Selling modular precision cutters throughout the world

Zünd Systemtechnik AG optimises the sales processes of the cutter series Zünd G3, S3, D3 and L3 by using the product configurator CREALIS®

G3 Digital Cutter

Zünd Systemtechnik AG

Zünd Systemtechnik AG is the leading developer and manufacturer of modular precision flatbed cutters located in Altstätten (Switzerland). As both a pioneer and a market leader, Zünd offers the largest range of these modular, universal processing systems with more than 12 multifunctional tool heads. The innovative concept and design of the G3, S3, D3 and L3 cutter families is the result of Zünd‘s global technological leadership.

THE TASK

Zünd Systemtechnik AG is the leading manufacturer of multifunctional tool heads and modular precision flatbed cutters. Following the launch of the G3 generation of Zünd cutters, the company identified the need to improve its sales process by using a product configurator. The main objective of the configurator was to optimise the quotation, ordering and production processes. The knowledge base of the configurator must include the product variants specified by Zünd and take into account the special requirements of different markets. The configurator must be available to the company‘s salespeople and distributors over the internet.

THE PROCESS

Zünd Systemtechnik AG chose the CREALIS® configuration system,
which has standard functionality that covers the company‘s main requirements. In a three-day workshop, the relevant Zünd employees had the opportunity to become familiar with the functionality and paradigms of the CREALIS® system.
ORISA customized the user interface of the CREALIS® configurator and the printed documents to meet the specific requirements of Zünd. In addition to the quotation documents, which have a flexible structure, a pre-installation guide is available that is dynamically generated with content based on the options selected. The interface to the Sage ERP B7 system® (Sage Bäurer), which was programmed especially for Zünd, allows configuration data to be transferred to the ERP system efficiently and correctly in the form of an order parts list.
Just after three month the first fully functional version of the configurator was presented online. During the production phase, a number of users‘ requirements were implemented. These included enhancing the quotation generation function and improving the interface design and the product presentation. The successful implementation of the configurator all over the world gave rise to the need for a currency calculator as well as a new user-friendly interface technology to create document templates. Since July 2015 there is a interface to the CRM system Salesforce.

THE OUTCOME

The CREALIS® product configurator, which was installed in June 2008, meets the requirements of Zünd Systemtechnik AG perfectly and supports the sales process for the G3 range of cutters. CREALIS® allows the available knowledge about the product and its configurable variants to be presented and used in a structured, rule-based form. Only cutters which are technically feasible and correctly priced should go into production. An intuitive user interface is a very important feature, alongside the use of customers‘ terminology. The configurator also provides graphical support by displaying dynamically generated product images and assembly pictures and allows additional graphics, pictures and documents to be presented. In order to keep the configuration consistent, the available options depend on the settings entered in advance. The conflict resolution function allows banned options to be displayed and explains the expected consequences if they are selected. The configuration process is speeded up by the automatic selection of options which make sense in the context or have clear origins. The settings needed for a complete configuration are clearly marked. After the configuration process is completed, quotations and accompanying documents can be generated. The user can choose the content, level of detail, price components, output language and file formats from a wide range of options. If the customer places an order, the data from the quotation is transferred into the ERP system in the form of an order parts list and is used as the basis for the Zünd production process.

THE OUTLOOK

The success of the configurator led to the incorporation of the second S3 generation of cutters in 2012. In the following the cutter generation L3 and D3 were integrated. Further product ranges will be included at a later date. The customized configuration system has resulted in huge time and cost savings in sales and in production at Zünd Systemtechnik AG, because of the improved information processes. The automated generation of clear quotation documents with graphics and with all the necessary technical and business information significantly speeds up the quotation process. The benefits of the consistent process integration include correct order parts lists which are reliably transferred to the ERP system. The integration of the configurator to the CRM system provides current customer data and information of the sales project. The result is a significant reduction in the number of errors in orders, together with shorter order throughput times and delivery times. The product configurator is available in six languages and is used on all the continents. The multiple language option and integral currency calculator provide support for sales in global markets.

Without the product configurator we could not manufacture our cutters or sell them on the international market.

- René Hutter, CIO / Member of the Executive Board, Zünd Systemtechnik AG

The project in figures

100%

offer processing with the configurator

50

national and international working sales partners

6

languages available worldwide

4

product lines integrated in the configurator

3

month until the first fully functional CREALIS® version was created

The customer benefits at a glance

  • Online available

  • Ideal sales tool by using product visualization

  • Quick generation of correct quotations

  • Support for international sales

  • Huge time and cost savings in the sales and production departments

  • Reduction in the number of errors in orders, reduction in order lead time