Manufacturers dealing with highly customizable products often require complex configurations to meet their customers’ needs. Handling customizable products can easily cause problems in the configure, price, quote (CPQ) process. Errors can creep into the product configurations, incorrect pricing and discounts can be applied, and quoting can become slow. All this can lead to lost customers and reduced revenue.
That is where CPQ software plays an important role. It provides a centralized interface to manage the configuration, pricing, and quotation processes quickly and accurately. However, not all solutions are created equal. Many standard CPQ tools struggle with handling products that can have hundreds or thousands of customizations. The main reason for this is that they are not built to handle such complex products. On top of that, many features, including visual configuration and CAD automation, are often missing. For these reasons, manufacturers require CPQ solutions specifically designed to manage complexity, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
When it comes to CPQ solutions that are purpose-built for complex manufacturers, Cincom CPQ and Tacton CPQ are two of the most recognized choices. Both are designed to manage intricate configurations, detailed pricing structures, and the integrations manufacturers depend on. Let us understand how these manufacturing CPQ software can help you and which one you can go for.
Tacton vs Cincom CPQ
While both Tacton CPQ and Cincom CPQ share the same goal, helping manufacturers quote and sell complex products faster, their approaches are different. Let’s dive deeper into Tacton vs Cincom CPQ and understand these differences.
Cincom CPQ
Cincom CPQ is a powerful CPQ software that helps manufacturers configure complex products, calculate accurate pricing, and generate professional quotes/proposals. It is designed to serve manufacturers that handle complex and highly customizable products. Cincom CPQ offers several high-value features, including guided selling, rules-based configuration & pricing engines, and real-time 3D visualization. Organizations using Cincom CPQ can streamline the configuration and quoting process with 100% accuracy and significantly reduce errors.
Cincom CPQ integrates seamlessly with CRM, ERP, PLM, and other systems to ensure consistent data flow across the organization. It also supports multiple sales channels, including direct sales, partner sales, and ecommerce portals.
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Tacton CPQ
Tacton CPQ is a configure, price, quote software designed for organizations with configurable products. It uses a constraint-based configuration engine that ensures technically valid product combinations based on predefined rules. The platform supports real-time pricing calculations and automatically generates detailed quote documents, including technical specifications. It includes built-in 2D/3D visualization and CAD automation, allowing the generation of drawings without manual CAD input.
Tacton CPQ supports multiple sales channels, including direct sales, partner sales, and self-service. The platform is offered as a cloud-based solution with support for omnichannel selling and analytics.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison of Cincom CPQ and Tacton CPQ
| Feature | Tacton CPQ | Cincom CPQ |
| Configuration Engine | Uses a constraint-based engine, effective for handling complex rules in manufacturing | Uses a rule-based engine to guide users through valid configurations, preventing incompatible selections and reducing quoting errors |
| Guided Selling | Provides guided selling functionality to improve the sales process | Supports guided selling with a clear, intuitive interface that helps sales teams work efficiently |
| 3D Visualization | Supports 3D product visualization | Supports 3D product configuration for engineer-to-order and system-level selling |
| Pricing Engine | Delivers real-time pricing | Delivers real-time pricing with multi-currency to support global operations |
| Integrations | Integrates with CAD, CRM, and ERP systems | Seamlessly integrates with CRM, ERP, CAD, eCommerce, PLM and other enterprise platforms |
| Ease of Use & Adoption | Comprehensive functionality that may need training to master | Designed for ease of use, helping teams adopt and benefit from the system more quickly |
| Channel Partners | Distributors, resellers and dealers can create quotes and orders | Purpose-built for distributors, resellers, and dealers to support their CPQ needs |
| Industry Adoption | Strong presence in industrial manufacturing | Strong presence in the industrial equipment manufacturing sector |
| Deployment | Offered as cloud-based solution | Supports both cloud-based and on-premises deployments |
| Target Market | Complex manufacturing, technology, and services industries | Industrial equipment manufacturing, medical equipment and device manufacturing, specialty vehicles, HVAC, electrical & electronics manufacturing, power generation |
Verdict: Choosing the right CPQ solution for Your Needs
Looking at the comparison table, one thing is clear that both Tacton CPQ and Cincom CPQ are strong contenders for complex manufacturers. However, the right choice depends on your unique preferences and business priorities. Tacton CPQ stands out with its CAD automation, augmented reality, and engineer-to-order focus, making it well-suited for companies that require super-accurate visualization of products.
On the other hand, Cincom CPQ offers a more flexible approach. It combines advanced configuration and pricing capabilities with an intuitive interface that makes it easier for sales teams to adopt. Features like guided selling, 2D and 3D visualization, and global currency and compliance support not only sales reps but also customers looking for personalized products. Its ability to integrate smoothly with CRM, PLM, and ERP systems ensures that processes stay connected. Furthermore, its proven adoption across industries proves scalability and reliability.
For manufacturers looking for a solution that balances power with usability and can adapt across different business models, Cincom CPQ emerges as a dependable and practical choice.
FAQs
1- What is CPQ software in manufacturing?
Manufacturing CPQ software helps organizations manage complex product configurations, calculate accurate pricing, and generate professional quotes quickly and accurately.
2- Why isn’t a standard CPQ tool enough for complex manufacturing?
Many standard CPQ solutions lack features like visualization, guided selling, and certain integrations that most manufacturers need. Some CPQ solutions are designed to handle engineer-to-order and configure-to-order products at a large scale, which makes them ideal for manufacturers.
3- What is the difference between Cincom CPQ and Tacton CPQ?
Both CPQ solutions are designed for complex manufacturing. Tacton CPQ focuses on engineer-to-order products and CAD automation, while Cincom is built to handle complex manufacturing configurations at scale while combining enterprise-level integrations to streamline the workflows.
4- Can CPQ software reduce quoting errors?
CPQ software automates quote drafting, fetches data from existing sources, and reduces manual efforts, ensuring quotes are accurate without any errors.
5- Which solution provides faster ROI?
Cincom CPQ often delivers faster ROI due to its ease of adoption, flexible configuration, and strong system integrations that reduce implementation challenges.
6- Is CPQ only for large enterprises?
CPQ solutions can be beneficial for both large-scale manufacturing organizations and mid-scale manufacturing units. What matters most is the level of product and pricing complexity your organization manages.
