A Visual product configurator allows buyers to experience a showroom-like buying experience without leaving home. They can design their unique solution and see the end product instantly in real-time, with pricing reflecting as they add and change options.
Buyers are often apprehensive about purchasing made-to-order or engineered-to-order products online because they can’t visualize what their customized products will look like. Visual configurators resolve this problem.
Increased Conversion Rates
With fewer abandoned carts, higher conversion rates, and a higher average order value (AOV), visual product configurators provide more opportunities for businesses to increase revenue through their online storefronts. Depending on the type of products sold and how complex or interactive they are, companies may choose to deploy 2D visuals that provide an immobile flat image that users can interact with or 3D visuals that allow users to rotate models and change add-ons.
If shoppers can visualize what the custom product will look like before they buy, they will be more comfortable hitting the “Order” button. They will also be more satisfied with their purchase if it meets their expectations. This will lead to a more positive experience and customer loyalty, further boosting revenue.
In addition to providing a unique shopping experience for customers, visual product configurators can help companies streamline their internal processes by eliminating the need for sales teams to hand off quotes to manufacturers or channel partners. The CPQ implementation guide includes creating print-ready files, bills of materials, assembly instructions, and more based on the options a customer selects, allowing for faster, less error-prone communications between the customer, vendor, and reseller. This results in a more accurate product representation and a quicker turnaround time for orders. This helps reduce costs and overall operational expenses while improving efficiencies.
Increased Customer Satisfaction
The ability to design a custom product online creates an immersive customer shopping experience. By making it easy to understand what their personalized product will look like, they can have greater confidence in the purchase and fewer returns. In addition, using a visual product configurator is more efficient than traditional methods, such as emailing back and forth or relying on static images.
Often, buyers have anxiety about purchasing customized products because they don’t know what the final product will look like. In addition, they may have had a poor experience with ordering a made-to-order or engineered-to-order product from another company and receiving something that doesn’t match their expectations. Having the ability to configure a product online alleviates this anxiety and builds trust, which leads to more sales and customer loyalty.
A visual product configurator displays a 3D or 2D product model and updates on-the-fly as the customer selects options. For example, the model automatically changes color if the user selects a different paint option. In addition, users who desire additional features, such as a spoiler or leather seats, will instantly see these options added to the model in real time. This type of visualization creates a highly interactive and immersive shopping experience for your customers, a great way to build trust and increase conversion rates.
Reduced Returns
Returns cost businesses a lot of money and hurt the reputation of eCommerce stores. Using a visual product configurator helps reduce returns because customers can see what the final product will look like before they purchase it. Many shoppers hesitate to buy custom products online because they have no idea what they will look like once it’s shipped. This can be especially problematic for businesses that offer made-to-order or engineered-to-order products. Visual product configurators allow these shoppers to overcome their apprehension and feel confident about purchasing because they will know what they’re getting before it’s delivered.
In addition to reducing return rates, visual product configurators help increase average order values. This is because customers are more likely to add additional products or features to their carts when they can visualize the result of those additions. For example, a shopper could add a coffee table to their cart with a 3D configurator that uses augmented reality and see how the table would fit in their living room before purchasing it.
This is why a visual product configurator can be a great way to differentiate yourself from competitors that don’t offer this high-tech, personalized shopping experience. In addition, implementing a shopper-facing product configurator can give your business an edge over competitors who use more traditional methods to showcase their products.
Increased Customer Loyalty
Visual product configurators provide a unique online purchasing experience for customers. This translates into higher conversion rates and increased customer loyalty.
People connect much more with visuals than written descriptions and a few professional photos from a single angle. Visual product configurators build trust and confidence by showing shoppers precisely what they buy. This is a critical component of any successful sales strategy and can distinguish between a happy, loyal customer and a disappointed one.
A visual product configurator provides a dynamic, life-like 2D or 3D image that updates on-the-fly as customers select product options. For example, when a customer adds a spoiler or leather seat, these changes are automatically reflected in the virtual car they are building on the screen. This enables customers to visualize the finished product better and match expectations with what they receive, improving order accuracy and reducing returns.
In addition, a visual product configurator streamlines the quoting process for highly customizable, aesthetic-led products. This leads to faster sales cycles and fewer mistakes, improving order accuracy and reducing return rates. This is a significant benefit for both B2B and B2C sales teams.
