Ratings & reviews for Kenner Soft Service GmbH
Solutions PIM and CPQ Solutions Product Configurator
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Are customers leaving your online store because they can’t find the right products or because the information provided isn’t sufficient? Have you noticed an increase in the number of abandoned carts? These are common problems for online stores that sell complex products. The statistics bear this out: 35% of purchases are returned because the products ultimately fail to meet customer expectations.

People often encounter difficulties when shopping online. When products are available in different configurations, they need help from a specialist to choose the right components. To automate the quote generation process and reduce the workload on your staff, we offer an innovative product configurator for online stores. This is an indispensable tool that allows anyone to customize products according to their own preferences without any technical knowledge or effort. We’ll explain in detail what it does and how it can help you avoid lost sales.

What is a product configurator?

When a hospital needs a new X-ray system or ultrasound machine, the staff—not the doctors—is the one searching for these items. Since they often lack the necessary expertise, they cannot select a good device on their own. That’s where our online configurator comes in.

This is digital software for creating complex products with many variations that consist of multiple components. It allows users to customize and design the items themselves according to their own preferences. The customer selects the components themselves, and the application determines whether that combination is possible. You don’t necessarily need to have knowledge of the components. The integrated artificial intelligence recommends the necessary elements to the customer.

To configure a laptop, options for the base model, processor, RAM, storage (SSD/HDD), graphics card, display options, and spare parts are provided.

For a car, you select compatible components such as the powertrain, chassis, body, interior elements, electronics, and safety features.

To configure ultrasound systems, you must define the application area (cardiology, urology, orthopedics), select the device platform, specify the image quality, configure transducers, choose software modules, and determine the user interface and IT integration. If needed, you can also add accessories. Our product configurator is programmed to prevent incorrect combinations. If one component is incompatible with another, the software immediately alerts the user. Therefore, customers don’t need to worry that the product they’ve put together won’t work. With our configurator, that’s not possible. It only combines components that are compatible with each other. In an online store with a product configurator, buyers can decide for themselves what’s best for them. This increases their trust and satisfaction.

Once a product is successfully configured, our CPQ product configurator calculates the total price. If it is too high, the customer can replace the expensive components with cheaper ones. Our software guides you through every step. Once the configuration is complete, you can place an order immediately. You can also print the configured product or send it via email.

Our solution simplifies sales and improves customer loyalty. It also stands out for other features.

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Why do online retailers prefer our product configurator?

Customized products are always in demand. With the help of a configurator, customers can place orders quickly and conveniently. The solution we offer stands out from the rest.

We create an online configurator that is integrated into a product management system called KennerPIM. Furthermore, it can be connected to various online stores (OXID, Shopware, JTL, Adobe Commerce, WooCommerce, Spryker, CommerceTools). The e-commerce product configurator also works with other PIM systems. There are several other advantages to mention.

Increased Sales Through Personalization

When buying a bicycle, customers can customize not only the color but every detail themselves. First, they choose the brand, then select the frame shape and size. Next, they should customize components such as brakes, the saddle, and the wheels. Finally, they select the accessories and save the configuration. The purchase is then guaranteed.

Competitive advantage

Unlike standard online stores, an online store with a product configurator offers a better service. Let’s take a look at the configuration of an elevator, for example. Customers specify the number of floors, shaft dimensions, drive type, and power supply. The cabin and doors are then configured. Next, they must select the drive, control system, and features. This allows for customized requirements, which attracts buyers.

Automated processes

Company employees do not have to perform calculations manually or create quotes themselves. The product configurator software does this automatically, provided all components are compatible. Once the configuration is complete, prices are calculated in real time. The price list can be checked for accuracy. If the customer changes even one component, the price is recalculated.

Collection of valuable customer data

As a store owner, you can identify customer preferences. This allows you to determine which products are particularly popular. When selling furniture, you can find out which pieces, with which features (color, fabric, size), and at which price points customers are most interested in. Then you can consider expanding your product range.

Reducing abandoned carts, returns, and incorrect orders

Customers don’t ask staff as many questions over the phone or via email. With our online store product configurator, they have all the information right in front of them and can see exactly what their products will look like and how they will work before making a purchase. This ensures the products perfectly meet their needs. This is key to enhancing the shopping experience and building customer loyalty.

Who is a web shop configurator the right solution for?

This software is essential for many industries. It is primarily intended for manufacturers and online retailers that offer complex products. These products consist of many components. This applies to the following sectors:

  • Mechanical engineering. Customers vary. They have different ideas and requirements. Not all combinations are technically feasible. Our software prevents errors and incompatibility between components.
  • Furniture. When a customer wants an exclusive sofa, they define all the parameters themselves. The result is a unique design that fits perfectly into their home. This increases the likelihood of a purchase and boosts sales.
  • Jewelry. The customer chooses the size, design, material, engraving, and gemstones. Purchasing decisions are emotional, and such offerings command higher prices.
  • Automotive industry. Products are efficiently manufactured to order. Fewer delivery vehicles are needed. During the configuration process, customers also purchase accessories. This increases upselling and cross-selling opportunities.
  • Electronics. Customers purchase items that best meet their needs. This leads to an increase in cart value and revenue through add-ons, as well as a reduction in returns.
  • Printed products. When customers create an item using product configurator software, they ask the salesperson fewer questions. They observe the process and receive useful information immediately.

