Synergy in Action: PIM, CPQ, and 3D visualization

The trio, transforming B2B sales

Product configuration is at the core of success for nearly 80 percent of leading companies in the industrial sector, and for good reason! Companies like crossbase, Plan Software and KiM have also recognized this potential and have been working together as successful partners for many years. Their common objective: the seamless integration of their software solutions in the areas of PIM, Configure-Price-Quote (CPQ), and 3D visualization for industrial clients, particularly in the machinery, electrical, and building technology sectors.

Longstanding partnership meets innovation spirit

PIM, CPQ & 3D visualization – The formula for perfect products

The three partners work seamlessly together to enable the following interplay: Crossbase provides all product information from its Product Information Management (PIM) and Media Asset Management (MAM) needed for the components used in the configuration. The configuration system 3PQ® establishes the rules for combining the components, while simultaneously in CADClick®, the CAD models are defined for 3D visualization.

The users have the ability to configure a customized product solution from various components in a user-friendly web application and can directly transfer the configuration result to their CAD system. Furthermore, CADClick® can send photorealistic images and CAD/BIM files back to crossbase for distribution via portals or for documentation purposes. This cycle aims to provide tailored product solutions for planners and end-users while minimizing internal work efforts.

Expert webinar ‘Product configuration meets PIM’

In the webinar, the connection between PIM, configuration, 3D visualization, and CAD/BIM data was vividly explained through best-practice examples. Get an insight here.

Spotlight on product information

crossbase – A well-maintained PIM sets the foundation

As already mentioned, crossbase provides extensive product information. This information includes not only technical features such as dimensions, material, color and mounting. The company also provides data from the connected ERP system (e.g. prices), product relationships (e.g. parts lists, accessories and spare parts), media content (e.g. images, drawings, diagrams, documents and videos) and texts (e.g. for tenders, data sheets and offers). This information is available in different languages and country variants.

Furthermore, in crossbase the fundamental possibilities of configuring components into a complete product solution are maintained through a configuration structure. This includes the definition of components (‘configuration objects’) that make up a product solution and the configuration features in which these components can vary. Each configuration feature can also be assigned additional information, such as instructional texts and images to assist in the selection and data for calculation or display in the datasheet.

Excellent product configuration

3PQ® – A CPQ system for complex use cases

While crossbase provides the components and basic combination possibilities, Plan Software’s high-performance configuration and CPQ software narrow down the specific technical options. The configuration system is specialized in complex use cases and features a web-based maintenance environment and an open interface concept.

In the configurator’s data manager, the rule set for product logic (‘conditions’) is defined based on the mentioned configuration features in the form of possible and excluded cases. Not only that, it also allows the establishment of logic for bills of materials and price calculation.

This is a guided configuration in which the configuration engine processes the relationship knowledge after each click by the user and provides the user with only technically buildable response options.

Next level 3D visualization

CADClick® – A picture is worth a thousand words

In KiM’s 3D configurator (‘CADClick®‘), components and the overall configuration, consisting of multiple components, are visualized. For this purpose, 3D CAD models are to be created with anchor points and collision checks for the geometrically possible connections of the components.

KiM implements the application interface based on a UX/UI concept with real-time 3D visualization corresponding to the configuration. In this process, the view can be moved, rotated, and zoomed, and components can be ‘assembled’ using drag and drop or point-and-click.

Finally, the complete configuration can be output as a bill of materials (‘BOM’) with prices, rendered photorealistically (with adjustable perspective, zoom, and resolution), generated as a CAD/BIM file (3D-PDF, STEP, DWG, IFC, etc.), or projected into a real room image as Augmented Reality (AR).

And thus, the circle is completed

Back to crossbase

Finally, the results from CADClick® return to crossbase. The user benefits from the following advantages:

Using photorealistic images of components in marketing
Distribution of BIM files generated with CADClick® through the crossbase API server to portals, websites, or directly to customers
Creation of an appealing offer data sheet based on the selected configuration parameters, thanks to the crossbase Print-Engine

In short, what the combination brings to your company

Using CPQ and 3D visualization, products requiring detailed explanations can be visually showcased to end customers, significantly enhancing their marketing. Combined with a Product Information

Management System (PIM), it ensures that the underlying product information only needs to be maintained or translated once, and each update seamlessly transfers to the configurator.