Sales configurators are transforming the eCommerce landscape, from furniture to fashion, offering users the ability to interact with products intensively. That’s also why the product configurator market witnessed a huge growth of USD 2.32 billion in 2023.

More impressively, the largest contribution belongs to online 3D product configurators with advanced features. 

This blog clarifies everything about sales configurators to help you inspire more efficient eCommerce ideas with these tools and achieve the best results in your business sales. 

What is a product configurator?

Product configurators are visual tools that allow customers and sellers to design, customize, and visualize products based on their preferences, aiming to own more personalized items. Thus, you can feel free to extend to various aspects, like designs, features, and materials.

You can find different sales configurators; however, 3D and 2D configurators are the two most common names to consider in eCommerce. While 3D configurators stand out by offering true-to-life, interactive views, 2D configurators focus on static, less engaging visuals. This makes 3D configurators go-to choices for adoption in online and eCommerce stores.  

Benefits of using online 3D product configurators in eCommerce

Now that you’ve clarified what a product configurator is, it’s time to discover its benefits and how online 3D product configurators can embrace the success of eCommerce sellers.  

Engage customers and boost satisfaction

Many customers struggle to visualize products online, including incredibly complex or made-to-order products such as wardrobes, modular seating, shelving and storage systems, and more. By implementing 3D configurators in your eCommerce, you can offer customers an interactive interface to explore all variants and combinations in real time, accurately, and 360 degrees. This can boost customer interest and satisfaction and ensure a more immersive experience. 

Decrease barriers to close deals

Lengthy manual design processes might lead to long lead times and lost eCommerce sales. That’s when you need to leverage the role of 3D sales configurators to enable users to build their products with instant pricing and visualizations. These features can help reduce customer confusion, accelerate purchasing decisions, and, finally, close deals in your store.  

Optimize sales processes

3D product configurators are minimizing sales steps in eCommerce businesses. They do not demand forth-and-back communication between customers and salespeople; instead, everyone works with automated generation and seamless integrated systems. Consequently, you’re making faster sales, delivering error-free orders, and saving resources. 

Stay competitive and increase sales

Thanks to the interactive, immersive experience that online 3D product configurators create, you can effectively make your eCommerce store stand out from the competitors. However, ensure a 3D configurator is well-structured to simplify everything without hassle or errors. Likewise, buyers can feel more trustful when shopping on your site, leading to more sales. 

Features to look for in a 3D configurator to level up eCommerce stores

When adopting a 3D sales configurator, consider the proper features and functionalities that can work well for your eCommerce store, as well as optimize your product visualizations. Below are the key points that you should look for first: 

• Customization and configuration 

A standard online 3D product configurator should allow users to design and customize immersively across product variants and combinations, such as size, color, and materials. From that, customers can easily build products on their own without expert skills or support. This configurator also ensures the rule-based configuration so that the finalized products are feasible to manufacture, reducing the risk of safety in use and disappointing your customers. 

• Visual CPQ

Visual Configure, Price, Quote (Visual CPQ) enables customers and sales teams to configure products in real time with dynamic pricing and accurate quoting within a unified interface. This helps users feel more comfortable and trustful when making changes to their designs, eliminating surprises at your eCommerce store’s checkout and encouraging business sales. 

• Augmented Reality (AR) & Virtual Reality (VR) 

AR and VR play important roles in most industries, especially in furniture and construction. With AR, users can effectively visualize their products in their real-world environment. This lets you minimize customer guesswork and create a more impressive shopping journey. 

Regarding VR, it’s simple to discuss its ability to satisfy customers’ interactive demands through virtual showrooms and life-like settings. In these predefined spaces, you can freely interact with your product designs powered by AR to ensure true-to-life experiences.

• Seamless integration

It does not just work well with eCommerce platforms; 3D product configurators can integrate with different systems like CRM or ERP to ensure a smooth end-to-end workflow. This is essential in optimizing your sales steps, from product ordering to shipping, thanks to automating tasks, improving accuracy, and saving operation resources on separate software.  

• Mobile & Cross-device compatibility

In today’s digital world, it is almost impossible to forget the presence of mobile devices. That’s when customers are expecting more about seamlessly engaging with your products across all devices, from websites to mobile items. Therefore, a 3D sales configurator with high cross-device compatibility can ensure a consistent and intuitive customer experience. 

• Cloud-based functionality

Closed-managed solutions are highly evaluated for scalability, accessibility, and security. Similarly, when you work with a closed-based 3D configurator, you can level up your management over your eCommerce store while effectively reducing infrastructure costs. 

Examples of implementing 3D eCommerce configurators 

This section will introduce some successful case studies on the adoption of 3D sales configurators and how these configurators help these brands improve sales performance. 

#1. Grand + Benedicts 

Grand + Benedicts is a trusted Portland-based company that sells store fixtures. One of its flagship products is Lozier Gondola Shelving, a favored modular shelving system worldwide. Although the flexibility in building and designing this product makes Grand + Benedicts stand out, it demands a complicated sales process and a massive effort from the sales team.

Adopting the VividWorks 3D sales configurator allows everyone to easily customize their shelves, see real-time 3D visualizations, and receive instant, accurate prices and quotes. Consequently, Grand + Benedicts can optimize user experiences and save time and effort. 

#2. Nike

Nike’s sneaker configurator is one of the best examples of product configurators in the fashion industry that you can use as inspiration for your eCommerce store. This configurator features a well-structured interface that allows users to select colors, materials, and even custom text. All of these combinations will be accurately reflected in your designs in real time.  

#3. Montana

Montana is a renowned professional manufacturer and seller of cabinets in Northern Europe. Thanks to a well-structured online 3D product configurator powered by VividWorks, the company offers more flexible design customization and improves lengthy sales processes. This helps engage customers effectively, minimize lead times, and increase business sales.  

Conclusion

Our blog has just clarified why and how sales configurators have leveled up eCommerce stores in customer satisfaction, sales processes, operation management, and final revenues. In addition to the key features above, look for more advanced features based on your demands. You can also contact 3D configuration professionals for a detailed consultation.