CPQ (Configure Price Quote)

Table of Contents

    CPQ stands for Configure Price Quote, which is the process salespeople follow when configuring products, determining the price of the products, and producing a quote. The CPQ process simplifies the quoting process for configurable products and is an integral part of the quote-to-cash process.

    What is CPQ?

    Let’s break down each of the components of CPQ:

    Configure

    CPQ enables sales reps to easily configure products and services according to customers’ needs by accurately capturing what features or components are desired in the product. It also allows companies to specify what customization options are available for each component, what components must be bundled together, what features can or cannot be combined, what components must have complementary items, what accessories go with specific components, and what options need additional customization. This way, customers can get exactly what they need without manually entering specifications and configuration details into a quote form or CRM system.

    CPQ integrates with other existing software such as ERP, CRM, accounting systems, or eCommerce platforms to ensure product data accuracy at the time of the quote.

    Price

    CPQ solutions allow sales reps to calculate prices in real-time based on the configured product’s specs. The pricing component of CPQ involves setting base prices for certain components or features of a product as well as discounts and markups for specific customer segments or product options. For example, companies might offer discounts for bulk orders or add markups to particular features that customers prefer over other options. Other factors influencing price include delivery charges, taxes, discounts from suppliers, or special promotions such as buy one get one free offers.

    An advantage of CPQ is the ability to set up pricing rules based on a company’s business model. The software automates price determinations for complex pricing models such as tiered pricing, subscription pricing, volume pricing, and bundled pricing. This eliminates the need for pricing spreadsheets and manual pricing calculations, and ensures quotes are always accurate.

    CPQ software also allows companies to quickly update their pricing models by changing parameters such as discount amounts or applying new markups. This ensures that companies can keep up with changes in the market and adjust their prices accordingly without manually adjusting every product price each time there’s a change in market conditions.

    Quote

    A quote in CPQ is a branded document that outlines the products and services included in the sale, their prices, and any potential discounts or special offers. It also includes the terms and conditions of the sale and the accepted payment methods. It is important because it provides an exact record of what was agreed upon between the buyer and seller so that there are no misunderstandings later on.

    CPQ software helps streamline the process of creating a quote by allowing users to configure products to meet a customer’s needs quickly, automatically apply discounts and specials as needed, include all necessary terms and conditions, and package everything into a single document for easy review. This removes much of the manual effort to create quotes while ensuring accuracy.

    Because quotes created with CPQ software can be generated almost instantly, they can play an important role in speeding up negotiations and closing deals faster. Furthermore, ensuring accuracy throughout the quoting process reduces errors that could potentially lead to expensive mistakes down the line.

    Synonyms

    • Configure price quote
    • Configure-price-quote
    • Configure, price, quote

    What is CPQ Software?

    Configure-Price-Quote is a process, whereas CPQ software is a powerful tool that helps businesses automate and streamline the process of configuring product offerings, setting up pricing, and generating accurate quotes. It enables sales teams to handle complex pricing scenarios with ease, ensuring error-free proposals that are customized to each buyer’s specific needs.

    The main function of CPQ software is to assist in selecting the right products for a customer, regardless of how simple or complex the offerings are. It automates the quoting process by considering various factors such as product configurations, pricing rules, and discount policies. The software then generates professional proposals that can be easily shared with potential customers.

    A key benefit of CPQ software is its ability to simplify the handling of multiple SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) through a guided question-and-answer process. This eliminates confusion, producing quotes that are easy for buyers to understand. Built-in upsell and cross-sell recommendations help sales reps offer personalized deals that meet each buyer’s unique needs.

    By generating instant, professional-quality quotes, CPQ software dramatically reduces the time needed for quoting – cutting the process down from days or weeks to just minutes or hours. This allows both sales teams and channel partners to quickly produce consistent, accurate quotes with minimal training, ensuring that every proposal reflects the company’s professional standards.

    Configure

    Configure

    Configuration ensures that products are available, meet buyer specs, and arrive within accepted terms.

    Price

    Price

    Price management allows sales people to choose between product options, packages, and services, and offer approved discounts.

    Quote

    Quote

    The quote generation process ensures that all collateral included in the quote is legal, on-brand, and compliant.

    CPQ Capabilities and Functionality

    What does CPQ allow organizations to do?​

    Here are some of CPQ software’s primary capabilities:

    1. Product Configuration:

    • CPQ software enables sales teams to manage complex product structures with various options and customizations.
    • Sales reps and customers can use a guided selling interface to build their desired product configuration, ensuring they get precisely what they need.
    • Built-in rules and validations within the software guarantee product compatibility and prevent invalid configurations.

    This type of software is often used by companies that sell customized or made-to-order products, as it can help simplify the quoting and pricing process for complex sales. CPQ software can also be used to streamline order management and help ensure accuracy and compliance with pricing rules. When configuring products and services, CPQ software provides users with a graphical interface that allows them to easily select the options and variations they desire. The CPQ software then calculates the appropriate pricing based on the options selected. This can help save time and reduce errors when creating quotes and orders.

