If you're like most manufacturers that offer options, you have thousands of items and bills of materials in your Sage 100cloud system. How many of those have you only used one time? It's not just you. Without the proper automation, like the features in the Sage 100cloud Product Configurator, it doesn't take long for that list of items to become a cluttered pile that makes it hard to find what you need.
When you offer different features and options to your customers, you typically, create a new item and bill of materials for each unique configuration. The Product Configurator module in Sage 100cloud Operations Management, allows you to wrangle that list into something manageable so you can keep it organized.
The Product Configurator's magic is how it can take a generic, configurable item and dynamically build a smart part number. You’ll only have that one item number that is the basis, while the smart part number gets saved in history and is now used as the unique identifier.
The Sage 100cloud Product Configurator saves you time when you have someone that wants a quote for different features or options because it allows you to start your current configuration with the last configuration that was made. You can use the most recent one you created and modify the options from there easily.
Easily save any new configuration as a template. Then, if for example, there are common configurations that are in a catalog or promo, you can save those as templates and easily recall them. When someone needs that item, it’s quick to select that template without having to set up all the features and options again, saving you tons of time.
Do you want to avoid going to engineering every time you need to configure a customized product? If so, the Product Configurator can produce a valid configuration that follows the rules you created that can eliminate incompatible options and create dependencies. For example, a door manufacturer might need to adjust the options so that if a hollow door is ordered, they only display options for a hollow door, and don’t allow you to select an option that is only available on a solid door.
The Product Configurator integration is automatically creating your quote or sales order, including all line items and any upcharges. It's easy to send the quote to your customer so they can confirm that's what they want. However, if they want to change something, it's easy for you to reconfigure that line, change the quote to an order, and send it back.
The Enhanced Scheduling module is another optional module for Sage Operations Management. A feature of this module is called “capable to promise”. The “capable to promise” calculation allows you to do a quick estimation of the schedule of this item and how quickly you can get it done if you place the order now. It will assess the required inventory and capacity and advise you if there are constraints impacting your estimated promise date.
To see how these solutions can increase your discrete manufacturing company’s profitability and streamline your processes by measuring the crucial financial and nonfinancial KPIs, contact the experts that know Sage 100cloud and the manufacturing industry. Contact Vrakas/Blum today!