Saving Time, Money and Delay with Configuration

Digital tools are incredibly important for today’s construction industry, particularly in light of the coronavirus pandemic. The more you are able to provide your customers with comprehensive and detailed information on products and their variants, the higher the qualified leads and success rate for your business. The trend towards self-service in sales means that 3D, augmented reality and virtual reality configuration is being used by companies, large and small.

The role of visuals in the sales process

The importance of visuals in decision making should never be underestimated. Up to 83% of buyers see imagery as an influential factor in the sale of a product. This highlights that the more you are able to share an immersive experience for your customers, the more they feel a connection with the product and want to invest in it.

Configuration improves communication in all areas of manufacturing and product sales. You can demonstrate what the customer is looking for without having it in front of them or indeed the customer being physically present. It also streamlines the process, taking feedback from customers to improve products, which in turn improves both customer and sale experience and paves the way for ongoing innovation.

Key benefits of configuration in construction

Configuration allows manufacturers to experiment with architects and designers, trying out the different designs they are considering. For example, parametric sizing where, within the rules of a certain configuration, the size of a product can be tailor-made according to a certain design can all done be through a digital visual experience without having to spend money on expensive prototypes.

Enhancing customer experience

In the past, this kind of technology was used almost exclusively by professionals but, as technology gets easier to use, this puts the design of a product into the hands of the end user. Customers could design their own balconies, for example. Within a set of parameters, they can choose deck type, colour and railing that suits their wants and needs.

A key part of this software is its flexibility. When you put in the rules and then go through all the configurations of a product it is easier and faster than drawings or prototypes – with none of the time and effort required to make changes. You can see immediate results and avoid expensive mistakes in design that later prove not to work in reality.

In the same way, companies spend a lot of time, effort, cost and logistics to manufacture products for event shows or a catalogue. Imagine if all the combinations of a product could be showcased digitally with one or two tablets.

Configuration enables you to change parameters and see the design and cost implications in real time. The technology can identify and design out flaws and risks without the need for error-prone systems, people and processes. Compliance with standards and regulations can be built into the parameters too so that a change in regulations or a product replacement will never be missed.

Configuration enables architects and designers to see what different designs will look like at the early design stage, giving them the freedom, flexibility and creativity early. This is why most people look to technology are to make processes easier, faster and safer.

This article is based on an interview with Katy Collins, Senior Account Executive and Matthew Seeger, Vice President of Solution Engineering at Threekit.