The Future of Smarter Selling: AI in CPQ Software
In the world of sales, it is becoming increasingly important to create quotes for customers quickly and accurately. This is especially challenging for products that can be adapted to the customer's wishes, such as industrial machines, production systems or automated processing lines. This is where Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) systems come in – and with the addition of artificial intelligence, these systems become even more powerful.
What is a CPQ system?
A CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) system helps businesses assemble products, determine the right price, and generate quotes. Think, for example, of a machine builder who configures a production machine together with a customer. The system ensures that all choices are compatible and calculates the price instantly, making the sales process more efficient.
How AI is making CPQ systems smarter and more efficient
With the addition of artificial intelligence (AI), a CPQ system becomes a smart assistant that actively thinks along and automates processes. This results in faster and more accurate quotes, more tailored product configurations, and an improved customer experience.
AI can analyse customer preferences and make relevant suggestions for machine specifications based on them. Does a customer need a high production capacity? Then the system automatically suggests suitable conveyor belts, motors and control systems that support this capacity. In addition, AI recognises patterns in past sales and market data, allowing the system to accurately predict which price will be the most competitive and successful. Factors such as raw material prices, delivery times and market developments are taken into account.
Another important function of AI within CPQ systems is the automated compatibility check. The system checks whether all selected machine parts are technically compatible and meet safety requirements. This minimises errors and prevents customers from selecting impossible combinations. In addition, AI makes it possible to personalise quotes based on the customer. A large factory receives a detailed and formal quote, while a small manufacturing company receives a concise and accessible version.
By cleverly integrating AI into CPQ systems, machine builders can organise their sales processes more efficiently and respond better to the needs of their customers.
The Benefits of AI in CPQ Systems
Businesses benefit from AI in CPQ systems by generating quotes faster and more accurately, increasing the likelihood of successful deals, and reducing administrative burdens. Customers experience faster service, better fitting machine specifications and realistic delivery times.
The Future of CPQ and AI
Technology continues to evolve. In the future, AI-driven CPQ systems will not only advise based on previous sales, but also learn from the performance of delivered machines. As a result, recommendations become increasingly accurate and better suited to the customer's production environment.
Tailor-made sales in mechanical engineering
AI improves CPQ systems and helps machine builders optimise their sales processes. By using data and automation in a smart way, companies can strengthen their customer relationships and offer the most suitable solutions. The goal is not to replace human expertise, but to support it, so that customers get the machine that perfectly matches their production process.
Want to learn more about how CPQ can help your business from concept to reality? Download our whitepaper and discover the success factors of an effective CPQ system.
