Why Does Every CPQ Need CPQ Software Implementation?

 

Previously, sales orders had to pass from desk to desk and department to department before entering production and, eventually, arriving at the customer's door. The salesperson would have to manually prepare a quote for the client, who would then send it back signed after finding the proper pricing in the price lists. The order was then processed through the back office to be entered into the accounting and/or manufacturing systems.

The shipping department had to prepare a shipment notice and ship the items to the end user after the order had been validated and moved into production. Such a sales procedure would be exceedingly time-consuming, prone to inaccuracy, and frequently cause production problems. This flow has been digitalized with CPQ implementation to increase efficiency inside businesses. A CPQ cloud system, also known as a configured price quote system, is one of these digital solutions. Internal staff members and external parties like clients, partners, installers, or distributors can utilize it.

The initial system in the sales pipeline is a CPQ platform, which gathers all the data required to complete the order digitally. However, customer relationship management (CRM) platforms and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are only two examples of digital tools that are employed in the sales process in addition to configuring price quote solutions. Therefore, these systems must be able to exchange information and communicate with one another. Integrations are, therefore, an essential component of every CPQ implementation.

The importance of integrations

A Configure Price Quote solution needs master data to develop configurators, which can be obtained from the Product Information Management software or the ERP program. After the product configurators are set up, the CPQ also has to have customer data added to it. Users can access their configurators through the CRM by pulling this information from the CRM. Then, an automatically created quotation will be submitted to both platforms. You can avoid having to manually enter data, which is a time-consuming and error-prone procedure, by integrating all these software systems. Data that uses integrations always remains current and consistent.

How can systems communicate with one another?

Plugin-based integrations

There are several techniques for creating integrations. Using plugins is one technique to link platforms together. These are designed primarily for connectivity to SaaS, software as a service, solutions like Salesforce and Microsoft CRM, or ERP programs like SAP and Microsoft Dynamics. Building plugins is a process that calls for solid programming skills. CPQ Software Implementation often comes with standard integrations, enabling a plug-and-play configuration between the CPQ cloud and other SaaS systems. In this way, Epicor CPQ reduces the burden for the integrator.

Webhook-based integrations

Combining webhooks with a low-code platform is a second approach for creating connections across platforms. A SaaS app's events or changes can trigger a webhook, a callback URL. If, for example, a company's address is changed in the CRM, a webhook will distribute this update via a low-code platform, guaranteeing that the CPQ solution will likewise use the most recent address. This technique enables the development of third-party app connections based on specific events.

Integrations using low-code platforms

Finally, low-code platforms can be used to create integrations. These platforms link plugins or webhooks to third-party applications. Given that it employs common integration patterns that everyone participating in the integrations can quickly grasp, this approach considerably decreases effort. It improves communication inside and between the IT department and other departments. 

Conclusion

Thanks to several digital solutions, the sales process is effective and digitalized in today's world. The ability of these systems to communicate and exchange information is crucial. Therefore, integrations are essential to any CPQ implementation to prevent data re-entry, mistakes, inconsistency, and a challenging master data management process. Webhooks, plugins, and low-code platforms can all be used to create integrations. 

Are you interested in learning how your systems could be linked to our CPQ solution? You can reach us to access a detailed CPQ implementation guide at your fingertips. 

Feel the difference in your quoting mechanisms. Contact KBMax CPQ experts to learn more about our CPQ software implementation

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