CPQ stands for configure, price, quote—the three components of CPQ software.
What is CPQ software for manufacturing?
CPQ is configure, price, quote (CPQ) software, a web-enabled business system that connects your design and marketing to let you (or your customer) configure product variables, apply pricing changes automatically, and generate quotes.
CPQ software automates the generation of quotes based on the requirements of your customers. CPQ automates the connection of your design data to your customer relationship management (CRM) and engineering resource planning (ERP) systems, making the process of quoting on work faster and more seamless.
CPQ solutions improve manufacturing quoting and sales
Configure, price, quote (CPQ) business systems superpower your manufacturing quoting and sales processes. Quoting is a complicated process of gathering customer requirements, but CPQ software can make it simpler and quicker for business-development staff to quote and make customer decision-making more user-friendly.
Customers can view your products in a user interface that takes data directly from your 2D or 3D model, choosing from variables (configuration) that automatically update the cost (price).
A version of your design is viewed in a web interface, allowing a choice of predefined options that come directly from the engineering logic in the original CAD model. Making changes automatically updates the user’s view of the product and provides further context about the available variations.
Users can then save a configuration in a shopping cart and request further details based on metadata in the variations or submit it to sales to request a quote or return a price in real time. The data behind the same configuration can then be routed directly to an ERP system and on to manufacturing.
It lets customers take the lead in business development when it’s convenient for them, and you can be sure your business systems are giving them every possible choice—and the prices that reflect those choices—automatically.
When customers are satisfied with their choices, producing a formal cost document (quote) is easy. The sales data can also be transposed to connected business systems such as marketing and CRM platforms.
Benefits of CPQ software
Beginning with the 3D design model, variables such as color or materials can be established and then reflected in your CPQ software as choices available to the customer.
Quote faster
Before CPQ tools, a customer would call with specs; you’d ask the factory if it was possible; wait for a response; and, finally, get a quote—a process that can now be done in minutes.
Quote simpler
The system ensures products offer only those variables that are automatically possible, eliminating costly and time-consuming quoting errors.
Standardize choices
Complicated pricing structures are built into CPQ software as rules that apply to variables offered, so every quote you write will be feasible.
Expand business development
Easy access to all possible product variations could give you and the customer an even better solution than originally planned.
Promote customer confidence
When customers can view a detailed mock-up of exactly what they’re getting, they’ll have more confidence in the product and your ability to deliver.
Autodesk manufacturing solutions
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Autodesk customers using CPQ tools
CIDEON
Bringing disciplines together
German systems integrator and process consultant used CPQ to connect interdepartmental systems and collaborate better.
Codeo
Change at the speed of input
Moving from design to product quickly is critical for a Turkish engineering firm.
Lixil
Automated product design at any scale
Japanese household fixture maker used CPQ to reduce drafting time by up to 30%.
CPQ resources
Tacton CPQ is a direct part of the design and marketing process workflow as a certified app in Autodesk Inventor.
This Autodesk University presentation explains the CPQ capabilities of iLogic, a component of Inventor that deploys customizable rules for product assembly configuration.
This Autodesk University presentation outlines how to extract data from Inventor and port it successfully into a configure, price, quote (CPQ) solution.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) on CPQ
Configure, price, quote systems automate a process that lets a customer choose specific product variables and get accurate costs.
Trying different colors, materials, dimensions, or other changes is done in a few clicks, using the product taken directly from the 3D design file and deployed in a simple browser window.
Throughout the process, product pricing is automatically updated, and the cost of their final choice of variables is transposable into a formal quote from within a CPQ manufacturing business system.
Customer relationship management (CRM) software is a business-development tool that tracks customer contacts, organizes records of interactions, and maintains professional connections and prospects.
CPQ manufacturing software integrates directly with the data from your design, letting customers choose from available product variables.
Throughout that process, the system displays updated pricing and lets you provide an accurate quote based on their choices.
Although the two are different, good CPQ software will provide the means to share data with your CRM system for a more comprehensive overview of your interactions with a customer.