For companies with complex product systems, it’s easy to assume that somebody must explain the complexity manually – one customer, one call, one quote at a time. But what if that assumption is the very thing holding your business back?
The bottleneck: a sales process too complex to scale (or is it?)
When your product system is complex, your sales process typically is as well. Many stakeholders, long decision cycles, time-zone mismatches, and endless back-and-forth. This creates friction not just for customers, but also for your sales team. They're often stuck answering the same technical questions repeatedly, guiding prospects through the same configuration logic, and relying heavily on product specialists just to move a sale forward.
Many companies are stuck in the false belief that their products are too complex to be sold any other way. However, software has changed how people want to buy. And it can also change how you choose to sell.
The solution: a custom-built Self-service Solution Designer
Customers don’t want a PDF with a list of parts, they want a solution that fits. A system that solves their unique problem in their specific context. And they want to see that solution come to life, perhaps even before they talk to sales. That’s where the Self-service Solution Designer comes in.
The Self-service Solution Designer is a custom-built digital sales tool that combines the best aspects of Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) software, a product configurator, and a guided selling platform – tailored to your specific business logic and brand.
Customers can design custom solutions that fit their unique context and explore your offer without waiting for manual quotes. They will also be served with all the necessary documentation, such as CAD-drawings, 3D-models, STEP-files, certificates, environmental information, BoM-listings, specifications, and so on – all updated automatically during any changes and available at the click of a button.
By handling the repetitive, technical groundwork, the Self-service Solution Designer frees up your salespeople to focus on high-value activities, such as strategy, relationships, and closing.
You get a scalable sales process. Your customers get a better solution and a smoother buying experience.
There are many advantages – here are a few
Improved customer experience and loyalty. Customers expect to find answers online, even for complex products and services. The Self-service Solution Designer lets them explore, compare, and test ideas whenever inspiration strikes. And when they realize how much time and money they save by using your tool to design, collaborate and document their solution, they’ll be hooked. Helping customers solve their problems faster and better will make your company easier to do business with – and harder to replace.
Designers using your tool help you sell. When engineers and designers use your digital tool, they become an extension of your sales team. They’re seamlessly guided by your product logic, validating their solutions through your system, and effectively selling on your behalf. As we like to say: what has been designed will be bought.
Better data and insights. Every configuration and quote creates data you can use. You’ll see which combinations customers prefer as well as the options they evaluate and dismiss. You’ll also be able to spot trends long before sales get involved. That means early indications for the supply chain as well and new leads for your sales people. Insights like these will help you refine products, pricing, and strategy. You can even A/B test new ideas across markets.
Works globally and around the clock. A well-built digital sales tool works anywhere, anytime. Product rules and information are easily updated instantly and globally. Your customers and partners can configure and get a correct quote in their local language, on any device, with top-tier performance. It’s your sales team’s most reliable partner – always on, never tired, never waiting for office hours.
The highest quality and reliability
A Self-service Solution Designer is more than just software; it becomes a visible part of your brand. That’s why custom-made quality and reliability are essential.
To capture your business logic and give you a competitive edge, we build each Self-service Solution Designer from the outside in – using your customer’s perspective as a starting point.
However, we also make sure it’s well integrated with your ordinary system landscape, such as ERP, CRM and PLM, and easy to maintain for your product experts. Improving your customers experience without creating extra work for you.
Reliability is equally critical. A customer-facing tool must be fast, secure, and always available. For these types of systems, we aim for over 99.9% uptime. Or, in the words of a customer using a client’s Self-Service Solution Designer: “Your applications always work – ours are down at least weekly.”
Proof that it works
Roxtec International AB
Roxtec is a global leader in cable and pipe sealing solutions. However, they noticed that customers had difficulty determining which of their product combinations to choose. Instead of scaling up the sales team, Roxtec partnered up with factor10 and built Transit Designer™, a free tool that helps engineers and architects design their own solutions up to 80% faster. Today, it has +50,000 users in 180 countries.
"Transit Designer is still our absolutely biggest lead generator. We estimate that half of our sales come from it. In one way or another, this software is involved in almost all our product sales."
– Mats Åhman, Head of Digital Solutions at Roxtec.
Read more in the article "Software as leverage for growth".
If your sales process feels like it’s slowing down your growth, let’s talk!
We typically begin with a brief, informal discussion. You bring your sales and product leaders, we bring our experience from helping companies like for example Roxtec and Axelent. Together, we see if there’s a fit. And if there is, we will help you figure out the first small, smart step.
