Frequently cited definitions
A product configurator is a tool which supports the product configuration process so that all the design and configuration rules which are expressed in a product configuration model are guaranteed to be satisfied.
Hedin, G. / Ohlsson, L. / McKenna, J. (1998): Product Configuration Using Object Oriented Grammars, Heidelberg
“Product configurators” used by producers of mass-customized products are similar in intent but less capable than toolkits for User Innovation and Design. They invite product purchasers to configure their own unique product by selecting from lists of options that have been predesigned by the mass customizer. For example, Dell Computer invites visitors to its website to “design your own computer” by making choices among lists of computer components on offer, such as monitors and disk drives.
von Hippel, E. / Katz, R. (2002): Management Science/ Vol. 48, No. 7, July 2002, p. 830
Configuration means to transfer customers’ wishes into concrete product specifications.While the solution space is set up at the enterprise level, elicitation activities take place with every single customer’s order. For new customers, first a general profile of their desires and wishes has to be built up. This profile is transformed into a concrete product specification and order. For re-orders made by regular customers their particular existing profiles have to be used. The old configuration may be presented and customers just asked for variations. The objective is to make subsequent orders of an existing customer as easy, efficient and fast as possible – an important means of increasing customer loyalty.
Tseng, M. M. / Piller, F. (2003): The Customer Centric Enterprise-Advances in Mass Customization and Personalization, Munich
Known as configurators, choice boards, design systems, toolkits, or co-designplatforms, these systems are responsible for guiding the user through the configuration process. Different variations are represented, visualized, assessed and priced which starts a learning-by-doing process for the user. While the term “configurator” or “configuration system” is quoted rather often in literature, it is used for the most part in a technical sense addressing a software tool. The success of such an interaction system is, however, by nomeans not only defined by its technological capabilities, but also by its integration in the whole sale environment, its ability to allow for learning by doing, to provide experience and process satisfaction, and its integration into the brand concept.
Franke, N. / Piller, F. (2003): International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management
A product configurator has been an effective software tool in successful implementation of mass customization strategy. It enables manufacturers to automatically generate product configuration information tailored to individual customers' needs.
Xie, H. / Henderson, P. / Kernahan, M. (2005): International Journal of Production Research Vol. 43, No. 20, 15 October 2005, p. 4455-4469