    2. Guided Selling:

    • Guided selling in CPQ software helps sales reps easily navigate complex product catalogs by recommending the best products and configurations based on customer needs, simplifying the decision-making process.
    • The software uses pre-defined rules and logic to automatically generate customized pricing, discounts, and quotes, ensuring that each offer is tailored to the buyer’s specific requirements while maintaining consistency and accuracy.

    Guided selling capabilities are crucial in the sales process because they empower sales teams to offer the right products and pricing quickly, reducing the likelihood of errors and improving the buyer’s experience. By simplifying complex decisions and automating key steps, CPQ software shortens sales cycles, increases conversion rates, and helps sales reps focus on building stronger relationships with customers.

    3. Product Bundling:

    • CPQ software simplifies product configurations by enabling sales teams to easily bundle related products and services. This creates pre-configured or dynamic packages that meet customer needs while ensuring all necessary components are included.
    • The software automatically adjusts pricing for product bundles, applying relevant discounts and promotions while maintaining profitability by considering individual product dependencies and rules.

    The product bundling feature in CPQ software helps streamline the sales process by allowing sales teams to offer comprehensive solutions tailored to customer needs. By simplifying complex configurations and dynamically adjusting prices, bundling not only enhances the buyer’s experience but also increases cross-sell and upsell opportunities, driving higher revenue and customer satisfaction.

    4. Automated Pricing and Discounting:

    • CPQ software eliminates the need for manual price calculations by automatically applying pricing rules and discounts based on the chosen configuration.
    • This ensures accurate quotes and eliminates the risk of human error in pricing calculations.
    • Advanced features may even provide insights into potential customer behavior and price elasticity, helping you optimize your pricing strategy.

    CPQ software can also help manage discounts and promotions, as well as create pricing reports. This type of software can be used by businesses of all sizes, but is often essential for companies that sell complex products or services. CPQ software can help make the quoting and ordering process more efficient and accurate, leading to happier customers and increased sales.

    5. Subscription Pricing:

    • CPQ software supports a variety of subscription-based pricing models, allowing businesses to offer recurring payment options, tiered pricing, and usage-based billing, tailored to the customer’s needs.
    • The software automates subscription renewals, prorations, and adjustments, ensuring that recurring invoices are accurate and timely, while minimizing the risk of billing errors.
    • CPQ software allows for the creation of personalized contract pricing agreements, enabling businesses to offer tailored rates and terms based on long-term customer relationships, volume commitments, or negotiated deals.

    The subscription pricing feature in CPQ software is highly beneficial as it allows businesses to offer flexible, recurring payment plans that cater to modern customer preferences. By automating the billing and renewal processes and supporting custom contract pricing, this feature reduces administrative overhead, enhances customer satisfaction, and ensures a steady stream of recurring revenue while accommodating special pricing agreements.

    6. Streamlined Quoting:

    • Once a product is configured and priced, CPQ software can automatically generate professional quotes with complete details and pricing breakdowns.
    • This saves sales representatives a significant amount of time and effort compared to manual quote creation.
    • Furthermore, CPQ software allows for easy quote editing, customization, and quick sharing with clients.

    CPQ streamlines the sales process, reduces administrative tasks, and ensures the delivery of accurate quotes to buyers, which enhances the customer experience. Some advanced CPQ software solutions also track buyer engagement with the quote, monitor deal progress, and provide analytics on the sales process.

    7. Integration and Automation:

    • CPQ software often integrates seamlessly with other business systems like CRM and ERP, ensuring data consistency and eliminating the need for manual data entry across various platforms.
    • This automation streamlines the entire sales process, from configuration to quote generation and order fulfillment.

    Configure Price Quote software encompasses a range of solutions: from very simple tools that allow salespeople to enter a product, select a discount, and generate a quote, to the other end of the spectrum which integrates with ERP systems such as shipping and inventory.

    8. Quote Approvals:

    • The quote approval workflow in CPQ software automates routing quotes through necessary approval channels, ensuring that only quotes meeting pre-set criteria are sent directly to customers, while those needing higher-level review are flagged for approval.
    • Every action within the approval process is tracked, providing a clear audit trail and ensuring compliance with pricing policies, discount limits, and sales guidelines, while minimizing delays and reducing manual errors.

    Integrated approval workflows ensure key stakeholders are in the loop on quotes before they’re sent, which is crucial when special pricing or customized product offerings are involved. Once approved, CPQ solutions can also ensure sales quotes can’t be changed, whether by accident or intent, after they’ve received approval. Sales reps can be certain that quotes sent to customers are fully validated, and orders based on these quotes will not be rejected.

