What is the configurator for Shopware?
A product configurator for Shopware is a software application for designing products that are precisely tailored to individual customer needs. In other words, the product designer for Shopware allows buyers to create and design “their own” products.
For example, if you want to buy a blue T-shirt with the cool WebiProg logo in the middle, the product configurator will allow you to change the color of the T-shirt, add your own logo and motif or do other manipulations until the T-shirt suits your taste and you finally buy it.
Types of product configurators for Shopware
There are several types of product configurators. Two types are used commercially on a daily basis and two other types are a completely new take on the product configuration industry as they use advanced technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).
- Web-based product configurator;
- Mobile product configurator;
- VR product configurator;
- AR product configurator;
- Each of these configurator types has its own features, ease of use and commercial applicability.
Shopware Web-based Product Configurator
A browser-based product configurator is an application that is usually embedded in a website, mainly in e-commerce websites, and can change the design, style and features of a product in real time.
There are many industries where the web-based product configurator is used:
- Automotive industry;
- Interior design;
- Manufacturing;
- Fashion Design;
- Building architecture;
- etc.
The web product configurator can be used for both B2B and B2C, depending on the products you sell.
Mobile Shopware Product Configurator
A mobile product configurator is an application similar to a web product configurator, but with slightly different uses.
While a web product configurator is highly accessible to the B2C community, the mobile product configurator is best suited for B2B as it uses a different level of personalization and customization for products.
A mobile product configurator can support many more options for a product. For example, room design, configuration parts for manufacturing or another complex configurator that requires a lot of thinking and planning.
Such a configurator Shopware is commonly used by sales people who need quick offline access when presenting a product to a customer or a company. The solution is used in many cases from door-to-door sales to internal presentations for large companies.
A mobile product configurator can be a very effective solution if your product is unique and the market has not seen it before, or if your product is easier to present than explain, such as an aircraft engine workflow.
Shopware VR product configurator
A VR product configurator is a revolutionary approach for the entire product configuration industry as it uses the power of devices like the Oculus Rift S and HTC Vive.
The main difference of a VR product configurator from the above Shopware configurators is that its access is limited to VR devices. It also uses a fully computerized virtual environment in which to configure a product.
This particular technology is now gaining momentum and may be very useful in the future. With software like Blocks, developed by Google, users can create 3D models in the virtual world, so that the configuration of a product does not come strange.
Shopware AR Product Configurator
An augmented reality (AR) product configurator for Shopware is slightly different from a VR product configurator and is much more useful and applicable to real-world situations.
It uses AR technology with surface recognition to render a 3D model of a product in real time and provide extensive customization capabilities. AR product configurators are effectively used at various conferences and during sales presentations to create a visual and emotional connection with the audience.
AR product configurators Shopware can be more sophisticated and may soon replace normal dressing rooms, as your mirror can act as a dressing room itself.
What you should know before creating a Shopware product configurator.
The first thing you should consider before having a product configurator for Shopware developed is whether your target audience really needs it or not and how they will benefit from it.
For example, you can tell exactly who are BMW and Volvo customers. These are the people with some of the following characteristics:
- People with an income level that is above the middle class;
- People who want to emphasize their status and make their potential available to the public;
- People who value their time;
Conclusion
A product configurator is a great tool for businesses with variable products, as it minimizes consultation and sales efforts while increasing ROI. By implementing a tracking system into the product configurator, you can gain insights into your customers’ tastes, offer even more valuable products, and conduct A/B testing before you even open a store.
WebiProg has developed many product configurators of varying complexity and style, and is happy to answer any questions you may have about configurators.