Does Your Online Store Need a Product Configurator?

If you're still unsure whether this software is necessary for your store, you should take a closer look at the pros and cons of using it. To help you better understand, we'll highlight the strengths and weaknesses of this solution and provide a brief comparison of an online store with and without a configurator.

Pro Contra
Customized products. Customers prefer products that are specifically tailored to their needs. Standard products are less attractive to customers. They cannot be adapted to personal requirements, which often leads to abandoned purchases.
Better customer experience. Tailor-made products increase customer satisfaction because buyers get exactly what they need. The customer experience becomes less engaging when buyers cannot participate in the purchasing process themselves.
Upselling opportunities. Customers can also be offered premium products or additional components during the purchase process. Customers only buy standard products without additional accessories or upgraded features.
Knowledge-Based Configuration. With the help of AI, products are assembled correctly. This allows ordinary users to configure complex products such as solar systems or cars themselves. The configurator provides them with components that are compatible with each other. For detailed information, click here. Without an AI-powered configurator, it is not possible to check whether the components are compatible with each other. This requires specialized knowledge.
Fewer return requests. Since the products are personalized, they fully match the customer’s interests and needs. These are not generic products intended for everyone. Standard products are returned more often because they may not meet specific customer expectations.
Process automation. Fewer employees are needed to complete different tasks. Everything has to be done manually, and companies must pay employees for these tasks.
Request handling / consultation. Customers receive detailed information about components and possible combinations. They can configure products without professional assistance. The consultation workload is higher. Customers have more questions that need to be answered, which takes employees’ time away from more important tasks.

3 Types of Product Configuration

At Kenner Soft, we have developed our own custom online configurator. The solution is already complete and can be tailored to the specific needs of your target audience at any time. This means that our product configurator can be implemented in your business immediately. You don’t have to spend months paying for development—you can start using it right away and start making money.

Whether you sell technology, vehicles, or jewelry, our software configures these products professionally, quickly, and precisely. The system allows customers to choose between pre-configured, partially configured, and fully personalized products.

Preconfigured

The online store offers products that have already been configured. This way, customers don't have to start from scratch; instead, they can choose from available templates.

Partially flexible

If the product is partially configured, the customer can choose certain features themselves. This includes the size, case color, and dial color. They can also add an engraving or specific functions.

Fully customized

When creating personalized watches using the product configurator, you must first select a model (Fitness, Outdoor, Running). Next, you configure the case (color, size, material), select the strap, functions, and sport profiles. Finally, you can add personalization elements (Name, Engraving, Logo).

Integrating the online configurator into your PIM system

The solution we’ve developed is designed to pull product data directly from the PIM system. We offer a configurator integrated with KennerPIM. It’s already built into the PIM software we’ve developed. This ensures that the information presented in the online store is consistent and up-to-date. If you use a different PIM solution, our team can also seamlessly integrate it with the configurator.

Our software determines which components are compatible with each other. If the available components are marked in black in the list, they will work well together. If they are incompatible, the item is marked in red in the list. This way, the customer can see it immediately and will never configure the wrong product.

During configuration, you can obtain complete information about the components. This information is displayed in the product card and stored in the PIM system. This is crucial for personalizing the offer and displaying it in real time. The PIM solution provides the information for the configurator.

When you integrate our AI-powered product configurator into your website, it combines the components and checks their compatibility. Depending on the type of product, it can calculate performance and provide recommendations regarding the selected location or other features. The software is specifically tailored to the needs of your business.

Main functions of the Kenner Soft online configurator

The software developed by us helps buyers and customers to create an item, always offers smoothly functioning products. Here are the main features:

Different customization options

As the knowledge of compatibility is stored, one can vary different components. Finally, the most suitable combination is selected.

Flawless solutions

Errors are ruled out during the compilation process. If the selected components are not compatible, the system indicates this and suggests suitable options.

Real-time synchronization

Changes are updated immediately so that quotes are created in minutes.

Data maintenance and management

Product information is stored and processed centrally. Data integration is quick and easy.

Configuration option for store visitors

Shoppers can put together and order the products they want themselves.

6 Reasons to Use a Product Configurator in E-Commerce

Online stores with integrated configuration software are popular with customers. There are several reasons for this:

  • You can customize certain products according to your own ideas.
  • Individualized products are bought more frequently.
  • You can view the desired item and print out a detailed description.
  • The characteristics of the configured products can be saved or sent to a specific e-mail address. Customers can later consult with an expert to decide whether it is advisable to buy such a product.
  • If the end product is too expensive for the customer, expensive components can be replaced with cheaper ones.
  • The online configurator allows the creation of 100% correctly constructed and smoothly functioning products.

How can shoppers use our solution?

