The Benefits of Product Configurators or Long Live the Personalisation
The possibility of product personalisation is becoming more and more crucial in both B2C and B2B sectors. Giving your clients the ability to configure the product that is the closest to what they need and are searching for is an ample opportunity for your business, increased brand recognition and client loyalty.
What is a product configurator?
It’s a tool that allows adjusting parts and properties of the product so that the final product is closest to what the client wants in regards to its appearance or functions. It’s an app that you can install on your online shop website and can be used by many people at the same time. Without technical problems or a freezing site that will make the client rather discouraged to buy anything. Great examples of product configurators are NIKEiD and IKEA planners. Here’s where you’ll find a whole repository of product configurators if you’re looking for inspiration.
Types of product configurators
Even though the main idea is the same – enabling the client the configuration of the product – we distinguish several types of configurators, which depend on the purpose and type of the application. This classification at the start of a project helps with a correct estimation of the configurator’s scope, resources, time and costs.
- STO (Select-to-order) – the basic type of a product configurator, the user chooses all the elements of the product themselves. There’s no dependency between the components.
- PTO (Pick-to-order) – the user selects the parts of the product, and the dependency between the elements is their business; the configurator doesn’t help with it.
- MTO (Make-to-order) – the user can define specific parameters of the product. Only after the project is finished and the order placed, the product is manufactured.
- CTO (Configure-to-order) – the configurator helps the user with choosing matching elements.
- ATO (Assemble-to-order) – the configurator fits prefabricated elements taking their dependence into consideration.
- ETO (Engineer-to-order) – the most freedom of configuration and the most challenging type of configurators. In this case, new elements or rules might be needed to fulfil the client’s expectations.
Benefits of product configurators
Sure, product configurators are a great and effective gimmick to have on your WooCommerce shop, but is that all? Easy, they do have several more perks. A possibility to create your own personalised product means you can offer a higher price, which your clients will be willing to pay. We’re talking about even a 30% to 50% difference from the cost of regular products, in the case of Nike.
The personalisation of a product, so – to some extent – participating in the designing process can result in higher client loyalty and better brand recognition. Customisation means the client can get a product that’s close to their ideal. In the times of mass production, it becomes more and more an attractive idea. It also allows your brand to be transparent, and that’s something that is becoming more and more important to customers, especially those young and conscious. Not to mention the fact that creating your own product is engaging and this engagement will pull the client back to you.
How to install a product configurator on your website?
You’ll find WooCommerce plugins for WordPress website that allow you to create a simple product configurator. But, just like with page builders, such solutions are limited. They can also have weak security and be a potential risk for your servers. That’s why we always encourage you to invest in a custom solution, which will be safe, sure and created for your needs. We are always ready to do a custom-made WooCommerce project with you or design a WordPress plugin or theme for you.
Who needs a product configurator?
Are you wondering if you really need a product configurator? You do, because the possibility of product personalisation is becoming more and more crucial in both B2C and B2B sectors. Giving your clients the ability to configure the product that is the closest to what they need and are searching for is an ample opportunity for your business, increased brand recognition and client loyalty.
This solution is especially useful for you if your product is complex, and the number of elements can intimidate your sellers and hinder contact with your clients. With a product configurator, the client takes control and can check and fit all elements by themselves. And the system can automatically suggest recommended element configurations. Everything is centrally managed, you only need to assemble and ship the product. You save money on sellers and customer service.
The product configurator can stop the customer from picking parts that don’t fit – it doesn’t make mistakes like a human. It’s not possible to completely eliminate returns, but this solution can dramatically lower the number of returns.
Interested? You want more details? Hit us up and let’s talk about a product configurator fitted to your needs. We’ve been listed in Top eCommerce Development Companies According to eCommerce Platform.
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