Product Configurator as a Building Block System

The terms product set and product bundle may sound similar, but they refer to different concepts. A product bundle consists of multiple standalone products that can typically be purchased individually, outside of the bundle. In contrast, a product set comprises several products or product components that serve as building blocks for a complex solution. Therefore, a product set is a complete solution for specific use cases.

To better understand the distinction between a bundle configurator and a set configurator, let’s look at a few examples.

Imagine you're planning your next winter vacation, but you still need the perfect ski outfit. Wouldn't it be great if you could put together a custom outfit online?

With a bundle configurator, that's exactly what you can do. It guides customers through various product categories and creates individual bundles. For example, the ski configurator would help you assemble a complete ski outfit, including pants, jacket, shoes, goggles, and more. The finished outfit can then be added directly to your shopping cart and ordered online.

Especially for B2C companies, it makes sense to offer products as bundles, as this can lead to an increase in the shopping cart value.

Now imagine you want to replace your roof. For this, you need various materials, such as roof tiles and insulation material. But do you know how many roof tiles are needed to re-roof your house or how much insulation material you need for the insulation layer?

The set configurator not only helps you find the right products but also calculates the quantities required. For example, the roof configurator would ask for the size of the roof area to determine how many tiles are needed to cover it.

Furthermore, the set configurator displays the costs for each individually configured set, allowing customers to plan and budget more effectively.

Another notable feature is the implemented rules within the set configurator. These ensure that only compatible products are displayed. Incompatible options are automatically excluded. This guides the customer through the configuration process, resulting in a compatible and functional set at the end.

The set configurator is also an ideal support tool for sales representatives. After all, there are product configurations that are so complex that it can be a challenge for sales staff to know all the possible combinations. As a Sales Enablement tool, it assists in tailoring products to the individual requirements of the customer.

Additionally, it streamlines the quote creation process, as the completed configuration, along with the cost calculation, can be directly forwarded to the CRM.

The set configurator is, therefore, a great support for sales, as it ensures error-free configurations and accelerates the quote creation process.

Whether a set configurator or a bundle configurator is more suitable depends on the specific use case. If you operate a webshop selling a wide range of products, product bundles are ideal for increasing shopping cart value.

On the other hand, if you are selling complex solutions with many different configuration options, set configurators are optimally designed to provide your customers with a customized complete solution.