3D configurators are a good option for manufacturers who are trying to satisfy customer demand for personalized, unique products when the product complexity is high.
Customers have always wanted to feel special and are now increasingly willing to pay more for it. In return, they want to play a deeper and more influential role in the development of the products they buy and put pressure on manufacturers to find ways to make their processes accessible to the world outside their own homes.
The days when consumers could be expected to accept standard products “for everyone” are long gone. Today, many customers want the opportunity to personalize and adapt products according to their individual wishes and needs.
This is one of the most challenging aspects that manufacturers must realize, requiring a radical shift in their design and manufacturing processes from mass production to mass customization.
In today’s world of on-demand services, it has never been easier for consumers to search for the products that best meet their needs, with many of them changing their brand loyalty accordingly.
Every year, more and more shoppers research goods online before they make a personal purchase – a growing trend known as “ROBO” (Research Online, Buy Offline).
The ability to compare market offers so easily means that competition has never been tougher and is growing with customers’ expectations for more advanced, innovative and diverse products.
In addition, products have become significantly more complex, with embedded electronics, software, connectivity and next-generation materials.
As a result, manufacturers have had to develop deep expertise in multidisciplinary techniques, advanced simulation, digital technologies, new manufacturing methods and materials.
Successfully meeting all these challenges can be achieved by introducing 3D configuration tools.
What are 3D configuration tools?
In the past, detailed viewing of a final product or design iteration was only physically possible, either in stores, showrooms or with production samples.
Digital 3D configuration tools have changed that and allow products to come to life right in the hands of the customer, offering unique possibilities.
Users can visualize designs in real time, rotate and zoom the model to see the fine details as each option is selected.
The 3D models respond instantly to selection changes such as color or dimensions, allowing users to instantly rethink and re-select product features and options until they have achieved the optimal design for their needs.
This is especially beneficial for manufacturers of complex products, as it is not always easy to imagine how product features or options look or relate to each other.
What exactly is a real-time visual configuration and how do companies use the technology?
Digital configuration tools have been around for some time, but the recent rise of cloud platforms and the associated affordable computing power and accessibility represent a change.
Digital assets such as 3D models hosted in the cloud are no longer limited to engineering teams, but can be shared with sales teams, manufacturing staff and customers around the world, anytime, anywhere on any intelligent device.
” Technology like Configure One CPQ presents these 3D models to the audience in an appropriate way. It gives sales teams the product knowledge they need to efficiently configure, evaluate, quote and sell. In addition, the technology guides the customer through the sales process“, explains Austin Roche, Director of EMEA at Configure One, a global leader in CPQ (Configure, Price and Quote) software.
“Users can even add animations to the 3D models to enhance the experience“, adds Austin.
Innovation instead of repetition.
For nearly 20 years, manufacturers have benefited from Configure One’s visual configuration technologies, from viewing simple JPEGs and static 2D images of products, to real-time generation of 3D models and 2D drawings that enable true customization to otherwise standard products.
“Not only do these technologies allow a customer to define the product that best suits their needs, they also reduce the burden on a manufacturer by automating the regeneration of 3D models, 2D drawings, bills of materials (BoMs) and routings“, Austin said.
“Automating these processes reduces the impact of processing orders for unique, one-off variants, allowing your engineering resources to focus on the idea of next-generation products rather than modeling the same product in another variant“, he adds.
What does the future look like?
According to Austin, the next generation of high-speed internet such as 5G will make it possible to deliver more data and therefore more details to users.
“As a result, expectations for rich content will continue to rise,” he predicted.
But the biggest development (and opportunity) he sees is augmented reality and what it presents.
“The pace at which augmented reality technologies are evolving in terms of performance and ease of use means that manufacturers will be able to deliver a truly immersive experience to their customers and educate them about the capabilities and fit of a particular product or configuration.
Seamless experiences like these will be critical to generating not only more brand awareness and loyalty, but ultimately additional customer orders,” Austin concluded.
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