Product Configurator: Overview of costs and factors that influence them

The use of a product configurator in online stores is no longer a surprise these days. It is, so to speak, a key to success that helps you stand out from the competition and attract more customers with personalized offers. Those who opt for this option strengthen customer loyalty and benefit from increased sales. At the same time, you also come up against high costs. So that you can clearly understand the whole situation and plan your budget correctly, get a precise overview of all product configurator costs.

In our article, we describe the expenses you can expect and what they depend on. Then you will understand whether this investment pays off or not. This will help you to make the right decision.

What factors influence product configurator prices?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to say exactly what a product configurator costs. The prices vary because they primarily depend on the complexity and customizability of the configurator. Everything else concerns the design, programming and possible integrations. It takes both time and effort to think through and design every aspect.

Let's take a closer look at the factors that have a huge impact on the cost of developing a product configurator.

Functionality of the product configurator

Development is much more complex when the configurator has a large number of functions. There are configurators that are not only about customizing sizes and colors, but also vehicles, elevators, furniture. For simple configurations, when only basic customization is required, the software does not cost that much (a few hundred euros).

Complex configurations require more effort to develop, which is why these configurators are more expensive. You can contact an online store agency to have an individual product configurator programmed. This will incur additional costs. This is associated with specific features. Programming them requires more time. In addition, you have to test the functionality. Individual furniture or many other things can be configured in this way.

With the large number of products, you need more image material for many variants and combinations. The images must be as realistic as possible so that customers get the best possible idea of the desired products. Such a development is much more complex and requires higher product configurator costs.

If the requirements for a configurator are lower, the costs are lower. There are then only basic features (standard dimensions, material, color). It is then a matter of necessary adjustments, which are cost-intensive. Each additional feature is reflected in the price.

User interface and design

A user-friendly interface requires careful design and development. It is about individual adaptation to customer needs. It is also important that the product configurator works smoothly on all devices. More time is needed to realize these adaptations. This naturally leads to an increase in product configuration costs.

The user interface should be intuitive and easy to use. It should be designed with a focus on user experience. Then all customers can easily configure the products. Such an online store with the product configurator enjoys great popularity. Customers can complete their purchases successfully and that is a good sign that they will return.

When comparing customized and prefabricated designs, differences can be observed in terms of product configurator costs. If the individual design has to be created from scratch, it naturally costs more time, effort and money.

If the design of the product configurator software is created with the help of templates, it is much easier. You don't need as much time and effort. You also have to pay less for the development than for an individual design. But there is one disadvantage. It is impossible to offer customers something unique.

Connection to third-party systems

Thanks to the integration of the product configurator in Magento, Shopware, WooCommerce or another store system, products can be configured in real time. This guarantees more efficient processes and minimizes errors. Although such a connection causes higher product configurator prices, this investment is definitely worth it.

An ERP connection is required to enable configuration with logistics and production planning. This provides the customer with precise information regarding prices and delivery dates. If any product variants are missing in the warehouse, reorders are automatically placed and the delivery date adjusted.

The CRM connection transfers the customer data from the configurator to the central database. As the relevant information is centralized, sales, customer service and marketing can work better together.

The external systems and databases can be connected via interfaces and APIs. This makes it possible to retrieve product data. Such an integration requires not only special knowledge and time, but also additional costs.

Platform-based or customized product configurators: the main differences

As companies offer configurable products, the popularity of a product configurator is growing. According to the study, this is the main goal of 58% of companies, who can choose between web-based and customized applications. The former are developed on the basis of a platform and offer standardized features. Customized product configurators for online stores can be created by a professional agency. Although they are used for one and the same purpose, they differ in some aspects.

FüIndividual solutions cost up to 150,000 euros. Depending on the provider and the complexity, the product configurator prices can vary: if you opt for a configurator that is recommended by the manufacturer of the e-commerce platform as an extension, the usage costs look like this:

• Shopify: from 9.99 to 45 euros per month
• Shopware: от 37,42 до 75 евро за месяц

Precise development process and operating costs

To help you better understand what you are paying for, we describe the development process in detail. It should also be emphasized that in addition to the development, you have to pay for the smooth operation of the configurator. This includes system and data maintenance, hosting and server costs. To ensure that the software is always available, it is essential to provide good customer support. This results in ongoing costs.

Initial development

The entire process comprises 5 phases. These include:

1. Definition of the objectives and scope
2. Analysis of the target group and competitor products
3. Concept development
4. Prototypenbau für technische Implementierung
5. Testing prototypes

You have to understand the market, purchasing behavior and trends well, collect and analyze the data. This is how requirements are defined and necessary functions determined. The target group, its needs and preferences should also be defined. Based on this information, a concept is developed.  It is important to test the concept with the customers. Then you can ensure that the configurator meets all expectations.

A further step is the creation of a prototype and design development. The prototype should then be tested. This makes it possible to adapt it correctly and eliminate any ambiguities. By testing it several times, you can better understand the customer's needs and reduce the costs of further changes.

If these steps are carefully thought through and carried out, you get an excellent customer-oriented product configurator. But you have to understand that they cost time and money.

Technical support and updates

Customer requirements are constantly growing. In order to satisfy these, the product configurator must be adapted accordingly. To ensure that the software is always at the highest level, updates must be carried out regularly.

Whe cost of a product configurator and its maintenance depends on the provider. The following scenarios are possible:

• If you have had an individual product configurator developed by an agency, the development team will take care of maintenance work and updates.
• If you wish, you can contact another service provider.
• If the extension was provided in an official store (e.g. Shopware), the published updates are included free of charge during the subscription period. In the event of any difficulties or questions, the extension partner will provide assistance during the subscription period.

Safety and compliance with legal requirements

The software developers ensure compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). New releases and versions must comply with the requirements. To hire a data protection officer, you have to pay again.

The costs for an external partner in data protection depend on these factors:

• Company size and sector of activity
• Scope of data to be managed
• Level of data protection security
• Additional services (training, etc.)

Smaller companies spend around 150 euros per month. For medium-sized companies, the amount is 250 euros. The prices increase depending on the factors mentioned above.

The security updates are also very important. They are normally carried out by the development team and must be paid for. This makes it possible to close security gaps.

Internal or external development: which is more favorable?

There are several pros and cons that speak in favor of external or internal software development. The main advantage is considered to be security. However, not every company has such a well-developed IT team that can create a customized product configurator. Let's take a closer look at both situations.

Individual development

To automate ordering processes, companies are introducing product configurators. If the employees have the necessary specialist knowledge, this task can be carried out within the company. The configurator is then adapted to individual needs and processes. In den meisten Fällen ist es aber nicht so.

Hiring an in-house development team can lead to a lot of effort and expense, with training and salaries, technical resources and new investment required.

Commissioning of a software development agency

If you turn to a professional agency like Kenner Soft Service GmbH, you can get the product configurator you want without any effort. Then you can focus entirely on your business and don't have to pay for training.  The programmers with extensive experience will develop solutions of varying complexity for you to make sales more efficient.

In addition, the agency takes care of maintenance and is available to you in the event of problems and uncertainties. As far as product configuration prices are concerned, they are calculated individually and much depends on the complexity and effort involved. In any case, there are no hidden costs.

Even complex products can be put together with the product configurator from Kenner Soft. The software can be integrated into various e-commerce platforms. Whether you operate a Shopware, Shopify, OXID, JTL, WooCommerce or Adobe Commerce store, we can offer you a suitable solution. You can then create customized offers for your customers and strengthen your business relationships.

Contact us for complete information.  You can clarify and find out many questions from us, what an online store costs per month.