The quoting steps in the retail fixture industry are undergoing a significant transformation. Replying to static PDF quotes can’t keep pace with modern customer expectations and the demands of a dynamic market. That’s why businesses turn to visual configurators to see improvement in conversion rates compared to those preferring traditional methods.
In this article, we will walk through the 3 key reasons that drive this transition, including:
- Enhanced customer experience
- Improved sales cycles and conversion rates
- Streamlined business operations
Without further ado, keep scrolling to discover more!
Reason 1: Better Customer Experience through Interactive Visualization
Static PDFs Can’t Show Product Variations in Real Time
Whenever customers request changes to retail fixture design—whether it’s size, color, or material—sales teams are nearly forced to generate new PDFs for each customization. You can not visualize modifications and clarify how changes affect the configuration in real time. This hinders potential buyers' understanding and confidence in their choices.
Visual Configurators Let Clients Explore Options
An online visual configurator can effectively address the interactivity limitation of PDF quotes. Users can easily preview product configurations and combinations in real-time.
Notably, a 3D visual configurator takes the experience further by offering 3D product visualizations. Customers can rotate, zoom, and interact with the fixture from all angles. This tool apparently enables a far higher level of engagement, which helps reduce purchasing confusion and build customer trust. This is especially valuable when dealing with highly modular product designs that need to adapt to different and complex layouts.
Real-World Example
One notable example is Grand+Benedicts's adoption of a 3D visual product configurator to showcase its custom shelving systems. Each selected option will be updated in a 3D view, with precise sizes, colors, finishes, back panels, shelves, and even add-ons. Once the design is finished, shoppers can get quotes instantly, boosting confidence to close deals. As a result, the company can streamline the sales process and improve conversion rates.
Reason 2: Faster Sales Cycles and Increased Conversion Rates
Manual Quote Generation Slows Sales Down
The creation of PDF quotes typically involves multiple email exchanges, manual data entry, and endless hours spent on designing and complex calculations. Any change requires back-and-forth communications between buyers and salespeople to ensure accuracy. This is prone to prolonged delays and errors.
Furthermore, creating visuals for customization reflects a design background. This means sales teams frequently depend on product designers for help. The mutual reliance leads to a time-consuming process, potentially reducing the efficiency of your sales activities.
Visual Configurators Enable Instant Quotes & Pricing
With Visual Configure, Price, Quote (Visual CPQ), visual configurators can automate the quoting process. Users can see real-time pricing updates as they configure their designs. As a result, online sellers can facilitate a shorter sales cycle on their eCommerce stores. This benefit also appeals to customers who prefer fast, informed decision-making steps.
Impact on Conversion Rates
Apparently, visual product configurators can offer a dynamic and immersive experience. The integration of advanced technologies, like augmented reality (AR), can provide more advantages. Customers interact with products in their own space; it’s a true-to-life feeling as if they’re in a physical showroom. Then, they clarify the level of fitting before ordering.
The CAGR of visual configurators is expected to be 15.5% from 2026 to 2030, mainly driven by AR and 3D visualizations. Thus, in addition to the standard visual configuration, investing in well-structured visual 3D configurators embedded with AR is essential. However, the complexity of development requires skilled personnel or reliable providers.
Grand + Benedicts, one of the top retail fixture companies in the U.S., saw a significant shift in its sales results after adopting a 3D product configurator powered by VividWorks. By allowing customers to configure their products and get immediate quotes, the company nearly “puts control directly in the hands of our customers,” - John Phillips, CEO. Shoppers join product creation, then make orders without manual quoting confirmation.
Reason 3: Streamlined Operations and Reduced Errors
PDF-Based Workflows Are Prone to Manual Errors
Many sales teams find it challenging to manually re-key quote information into other systems. They even struggle with renewing quotes from updated product customization. This leads to incorrect orders, production delays, and, ultimately, dissatisfied customers.
Visual Configurators Automate Complex Configurations
Visual configuration software programs often include rule-based configuration logic to ensure compatibility with complex or highly modular fixtures. This, combined with automation in sales steps, guarantees the accuracy and speed of every quote generated.
Many configurators also work well with eCommerce platforms. Whether you are looking for WooCommerce integration, specialized Magento visual product configurators, or visual product configurators for Shopify, let’s consider carefully to find a proper solution. This provides a fully interactive shopping experience and ensures stricter sales control.
What’s more? Integrating configurators with CRM and ERP to streamline your workflows.
Benefits for Both Sales Teams and Production
Beyond reducing error and time spent on PDF quotes, visual configurators facilitate a seamless handoff from sales to production teams. They automatically get print-ready files, Bill of Materials (BOMs), and assembly instructions, including SKUs, finishes, etc. This can foster efficiency from the initial customer inquiry to the delivery of retail fixtures.
Notably, visual 3D configurator platforms can facilitate clearer internal communications. Its 3D visualizations allow you to see and interact with products from all angles precisely.
Conclusion: Future-Proofing Your Sales Process
The shift from static PDF quotes to interactive visual configurators is not merely an upgrade; it’s a must-have strategy to transform the performance. These configurators can enhance the customer experience, accelerate sales cycles, and streamline operations.
So, why don’t you embrace a visual product configurator to secure a competitive edge in a dynamic industry like fixture retailing? Book a demo with VividWorks experts today!
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