    9. Multi-Currency Support:

    • CPQ software supports multiple currencies, automatically converting prices based on real-time exchange rates, ensuring accurate pricing for international customers and global sales teams.
    • Sales reps can apply region-specific pricing, taxes, and discounts, ensuring that quotes are tailored to local markets while complying with regional financial regulations.

    The multi-currency support feature in CPQ software is essential for businesses operating in global markets. It simplifies the quoting process for international transactions by automating currency conversions and applying localized pricing. This not only reduces errors but also speeds up the quoting process, enhancing the customer experience and supporting smooth international sales operations.

    10. Proposal Generation:

    • CPQ software automatically generates professional, personalized proposal documents based on customer-specific configurations, pricing, and terms, ensuring accuracy and consistency across all sales materials.
    • Sales teams can use pre-built or customizable templates within the CPQ software to create visually appealing proposals that align with brand standards and can be tailored to each customer’s needs.

    The proposal document generator feature in CPQ software significantly speeds up the proposal process by automating the creation of detailed, professional documents. This not only saves time for sales teams but also ensures that each proposal is consistent, accurate, and aligned with the company’s brand, leading to a more polished and effective presentation to customers.

    CPQ with guided selling

    Benefits of CPQ

    How does a CPQ solution positively impact Sales Operations?

    In 2013, Aberdeen Group surveyed 159 organizations to determine the sales processes and technologies that the top-performing organizations used to close deals. They learned that optimizing sales workflows with a CPQ solution provides tremendous efficiencies and advantages over manual processes. The benefits of using this sales tool during the quote-to-cash process to send quotes to customers are:

    More Accurate Quotes

    With CPQ software, you can be confident that the quotes you’re sending to your customers are accurate. This is because CPQ software takes into account all of the necessary data points, such as product configuration rules, pricing, product availability, and discounts.

    Increased Lead Conversion Rate

    Prospects don’t want to have to chase after the salesperson while they’re waiting for a bid. Prospects expect to be able to move the buying process forward without delay. Custom quotations may be generated in minutes using a CPQ solution, significantly increasing the likelihood of qualifying the lead by 21 times!

    Increased Quote Generation

    In the past, generating a quote could take days or even weeks. With CPQ software, you can generate a quote in minutes. This means you can close deals faster and improve your customer experience.

    Shortened Sales Cycle

    CPQ software can reduce the length of the sales cycle by making it easier to generate quotes and close deals with complex sales processes. With accurate quotes and faster turnaround times, you’ll be able to win more business.

    Improved Sales Efficiency

    CPQ software significantly improves sales efficiency and productivity by automating manual tasks, reducing errors, and providing real-time insights. Sales reps can focus on building relationships with customers and closing deals rather than spending time on administrative tasks.

    Increased Deal Size

    Automated pricing mechanisms protect profit margins and limit rogue discounting. Discounts that fall under a fixed threshold can be triggered to be automatically approved, while discounts above that threshold can be routed to the appropriate approver. In addition, CPQ software guides sales reps through upsells and cross-sells to ensure buyers are presented with the best possible deal, which increases the deal size in many cases.

    CPQ users outperform non-CPQ users

    CPQ for Industries

    CPQ software can be used in a number of industries but is especially beneficial for companies that sell complex products or services. It is most commonly used in the manufacturing, software, and IT industries. In the manufacturing industry, CPQ can help companies manage large numbers of product configurations. In software-as-a-service (SaaS) and IT, CPQ can help companies manage large numbers of software licenses, subscription models, and product configurations. CPQ helps companies in the following industries grow revenue.

    • Software, SaaS & IT
    • Computer & Networking Security
    • Manufacturing
    • Finance
    • Telecommunications
    • Food and Beverage
    • Health
    • Logistics and Supply Chain
    • Marketing and Advertising
    • eLearning
    • Human Resources
    • Business Services
    • Waste Management

    CRM with CPQ Integration

    How does CPQ complement CRM?

    Using a CRM has become standard practice among organizations of all sizes to keep customer information organized and track sales opportunities. But, integrating a CPQ tool with a CRM helps organizations become more efficient and streamlines the sales process.

    CRM with CPQ Integration

    Seamless Proposals, Quotes, and Contracts

    Many sales teams use optimal CRM solutions like Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, SugarCRM, HubSpot, and Freshworks, to assess leads and follow up with them, but then use stand-alone tools for things like sales quoting, price optimization, proposal generation, contract management, and playbooks.

    Instead of having to use Microsoft Excel and Word for these sales solutions, a CPQ can turn them into a seamless part of the sales process.

    CPQ essentially does the same thing as a CRM, just for different elements within the sales cycle. With a CPQ integrated natively within the CRM, sales reps can communicate with potential customers and send proposals in record time. When all sales processes are connected, the sales cycle never becomes bottlenecked, which increases the likelihood of a successful deal.

    Faster Sales Cycles​

    Studies show that companies that use CPQ solutions enjoy faster sales cycles. