How to recognize a good product configurator provider

Author: Walter Burgstaller

When looking for the right provider for a product configurator, some aspects should be considered.
 

Experience

When choosing a product configurator provider, pay attention to their experience and references. It is also advisable to test the provider's references yourself and not just rely on their advertising claims.  For a comprehensive evaluation of the configurator provider's performance, we recommend that you visit the official website where the configurator is used. There you will have the opportunity to try out the configurator yourself and get an accurate impression of its functions and possibilities.
 

User Interface (UI) und User Experience (UX)

A successful configurator must have a good UI/UX, otherwise it will not lead to an increase in sales. Does the manufacturer only offer prefabricated templates, where your product is "pressed in", or does he offer you an individual optimized UI/UX design adapted to your product and your corporate design?
 

Scope of functions

Does the provider offer all the functions & features you need for your product? This could be

• Augmented reality
• 3D background image to set the scene for the product
• Personalization with the possibility to upload an image, place texts in different fonts on the product
• Support for multilingualism and currencies
• Responsive design for tablet and mobile devices
• Performance dashboard with numbers (how often was configured,...)
• Save configurations
• The possibility of building a product system (like furniture which can be strung together)
• Share configurations on social networks
• Dealer connection
• or other functions you need
   

Your Business

It makes a difference if your provider just provides a functional product configurator or understands what you want to achieve with your business. A configurator that is focused on your needs and goals will help you achieve your goals. That's why it's critical to make sure your vendor has the expertise and experience to meet your unique needs.
 

Maintenance & extensibility

An important factor when choosing a product configurator provider is maintenance and expandability. Similar to websites, a configurator is never really "finished". Price adjustments, new options and materials or colors are always being added. Therefore, ask the provider how such changes can be made and who is responsible for them. We recommend solutions that allow automated data transfer from a database or Excel to avoid manual intervention.
 

Security and data protection

Where are your sensitive data, product information and prices stored? Are they protected by a renowned cloud provider or are they "openly" readable directly on your website?
 

3D competence

If you are planning to use a 3D configurator, make sure that the provider has sufficient 3D expertise. Ask what the 3D models cost and how quickly and easily new 3D models can be created. Also make sure that they meet your visual requirements on the one hand, but also that they run performantly on mobile devices.
 

Project management

What is the project management process? The following points should be clarified before the configurator construction is started:

• Target definition of the configurator
• All features, characteristics, rules, dependencies and calculations
• What exactly is to be visualized and what data is available
• User design and user experience as well as target devices
• Interfaces to PIM, ERP or other databases
• Checkout - store systems, email
   

Project lead time

When is the planned go-live date? What has to be delivered or done with which milestones by whom? A clean schedule with checkpoints from the beginning is important so that the go-live date is met and everyone gets the expected result.
 

Integration to the store system

If you have a store system, it is important that the provider offers a plugin for your store system or at least provides a custom interface (JSON, CSV, XML format) for the store connection.
 

Integration to ERP / PIM systems

Avoid manual maintenance effort in the configurator by using product data from your EPR or PIM system directly in the configurator through existing interfaces.
 

Price-performance ratio

What is the initial cost of a configurator and what are the running costs? Does the price model correspond to your ideas or your business model?
 

Support

What is the support like for subsequent changes and extensions? How quickly does the configurator provider respond? Clarify the conditions in advance. How much do new 3D models cost?

Does Combeenation fulfill the factors?

• Experience: 13 years of experience with many case studies on the website and customers in B2B, D2C and B2C.
• UI/UX: In house we have numerous experts who create individual designs in your corporate design based on your corporate identity.
• Functionality: Very many standard functions & features and the possibility of limitless extension using JavaScript.
• Your business: Before each project start, we conduct a workshop. To get to know your business and your products. We want to understand you and respond to your business.
• Maintenance & Scalability: The maintenance of the data can be done very easily directly in the platform, via an Excel file or also automated by connection to a system (ERP, PIM or store system). In addition, our configurators can be easily extended at any time.
• Sicherheit und Datenschutz: All customer data is protected in the Microsoft Azure Cloud. No product logics or entire price lists are transferred to the end device, but only the data that is actually displayed.
• 3D competence: We offer our own 3D service for the creation of 3D models.
• Project management: At Combeenation, a schedule with milestones is always defined in advance. The creation of a requirements specification with product tree, personas and target definition is a matter of course for us. Customers always receive an Adobe XD design concept in advance. We don't just offer a configurator, but also take the customer's business into account and consider the entire sales chain, from data (PIM/ERP) and customer inquiries to the store system and order preparation for assembly/production.
• Project lead time: Thanks to our many years of experience and structured approach, we can guarantee a fast project turnaround time of about 2 to 4 months after our customers have approved the specifications until the implementation (go live).
• Store systems: Plugins available
• PIM, EPR, EXCEL: Successfully implemented for numerous customers.
• Price vs. performance: We offer different price models depending on your needs.
• Support: We are available to our customers at any time for subsequent changes. Our service also includes a 3D service for the creation of 3D models.

Conclusion: How to find the perfect product configurator provider?

When selecting a product configurator provider, it is important to consider several aspects to ensure that your requirements and goals are met. Experience and references of the provider are crucial factors. A good product configurator is characterized by an appealing UI/UX that is individually adapted to your product and corporate design. The functional scope should cover all necessary features such as augmented reality, 3D background images, personalization options and multilingualism. The provider should have the necessary understanding of your business and be able to meet your individual requirements. Maintenance, extensibility and security should also be considered, as well as the vendor's 3D expertise and offering efficient project management. Integration with your store system as well as PIM or ERP systems are important aspects to minimize maintenance and integrate data seamlessly. The price-performance ratio should match your expectations and business model, while reliable support should be guaranteed for subsequent changes and extensions.

If you want to check if we are the right partner for you, arrange a short meeting with us.