How will a product configurator drive digital transformation?
Your B2B buyers expect B2C shopping experiences. That means your buyers expect to configure and research a truck cab or a robotic pallet system the same way they expect to customize their running shoes, upholstery on a sofa, or configure their new Mercedes. They want to see and visualize what they are buying, before they buy it. They want to interact intelligently with your sales engineers and ensure they are buying exactly what they need – without a lot of back and forth. And, they want it now.
In fact, according to Gartner, buyers are 57% of the way through their buying process before they even reach out to a vendor. Additionally, by 2025, Accenture predicts 50% of all transactions in manufacturing will take place over the internet.
For manufacturing, Smart Commerce means delivering these kinds of custom, configured experiences online. Your customers demand self-service, visualization, customization, and fast delivery across all channels. Manufacturers need to be agile and respond intelligently while delivering an accurate quote – the first time.
What needs to happen to enable these kinds of online experiences? What needs to change? How can manufacturers sell configured, customized products online?
The first step is eliminating inefficiency. Manufacturers have traditionally dealt with internal silos, long sales cycles, inaccurate quotes, struggles to deliver what the customer ordered, and internal inefficiencies that lead to costly delays and inaccuracies.
As a manufacturer, that might seem like a daunting task… but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, many manufacturers have already adopted a strong digital strategy using Configure Price Quote software that has led to compelling results.
CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) tools improve efficiencies and enable faster quoting. As a selling tool, CPQ can transform the user experience.
For example, Scania (manufacturer of heavy vehicles) wanted to enable their dealers and customers to configure trucks through their website. Using Tacton they we’re able to showcase their products in a fast, dynamic and interactive way to customers.
So what does it all mean?
Manufacturers that fail to invest in digital commerce will lose deals to competitors.
Making the move to CPQ does not need to be complicated. Tacton CPQ for manufacturing makes it easy with integrations to leading platforms including SAP, Salesforce.com Sales and Manufacturing Clouds, Microsoft Dynamics, Oracle Sales Cloud, and other ecosystems with an open API:
- Tacton Smart Commerce extends Salesforce with capabilities that make configuring and selling custom products easier than ever. Offered through AppExchange, Tacton CPQ for Salesforce integrates your customers’ data into Salesforce. Developed specifically for the manufacturing industry, Tacton helps your sales team to configure, price and quote with 100% accuracy.
- Tacton Smart Commerce CPQ integrates with Microsoft Dynamics and simplifies manufacturers’ unique workflows. Enable a frictionless buying experience for your customers by allowing your sales team to deliver the optimal quote every time.
- Tacton integrates with the tools you use to run your business, whether it’s SAP C4C or Oracle Sales Cloud, we integrate seamlessly into any CRM or ERP system. Tacton’s CPQ integrations make it easy for you to connect your digital business initiatives with the tools you already use.
- Tacton Smart Commerce for SAP ECC and VC integrates your data by eliminating manual maintenance, syncing data across your systems, automatically aligning configurations and quotes, creating a simplified, personalized buying experience for your customers, closing complex deals faster. Tacton offers out of the box integrations to SAP ECC and VC. Additionally, our open API enables integrations into any SAP system. Tacton has the expertise and smartest solution to enable manufacturers to improve their internal efficiencies, accelerate sales, enhance their customer experience, and ultimately compete on value.
Don’t get left behind!
Learn more by downloading our free ebook “The Manufacturers’ Guide to Smart Commerce.”