Traditional sales tools such as product catalogs, PDFs, and technical drawings struggle to clearly display and communicate configuration options. As product configuration becomes more complex, communicating options effectively becomes harder, leading to miscommunication, errors, and rework.
Incorporating a 3D product configurator into your sales process helps to streamline complex configuration, providing sales teams with guided-selling tools and customers with the ability to rotate, zoom, and change different product features in real time, within a 3D view.
What is a 3D product configurator?
A 3D product configurator is an interactive digital tool that enables sales teams and customers to customize and visualize products in three dimensions directly on a website.
3D product configurators provide sales teams with guided-selling tools, making it easier for them to sell complex custom products.
Unlike static images, 3D configurators enable users to rotate, zoom, and change different product options in real time. This technology is hugely beneficial for manufacturers of custom products where personalization is key.
The importance of 3D configuration in B2B sales
As more B2B customers buy online, enabling interactive product visualization via a 3D product configurator becomes increasingly valuable.
- 71% of buyers are willing to spend more than $50,000 in a single transaction using a remote or self-service model.
- Two thirds of B2B customers choose digital or remote in-person engagement when given a choice.
- 59% of B2B sellers lost sales because their site experience wasn’t personalized sufficiently for their buyers.
Why does 3D product configuration matter?
Enabling sales teams and customers to configure custom products with ease
Understand complex designs
A product configurator streamlines the configuration process by making configuration interactive and visual. Rather than relying on technical drawings, customers and sales teams can see the design take shape in real time. It’s easy to see the impact of any configuration changes and to understand what the finished product will look like.
Improve customer satisfaction
Customers can explore product configurations, add or remove features, and view changes in 3D. As an increasing number of B2B customers expect the buying process to reflect their B2C experience, the ability to present accurate 3D visual representations has a positive impact on customer satisfaction and sales rates.
Faster onboarding
Selling custom products can be daunting for new sales reps. It requires an in-depth knowledge of potentially hundreds of different product features to be able to sell accurate configurations. 3D visualization makes it easier for new sales reps to get a head start with selling custom products confidently. With less onboarding time required, they can start selling faster.
Cross-sell & up-sell opportunities
3D visualization makes it easier to present cross-sell and up-sell opportunities. It enables customers to see additional options without the need to have physical examples and increases their confidence to purchase upgraded products and additional feature bundles.
Faster quote approval
Providing customers with a detailed product view helps to confirm understanding and sets clear expectations. Quotes reflect the product features that customers have already seen in 3D, increasing confidence and improving quote approval timelines.
Reduced return rates
3D product visualization enables customers to accurately configure products that match their specific requirements. Purchase confidence is higher, and the delivered product is much more likely to have all of the features they expect. As a result, the volume of sales resulting in returns is much lower.
Frequently asked questions about 3D product configuration
What are the benefits of 3D product configuration?
3D configuration helps manufacturers improve customer understanding, reduce configuration errors, speed up quoting, increase sales conversion rates, and create more opportunities for upselling and cross-selling.
How does 3D configuration improve sales?
Customers can visualize products before they buy them, helping to increase confidence and make faster decisions. Sales teams can also guide customers through the configuration process more effectively.
Is 3D product configuration suitable for complex products?
Yes. 3D configurators are ideal for configurable products with many options and design variations.
How does 3D configuration speed up decision-making?
Interactive 3D visualizations help users understand configuration choices and design details, so they can make decisions faster.
What devices do 3D configurators work on?
DriveWorks Live lets you access your product configurator in a browser on any device. You can embed your product configurator in your website or dealer portal for a seamless buying experience.
Simplify complex processes: Configure products in 3D & sell more
The third Tuesday of every month
8am GMT/BST & 3pm GMT/BST
In this webinar, our product experts will share their knowledge of using DriveWorks to build a 3D sales configurator to simplify complex configuration and sell more.
DriveWorks Pro combines powerful SOLIDWORKS® part, assembly, and drawing automation with engaging 3D CPQ sales configurator features to enable manufacturers to implement a successful digital selling strategy, work smarter, reduce errors, and exceed customer expectations.
Learn how creating a 3D sales configurator with DriveWorks enables you to stay ahead of your competition and sell more.
About DriveWorks
DriveWorks design automation, 3D product configurator, and CPQ solutions enable manufacturers of custom products to design and sell customer products faster and with greater accuracy. DriveWorks is sold worldwide and supported locally by authorized resellers in your time zone.