Product Configurators provide for an interactive and engaging way for customers to configure your products to their desired specifications. If your products come in multiple variants, product configurators are a great way to enhance the retail experience by allowing users to customize their product, with the ability to visualize it with their ideal configuration.

Product configurators are different than more traditional variant or options selectors, because they will typically provide a way for the end-user to visualize their configured product. Popular methods include dynamic renderings and 3D models. With dynamic renderings, the customer is able to preview their configured product with the specific options they've selected. In other words, an updated rendering of the product is displayed to the user after they customize each selection. This differs from a standard variant/option select, as the dynamic rendering is often generated on-the-fly, as opposed to pre-generated. This is often the most efficient method where products come in a wide range of possible options, such as a vehicle, furniture, or made-to-order products such as luxury clothing.

For a more immersive experience, and particularly for products with a higher price tag, the configuration process can be enhanced through the implementation of 3D renderings or dynamic 3D models on the product page. This is where a 3D representation of the product is displayed on the product page, which changes as the user updates their options and selections. In this case, the 3D model changes as the user configures the product, and provides for a real-time, realistic representation of the customized product that the user is configuring. It's common to display 3D models alongside dynamic renders or staged photos of the product, so that the end-user is able to get a real feel for the product and how it will look in real life.

Beyond 3D models and dynamic renderings, we can also implement augmented reality which enables users to preview their customized product within their own space. This is particularly useful for items that a customer will use often, or for higher priced goods.

Product configurators offer an attractive way to engage users during the ecommerce experience, and to allowing users to configure custom products and visualize

Product configurators provide consumers with a powerful sense of product ownership, through in-depth customization of their product, whilst delivering a strong method of sales enablement for brands.

The use of Product Builders and Configurators isn't restricted to any particular industry, and can be effectively used for a variety of products and product types across a range of niches.

Configurators offer an attractive—and in many ways superior—alternative to traditional variant/option selectors.

However, there are several best-case scenarios where configurators are aptly-suited:

1. Product configurators are best placed where products are highly configurable and come in a wide range of options, often with multiple options and variants available. In this case, the configurator is able to add value to the end-user's shopping experience, providing them full control whilst presenting the options in an easy-to-understand, digestible manner.

2. Made-to-order products are a great use-case for product configurators, as these will typically provide for multiple points of customization. What's more, customers are able to develop a sense of ownership through a custom configuration process, and interact with a visual representation of the product in their space. Further to this, as made-to-order products will typically boast a higher price tag, product configurators can be a great way to enhance conversions by instilling a greater level of confidence for shoppers.

Several good examples of industries where configurators are commonplace are: Furniture, cars and other vehicles, shoes, tech appliances, and service-based industries.

Product Configurators are well-placed in a range of different verticals, but work best when a user is required to specify at least several options to build a product.

Through powerful development, configurators are able to vary the options available to users, depending on their applicability and compatibility.

With highly variable products, the available options for deeper configuration will be refined based on the user's previous selections. This makes product configurators a good fit for complex product lines where multiple components can be configured or interchanged.

In terms of niches or industry verticals, product configurators perform optimally where:

1) Products are made-to-order, either during manufacture or assembly, or

2) The performance or efficacy of the product is gauged by its suitability to where the purchaser uses, installs, or applies it, or

3) The product is highly customizable with many interchangeable components or configuration possibilities, or

4) The brand or product is disruptive or within the luxury or mid-range market.

The terms "product builder" and "product configurator" can be used fairly synonymously within ecommerce, as both refer to the ability for an end-user to configure a product through the selection of multiple options. Typically, product builders/configurators will provide a means for users to preview the custom product in real-time, whether through images or renderings, 3D models, or augmented reality.