers. It's a classic win-win situation, where both parties gain trust in each other, as well as save time and eliminate sources of misunderstanding.