When we program and implement an advanced configurator for e-commerce websites, the best shopping experience is guaranteed. Store visitors can configure the product themselves without expert help and order immediately. Take a look at an example of computer configuration.

First of all, you need to decide for what purpose you need this computer, be it a gaming PC, mini PC, laptop or an advanced computer for your office.

configuration

The next step is component selection. There are different product families here.

component selection

When you click on a specific family, a pop-up window appears with the available products. You select the desired component with the required parameters. Then click on “Continue to next selection” and a new pop-up window appears in front of you with the remaining components required for this PC.

configurator%20%283%29

All other components are selected in the same way. Once all the required components have been selected, you can click on “OK and close”. If you want to change something during the configuration, click on “Back to previous selection”. If not all the required components have been selected, the product configurator will indicate this.

product configurator

AllIf the selected components are incompatible, a message appears.

components

Once you have made the corrections and all the components fit together well, the total price is calculated. You can then place the product in the shopping cart and order it.


6 User Errors That a Product Configurator Can Fix

With Kenner Soft’s software, you’ll never encounter the following problems:

1) Incomplete orders. Required fields must be filled out.

2) Incorrect combinations. The configurator is programmed so that incompatible components cannot be combined.

3) Unexpected costs. The customer sees the prices of the selected items and understands the total price.

4) The variant configurator offers only the most important components and no irrelevant options to choose from.

5) Unclear final products. The customer immediately understands what to expect from the configured product.

6) No human errors. Data management and updates are handled automatically, thereby preventing accidental errors.


Success Story: How Did a Product Configurator in the Online Store Impact the Business?

To help customers make their selections and create an interactive shopping experience, Ankermann decided to implement a Shopware Product Configurator. Kenner Soft supported the company in this endeavor and developed custom software. This was a crucial step for business growth, as the company has since been able to sell customized products.

Customers of Ankermann no longer have to buy pre-built PCs; instead, they assemble them themselves and tailor them to their own needs. The e-commerce product configurator acts as a professional, allowing only functionally viable combinations. Quotes are generated much faster. There’s no need to contact staff for order processing. There are no difficulties involved, and the prices are transparent. That is why more and more people are sharing their positive experiences. They are very satisfied with high-performance PCs and informative, clear tables for component selection. They particularly appreciate the ability to order and pay for the hardware they actually need.


Additional Services Offered by Our Agency

When you contact Kenner Soft, you’ll receive not only powerful configuration software but also our expert support for other e-commerce needs. Our developers handle the integration of your online configurator with third-party systems (ERP, CRM), ensure seamless data transfer, and provide unique design. We are happy to assist you should any adjustments be necessary. Our team handles the necessary updates and always offers professional and technical support. At Kenner Soft, you get the complete service package from a single source.

Say goodbye to abandoned carts with our product configurator for your online store! It simplifies the decision-making process, provides transparency, and builds customer trust in your store.

Our collaboration involves the following steps:

  • Initial consultation to define your goals, requirements, and needs analysis. The introductory meeting is free of charge.
  • Concept development with concrete steps.
  • Implementation and regular updates.
  • Customized adjustments.
  • Discussion of long-term collaboration.

FAQ

What does a configurator cost?

Depending on the complexity, the visualization and the coverage area, prices vary between 10,000 and 100,000 euros. The price depends on the complexity of developing the knowledge base for the configurator. Our engineers will help you transfer knowledge to this system and integrate it into the company's current IT infrastructure. Our experience shows that the online store product configurator can pay for itself after just one month of use. This can relieve the workload of several engineers.

Is it possible to change the rules and business logic of the configurator in the future?

Yes, the configurator has an interface for defining general compatibility rules, which are later converted into a knowledge database.

Can the configurator be used for different product types if different products are available?

Yes, the configurator supports a wide range of product types. Users can configure electrical control panels and solar systems separately and independently of each other.

How does a product configurator work?

This tool is used to create articles from individual elements and properties according to specific rules. Different compatibility restrictions are taken into account and permitted minimum configurations are monitored. If there is an incompatible component, the system explains the reason in detail and provides recommendations for solving the problem.

For which products is a configurator particularly suitable?

It can be used to configure cars, bicycles, cell phones, computers, laptops, lamps and much more. This is an ideal option if the end product is made up of several individual products. However, it is not suitable if your goods are only customized with the help of certain labels. In this case, you should look at other solutions that we offer for these tasks.

Does the configurator offer an interface for users of online stores?

Yes, the configurator has a module in the form of a widget that can be integrated into any webshop.

Is the configurator compatible with the ERP and PIM system?

The configurator is supplied as part of PIM, called KennerPIM. If you do not have a PIM in your company, the configurator automatically makes it available. If PIM is already in use, the configurator does not conflict with the current PIM. Integration with ERP is also possible.

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+49 721 957 946 70
Email:
info@kenner-soft.com
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Successful project examples:

Updated:
Product configurator software for the online shop - Case Study
Updated:
BachelorPrint Shopware product configurator for printing systems
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