As manufacturing companies grow and their product offerings become more complex, many find that their homegrown or legacy Configure, Price and Quote (CPQ) tools can no longer keep up.
Often, the chosen CPQ systems are too rigid, offering limited customization options and scalability. They may have found their CPQ system fails to streamline processes as intended, largely due to outdated or irrelevant data being used during configuration. Without connected, real-time information coming in and out of the CPQ platform, it is nearly impossible to properly maintain the product library and user experience.
This realization often prompts businesses to reconsider if their configuration platform is the right-fit CPQ solution. Let’s explore key considerations when selecting new CPQ software, using best-in-class CPQ features as a benchmark for advanced requirements.
When is it Time to Re-think Your Configuration Platform?
As your business expands, the limitations of a homegrown or outdated CPQ tool become apparent. These tools often struggle to handle the increased complexity of modern product development and customization.
Have You Been Stuck With a Square Peg, Round Hole Solution?
Is your configuration, price, and quoting software catered to the difficult demands of manufacturing? So many companies make the mistake of buying whatever CPQ offering comes with their Salesforce CRM, ERP, etc. not realizing the offering was never meant to handle the complexity of manufactured goods and the related design and production workflows, configurations, and pricing strategies.
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Manufacturing Demands a Reliable Data Thread
Legacy CPQ and homegrown systems often operate in isolation, leading to inefficiencies and errors. But, for manufacturers especially, the value of connectivity should be the primary reason for having Configure, Price, Quote solutions in the business! Often homegrown or non-manufacturing specific solutions are custom-coded, hard to maintain, and integration was never thoughts of. An effective CPQ solution should integrate seamlessly with other business systems such as ERP, CRM, and BOM to ensure a smooth data flow.
Mergers and Acquisitions in the Market and Vendors Leaving You Feeling Stranded
The CPQ market is dynamic, with frequent mergers and acquisitions. These changes can impact the level of support and innovation you receive. It’s crucial to stay informed and reassess your options regularly.
Recent industry changes have left many companies with unsupported, less-supported, poorly maintained and upgraded. Brands like Revalize, Epicor, and tech equity companies acquiring CPQ companies has left these customers with stalled development, a lack of vendor support, or pigeonholed into working with a restrictive set of technologies – all of which is making it difficult to justify the ROI of the current product configuration solution.
If your CPQ vendor is no longer providing adequate support or development, it might be time to switch. Look for signs of abandonment, such as stalled development and lack of customer support.
The Big Four Advanced CPQ Requirements That Matter
It’s important that these core, advanced CPQ software requirements are checked off the list for a manufacturing company.
1. Complexity of Manufactured Goods
Modern CPQ software must handle the complexity of manufacturing processes. Simple rules-based systems are no longer sufficient; businesses need CPQ tools that leverage machine learning and AI to manage intricate configurations.
2. Integrated Data Thread
An advanced CPQ solution should provide an integrated data thread, from configuration to quote, pricing, BOM, ERP, and more. This ensures consistency and accuracy across all business processes.
3. Visual and Functional Balance
The right CPQ tools offer a balance of powerful configuration capabilities and robust visualization. This combination allows for scalable configuration rulesets and an intuitive user experience.
4. Externalizing the Configurator
A configurator shouldn’t be limited to the sales team. Modern CPQ solutions enable externalization of product configuration, pricing and quoting on customer or distributor websites, providing a shopping cart-like experience that can bypass the need for direct sales interactions.
Meeting the Advanced Requirements of Manufacturing with Tacton CPQ
Tacton CPQ is designed to meet these advanced requirements. Here’s how it stands out:
Complexity of Manufactured Goods, Meet Machine Learning and AI
Leveraging advanced technologies, Tacton CPQ offers intelligent configuration solutions that adapt to the complexity of your products and processes.
“We ultimately selected Tacton due to the constraints-based methodology, considering how complex our products are and the variety of products that we have. They felt very confident that the constraint-based methodology would accelerate our timeline getting our products into the platform”
– Marlande Wesselhoft, CIO at Vantage
Build That Integrated Data Thread
Tacton CPQ integrates seamlessly with major ERP and CRM software systems, including SAP CPQ, Salesforce CPQ, Oracle CPQ, and Microsoft Dynamics. This ensures a unified data flow across all business functions.
Enhance Product Visualization and Configuration
With powerful visualization tools, Tacton CPQ provides an intuitive and interactive experience for users, making complex configurations easier to understand and manage.
Expand the Customer Experience
Tacton CPQ enhances the customer experience by allowing different user experiences for salespeople, distributors/partners, and end customers. This flexibility helps meet diverse needs and preferences, contributing to higher customer satisfaction.
Frequently and Consistently Updated Cloud Platform
Tacton has releases to their innovative cloud platform going out every week to ensure a constant flood of enhancing functionality, and quick, effort-free bug fixes.
Getting Started
Selecting the appropriate software is crucial for manufacturers to ensure they are getting a right-fit solution. By considering the limitations of your current system and evaluating advanced features like integration, machine learning, and visualization, you can make an informed decision.
Tacton CPQ exemplifies these advanced capabilities, making it a strong contender for businesses looking to upgrade their CPQ solution. As the CPQ market continues to evolve, staying proactive in your software selection process will ensure you remain ahead of the curve and continue to meet the growing demands of your business.