Why Augmented Reality is the Future of CPQ?

In recent years, Augmented Reality (AR) has emerged as a groundbreaking technology transforming numerous industries, and 3D Configure Price Quote (CPQ) is no exception. AR allows users to augment the real world with virtual elements, providing a new and immersive way to interact with products and services.

An overwhelming 71% of consumers express their readiness to shop more frequently when embracing AR technology. This blog post explores why AR is the next big thing in 3D CPQ, revolutionizing how businesses sell and customers make purchasing decisions.

What is 3D CPQ?

3D product configuration in CPQ, which stands for Configure Price Quote, is a technology-driven sales solution that allows businesses to create customized product offerings, generate accurate quotes, and streamline sales.

It combines product configuration, pricing, and quoting functionalities into a single platform, empowering sales teams to efficiently guide customers through the complex process of selecting and customizing products.

By incorporating 3D elements into the CPQ process, businesses can offer customers a more immersive and realistic product experience. Customers can interact with the virtual models, exploring different configurations, colors, features, and sizes, to design their ideal product. This level of flexibility and customization empowers customers to visualize their desired product and make informed purchasing decisions.

Enhanced Product Visualisation with 3D and AR

The ability to visualize complex products in real-world environments addresses a common challenge in traditional CPQ systems. Customers often need help to fully comprehend how a particular product will fit into their existing space or interact with their other products.

Traditional CPQ systems typically rely on static images and textual descriptions, which can be limiting for customers trying to understand complex products.

By incorporating augmented reality in 3D CPQ, users can view and interact with 3D models of products in the real world, giving them a realistic representation of how the product will look and function. This enhanced visualization leads to increased customer engagement and a deeper understanding of the product's features and capabilities.

Interactive Product Customization

AR technology allows customers to personalize and customize products in real time. With 3D CPQ, users can configure various options and see the changes reflected instantly through Augmented Reality.

This interactive customization experience empowers customers to create products tailored to their specific needs and reduces the risk of miscommunication between the customer and the sales team.

By virtually experiencing their customized product, customers gain confidence in their purchasing decisions, leading to increased sales and customer satisfaction.

Streamlined Sales Processes

3D CPQ product configurators greatly reshape B2B sales cycles, and the integration of Augmented Reality further streamlines the process by providing precise visualizations of product offerings and configurations.

Augmented reality in eCommerce allows sales professionals to present products more compellingly and persuasively, making the sales process more efficient and effective. By using AR tools, salespeople can demonstrate product features, functionalities, and benefits visually engagingly, capturing customers' attention and maintaining their interest throughout the sales presentation.

This level of engagement helps to foster a strong connection between the customer and the product, facilitating a quicker and more confident purchasing decision.

An AR-powered CPQ system also enhances collaboration between sales teams and customers. Sales representatives and customers can explore different product configurations in real-time, making adjustments and receiving instant feedback.

This collaborative approach allows for a more engaging and transparent sales process, reducing misunderstandings, improving alignment, and faster decision-making. The ability to streamline the sales process not only enhances sales productivity but also improves customer satisfaction by providing a smooth and efficient buying experience.

Reduced Product Returns

AR technology lets customers experience the product virtually, close to its real-life dimensions and characteristics. This immersive experience enables customers to thoroughly evaluate the product, understanding its size, scale, and visual details more accurately.

By interacting with the virtual product, customers can assess its functionality and usability, gaining a comprehensive understanding of its features and potential benefits. This level of pre-purchase engagement significantly diminishes the chances of customers receiving a product that does not meet their expectations, ultimately reducing return rates.

Retaining Customers with 3D and Augmented Reality

Businesses can enhance customer retention by empowering customers with an immersive and accurate shopping experience. When customers have confidence in their purchase decisions and receive products that align with their expectations, they are more likely to become repeat buyers and advocates for the brand.

Positive experiences with AR-powered 3D CPQ increase customer loyalty and drive positive word-of-mouth referrals, benefiting the business in the long run.

Augmented Reality in the Furniture Industry

Thanks to the groundbreaking combination of 3D Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ), and Augmented Reality (AR), the era of personalized furniture design has arrived. Let's explore how this innovative technology transforms how we create and customize our dream pieces.

Unleashing Creativity with Intuitive Design Tools

3D CPQ and AR make designing your ideal furniture an immersive and interactive experience. Intuitive design tools guide you through the process, allowing you to handpick modular components, select upholstery materials, and even customize finishing touches. This level of customization empowers you to create furniture that perfectly matches your unique style and preferences.

Visualize Your Creation in Real Life

One of the most exciting aspects of 3D CPQ and AR is the ability to visualize your custom furniture in real-life settings. By leveraging AR technology, you can use your smartphone or tablet to superimpose 3D models of your creations into your actual space.

This feature provides a realistic preview of how your custom furniture will look and fit in your home, ensuring a seamless integration with your existing decor.

Ensure Perfect Fit and Functionality

Gone are the days of wondering if a piece of furniture will fit in your space. With 3D CPQ and AR, you can accurately measure and view dimensions, ensuring your custom furniture fits perfectly in your room. This eliminates any guesswork and allows you to make informed decisions about the size and layout of your pieces.

Endless Possibilities for Personalization

The marriage of 3D CPQ and AR opens up a world of endless possibilities for personalization. Whether you want to mix and match different components, experiment with unique fabric patterns, or choose from various finishes and accents, you can create furniture that reflects your distinct taste and style.

Unparalleled Convenience and Satisfaction

The convenience of 3D CPQ and AR cannot be overstated. With just a few clicks, you can explore and customize furniture options from the comfort of your own home.

You no longer have to settle for what's available in stores; instead, you can build a piece tailored specifically to your needs and preferences. This level of customization leads to greater satisfaction and a deeper connection with the furniture you bring into your home.

CPQ Sofa Configurator

Discover more real-world use cases on how 3D and AR technologies are transforming the sales experience across various industries in this insightful post by Showell.

Let's look at one remarkable example of CPQ sofa configurators found at Noronen.fi. Noronen is a Finnish company that offers a range of high-quality, domestically made sofas, armchairs, and furniture solutions that elevate the level of comfort and aesthetic appeal.

The CPQ sofa configurator, run by VividWorks, has a user-friendly interface to make designing your sofa easy and hassle-free. You have the freedom to handpick every modular component, select your preferred fabric or leather upholstery, and even choose the legs that perfectly match your style.

This level of interactivity grants you complete control over the sofa's composition, ensuring it meets your exact specifications.

But what truly sets this experience apart is the integration of AR technology. You can take your sofa customization journey to a whole new level. You can view your customised sofa in your own space to make sure it fits nicely.

As customers make their desired selections and customize their sofas, the configurator dynamically calculates and displays the accurate pricing instantly. This ensures transparency and helps customers make informed decisions. In addition to real-time pricing, the configurator also provides an order summary feature.

This not only saves time for manufacturers but also helps ensure consistent and error-free orders.

Once customers are satisfied with their selections and reviewed the order summary, they can seamlessly add their customized sofas to their shopping cart. From there, they can proceed to checkout and complete their purchase with ease.

Take the first step towards accelerating your growth. Book your free demo today and see the VividWorks CPQ Configurator in action 🚀