If you’re in the business of manufacturing customizable kitchen and bath cabinets, you can only stay in business by keeping your dealers and customers happy. That means being able to provide them with exactly what they want. Enterprise software helps. But an ERP with an online product configurator that is part of your enterprise software can be a game-changer for your business!
What is an online product configurator?
Product configuration software is like a smart tool that helps you manufacture custom cabinets with ease. It allows buyers to choose different options and features for cabinets, such as size, style, color, materials, and accessories. An online product configurator uses a web browser to present the ordering options logically.
With the configuration rules or parameters provided by the manufacturer, the online product configurator prevents dealers or customers from trying to order products you cannot build. You don’t need to be a computer expert to use it, nor do your dealers or customers. That’s because the software guides users through the whole process.
Best of all, when your online product configurator reflects your real-time inventory and production schedules, you have CPQ tools built right in. From configuring to pricing to quoting accurate delivery times, it’s the integration with your ERP data that makes it all possible.
Benefits of an online product configurator
Below are seven key benefits that enable cabinet, furniture, and other manufacturing companies to benefit from this amazing software:
Saves Time and Reduces Errors
Traditional methods of manually creating custom cabinet designs can be time-consuming and error-prone. With an online product configurator, the software takes care of the technical aspects and calculations, reducing the chances of mistakes. As a result, your team can focus more on creative aspects and customer interactions, accelerating the overall design process.
Improved Customer Experience
The online product configurator empowers customers to become co-creators of their cabinets. By providing them with a user-friendly interface, complete with visual representations of their choices, they can experiment with different styles, colors, and configurations. This interactive and personalized experience creates a sense of ownership and satisfaction, leading to happier customers who feel confident in their purchase decisions.
Streamlined Manufacturing Process
Frontier’s online product configurator streamlines processes for quotes, orders, and production which leads to more optimized operations.
With the product configurator, the software automatically generates precise specifications and bills of materials based on the customer’s design choices. This streamlines the manufacturing process by eliminating the need for manual calculations and paperwork. It ensures that each cabinet is built accurately, reducing the likelihood of errors during production.
Faster Quoting and Ordering
Quoting and processing orders for custom cabinets can be a tedious task. The online product configurator automates the pricing and quoting process, pulling information from the selected options and instantly providing an accurate quote to the customer. And if the customer wants to look at a different option, the online product configurator can generate another quote almost instantly. By significantly reducing the time and effort required to generate quotes and process orders, you’ll benefit from a faster sales cycle.
Flexibility for New Designs
As design trends evolve and customer preferences change, you’ll want to introduce new cabinet styles and features. The online product configurator allows you to easily add and update options within the software. You won’t need to revamp your entire system, ensuring that your offerings stay fresh and up-to-date with minimal effort.
Better Inventory Management
As a secure, public-facing interface to your ERP system, the online product configurator knows the materials and components used in each custom cabinet design as well as their current inventory levels. With the reorder levels you set, you can manage your inventory more efficiently. The real-time data ensures that you have enough stock of popular choices and can limit reordering inventory of less-demanded components. Optimized inventory management often leads to cost savings and a more sustainable operation.
Effective Communication with Dealers
Your dealers are essential business partners when it comes to selling your cabinets. The product configurator facilitates communication by providing them with digital designs and comprehensive product information. Dealers can easily access and share these details with potential customers, making it easier for them to showcase and promote your cabinets effectively. They also appreciate the fast turnaround time for accurate quotes using CPQ tools.
In conclusion, using enterprise software with an integrated online product configurator brings numerous benefits to your customizable kitchen and bath cabinet manufacturing business. It saves time, reduces errors, improves the customer experience, streamlines manufacturing, speeds up quoting and ordering, offers design flexibility, enhances inventory management, and facilitates communication with your dealers. By incorporating this software into your operations, you can stay ahead in the market and provide outstanding service to your dealers and end customers alike.
Contact Friedman today for a demo of the online product configurator and how it works as part of Frontier ERP software for complex manufacturing.
