Visual 3D product configurators have been the highlight of B2C online shopping for a long time. If you’ve ever seen a website that allows you to change the color of a piece of clothing and then also view it as a 3D model, then you’ve witnessed a basic 3D configurator of a configure price quote software before.
Now, these 3D product configurators are switching from B2C into the B2B space. And they’re changing the way complex products are bought and sold. Sales reps are using them to specify product configurations, and buyers are then using them to customize complex products on manufacturers’ websites.
What are 3D configurators, how do they work, and do you need one? Read on to find out.
3D Configurator
A 3D configurator is a B2B e-commerce platform tool that allows users to configure or customize their products online, in real-time, and then see the results on screen. Many 3D configurators make use of a drag-and-drop interface that takes users through all the available options step-by-step.
The final product configuration is then used to create price quotes for customers and, when approved, the technical drawings and CAD files for final engineering and manufacturing. These tools help speed up sales, design, as well as manufacturing processes to put more power to the customers.
Visual product configurators are huge for both B2C and B2B sellers and buyers. They can be easily embedded in eCommerce websites for direct ordering or put in the hands of sales reps for assisting them during their one-on-one sales calls.
The result? Reduced purchase anxiety as well as enhanced decision-making
Benefits of a 3D Configurator For Buyers and Sellers
Manufacturing companies and their customers both benefit from the use of 3D product configurator software. If you sell complex, engineer-to-order products, you’ll wonder how you ever did business without it.
Seller Benefits
Manufacturing companies employing 3D configurators quickly discover that it allows them to increase sales while shortening the typical sales cycle. With a 3D configurator, you can:
Reduce lead times
Improve the accuracy of design
Create an unlimited options and sell products you’ve never physically produced before
Release newer products and options on the schedules you wish for
Increase your market time
Optimize production process
Easily handle even the most complex orders
Get new hires faster
Use product renderings for better marketing purposes than expensive product photography
Stand out from competitors in the markets
Because customers are able to create their own products in 3D, they’re essentially selling to themselves. This reduces burden on your sales team and allows you to redirect the staff to other activities, boosting your active selling time.
Customer Benefits
Visual product configuration also results in several benefits for your customers. With a 3D configurator, customers can:
Enjoy an immersive, compelling customer experience any time, any place, and with any device
View every option from a huge product catalog in lifelike 3D (they don’t need to depend on basic photographs)
Satisfy their unique needs and their demands with completely customized products
Get a deep, visual understanding of complex products and then take direct ownership of choices
See exactly what they’re getting, so that there are no nasty surprises in the future
Receive instant quotes, proposals, and estimates for quicker decision-making
Complete and receive orders quickly with fewer mistakes
All of these benefits work to improve customer satisfaction, which means better retention.
What Does a 3D Configurator Have to Do with CPQ?
CPQ is software that lets sales reps and buyers easily configure, price, and then generate custom quotes for configurable products in real-time. Visual CPQ makes it happen by taking a highly visual approach. Customers then configure their products using a 3D product visualization, dragging and dropping to make changes to colors, features, sizes, and then also more with the changes displayed on a 3D model onscreen.
As the product is configured, the solution recalculates prices in real-time. It also creates a quote that will include highly detailed technical drawings, parts list, warranty details, and other information you look to have.
A visual product configurator at the front-end of CPQ organizes the entire process. Product configuration becomes easier as customers can then see the changes they make in real-time. Advanced product rules into a configurator’s back-end restrict the user’s choices to only those options that are hugely viable, taking out errors and enhancing the accuracy.
Visual CPQ results in a shorter sales cycle. This is also true of a visual CPQ like KBMax, which can 1) be embedded inside an external website for the buyers to use without any sales rep interference and 2) create engineering outputs automatically, thanks to CAD as well as design automation functionality.
3D Product Configurators in eCommerce Store
If you sell complex and customizable products on your own eCommerce website, then Visual CPQ is quickly becoming the most essential tool.
By integrating a 3D configurator in your product pages, you allow your online customers to configure their products in real-time and witness results on the same web page. Customers receive immediate feedback, and then you get online orders without the very long, tiring sales process.
A website or product page that contains a 3D product configurator becomes a 24/7 virtual showroom. It lets you reach a global market without deploying a team of expensive international sales reps. It’s the ideal solution for remote working scenarios.
KBMax CPQ works across all devices and platforms – buyers can shop via their work computers or personal mobile phones. KBMax transforms the traditional B2B sales force into an omnichannel selling machine. It integrates all of your sales channels, providing consistent buying experiences wherever customers begin and then end their customer journey.
In short, ecommerce with Visual CPQ is the perfect solution for the increased demands of today’s B2B buyers. It provides convenience, flexibility, as well as personalization that’s “always-on” and never leads to errors.
AR and VR Technology in Configurators
The next step in visual CPQ evolution is virtual reality and augmented reality, which KBMax users benefit from. These technologies are then revolutionizing product configuration to provide a spectacular life-like experience for shoppers.
Investopedia defines virtual reality (VR) as a computer-generated experience that is “nearly” reality. VR also provides a three-dimensional experience that’s remarkably life-like, as close to reality as possible without going to a physical showroom.
Adding AR and VR functionality is a huge game-changer for the manufacturers selling configurable products. These technologies make self-serve purchasing a truly compelling prospect by delivering a highly immersive experience that astounds the buyers.
Choosing the Right Product Configurator Software
The best product configurator software should:
Provide real-time 3D rendering, accurately representing configured products onscreen
Be compatible with AR and VR
Work on all major devices and platforms
Scale seamlessly with your business needs
Easy to use for both- sales reps and customers
Integrate seamlessly with your existing CAD and manufacturing solutions.
KBMax CPQ Software has all the mentioned functionality and even more. It includes a robust visual product configurator, a flexible product rules engine, and automation features as well. It’s entirely customizable for unique products and customer needs, generating very accurate technical drawings, and also provides detailed product and pricing information (including BOMs).
More importantly, KBMax is among the first platforms to make use of AR and VR technologies.
Contact KBMax today to learn more about 3D product configurator software for your business.
