By Mary Manufacturing is already a fiercely competitive sector of the economy, and during the last 10 years, that degree of competitiveness has only grown. The current labor issue has become more severe as a result of the supply chain disruption that started in the Covid era and a skills deficit that is still impeding the growth of industries. Manufacturers require a system to distinguish their products in meaningful ways from those of their competitors to decrease the economic toll that these issues place on a whole industry.
One way to achieve this goal is by providing options to customize the product and services. Universally applicable products are easier to produce in large quantities, but doing so means losing out on significant revenue from customers who wanted to tailor their purchases. A special type of software called a product configurator is made to make it easier to sell customized parts, pieces, and equipment.
Expected Features Of A Product Configurator
The demand for software that configures products has skyrocketed in recent years as personalized products have gained popularity. However, not all platforms are created equal. Here are some considerations to bear in mind as you weigh your alternatives.
A List Of The Specific Materials Used
No matter how simple a custom product may be, a bill of materials is always required. It lists all of the parts that together make up the finished product, together with their unit costs and overall costs. A bill of materials outlines precisely what is required or anticipated of customers, engineers, and other stakeholders engaged in the customization process to arrive at the most accurate price possible. A complete bill of material that may be further customized and altered for usage in the sale of your product will be generated by any reputable 3d configurator.
Cad Models
Some configurators can integrate with CAD systems in addition to the basic computer model of the product, allowing them to create fully finished 3D mock-ups of the personalized product. From every angle, your client may study the product with virtually the same clarity as if they were touching it in their hands. With the support of a model that is developed to scale, customers may more readily give their complete approval of a product before it goes into production, and production personnel is given clearer instructions to follow in the processes they utilize.
Graphical Models
Before making their final decision, a competent configurator will create models of an individual product or consumer. By using models, it is unnecessary to create physical prototypes, and less likely that after a product has been produced, you would need to place costly change orders. In the end, this is what assures the greatest possible degree of client satisfaction and repeat business from current clients.
Protections
If the configurator is well-built, you will be able to put safety measures in place that will instantly recognize when a customer requests product parameters that you are unable to meet. The significance that protections play in the personalization process is enormous. These protections stop a problematic order from progressing through the sales pipeline, saving both time and money. Protections also maintain your integrity by helping you spot unworkable customizations before they move on to the production stage of the process. To maintain your revenue stream, use this feeling of authority to your advantage by guiding clients in a more useful direction.
Easy-To-Use Production Of Professional Estimates
The process of producing a quote used to take a few days. They were frequently typed up or scribbled by hand on a quote sheet. Sometimes they were both. A configurator’s automated price calculation procedure allows you to generate an estimate in a matter of minutes or hours. Based on all the data customers submit, the configurator may automatically generate quote documents for them.