CONTEMPORARY TOOL FOR SALES IN THE OFFICE AND IN THE FIELD

With CREALIS® 3D, Haas Schleifmaschinen GmbH is using an innovative, sales-oriented product configurator with 3D presentation option of the configuration including zoom and rotation effects in real time.

CREALIS Cloud

Haas Schleifmaschinen GmbH

For more than 85 years, Haas Schleifmaschinen GmbH has been developing, producing and distributing universal grinding machines, handling systems and the Multigrind® Horizon grinding software. Customers include well-known tool manufacturers, metalworking companies, the automotive industry, aerospace and medical technology. More than 60 per cent of the products and processes are less than three years old. This “New Product Ratio” illustrates the importance that Haas Schleifmaschinen attaches to research and development.

THE TASK

Complete quote generation with visualisation and pricing as well as ensuring technical feasibility The development of the first universal grinding machine at Haas Schleifmaschinen GmbH laid the foundation for the versatility of the Multigrind® series. Consistent attention was paid to standardising the components from the smallest to the largest machine based on the modular principle. The current quote generation process works well, but for comprehensive global digitalisation, they wanted something more contemporary that would make them fit for the future. In order to provide the sales office and field service with a tool, those responsible were on the lookout for a suitable product configurator.

THE PROCESS

One decision criterion was the 3D presentation possibility of configuration in real time After extensive research, Haas Schleifmaschinen opted for CREALIS® CPQ from ORISA. With the aid of 3D integration, customised product design can be tracked during configuration through screen splitting. As a result of an initial detailed meeting, a well-founded solution concept was developed and the ‘product configuration’ project at Haas Schleifmaschinen started immediately after the completion of the requirement specification at the end of November 2017. Previous training on the CREALIS® PDM enabled two Haas employees involved to model the grinding machines. The models can thus be developed and maintained independently of the software manufacturer. ORISA took on the task of setting up the necessary bidirectional interfaces within the IT infrastructure at Haas Schleifmaschinen. The product configurator was available as an online and offline version in time for the “GrindTec” trade fair in March 2018. The product configuration of the smallest grinding machine, the Multigrind® CU, could thus be presented to the trade fair audience. The appreciative response from the visitors encouraged those in charge that they had have made the right decision.

A. Haas Maschine

THE OUTCOME

Greatest possible efficiency, functionality and flexibility in the generation of quote A web-based solution was created on the basis of ORISA’s CREALIS® configurator. It includes the greatest possible efficiency, functionality and flexibility in the generation of quotes, including feasibility checks through to parts list resolution and 3D visualisation. In principle, the configurator is called up from the CRM system so that the respective customer data is available. If a configuration concludes with the creation of an associated parts list, this is used for pricing and determining the delivery time from the relevant planned times in the ERP system. Finally, the CRM system delivers a binding quote to which data sheets, technical drawings, manuals and overviews of accessories can be added. All layouts can be customised and exported online via web service in CSV format. Immediately after the success of the configurator at the trade fair, modelling of the Multigrind®-CA, Multigrind®-CB and Multigrind®-CU machines could begin. Furthermore, Haas Schleifmaschinen’s desire to also have an offline version was implemented. The sole purpose of this is to clearly configure a Haas grinding machine for the interested party and to explain technical details and specifications in a comprehensible manner. In order to always be up to date, we recommend regular synchronisation of the configuration data with the data of the online configurator. The respective offline version retrieved is valid for 30 days.

THE OUTLOOK

Further developments towards an ‘After Sales Configurator’ are being suggested Similar to the machine configuration, the business with additional products such as grinding wheels, clamping devices and system extensions, e.g. robot connections, is also to be made more efficient in the future. Haas Schleifmaschinen came up with the idea of developing an ‘After Sales Configurator’. The structuring already present in the configurator model is going to be reused in the process of finding and defining the right additional components. As an export from these configurations, not one-dimensional parts lists but related substructures are available for the ERP system.

With regard to the consideration of special requests for a grinding machine, plans are in place to introduce ‘Special item management’. To guarantee an appropriate workflow, it is important to involve the designers to a greater dimension.

The CREALIS® product configurator is compatible with all common browsers and mobile devices per se. Thus, it is only a matter of time before increased mobile use greatly reduces response times in the quote process.

Our expectations were more than fulfilled. This can be seen through the successive introduction of configuration for all product areas and the inclusion of additional optimisation options.
Ingo Maier, sales-engineer, Haas Schleifmaschinen GmbH
 

Project in Numbers

98%

of sales via the configurator

50 %

Time saving

4%

Months until the first CREALIS® version with successful use at the GrindTec trade fair

>30

Users

98%

Use worldwide

THE CUSTOMER BENEFITS AT A GLANCE

  • Support for the sales staff and the authorised dealers

  • Rapid and error-free quote generation

  • Checking the feasibility of the desired product solution

  • Visualisation of the configurations with 3D representations

  • Intuitive operation and simple system maintenance

  • Available online on the internet and offline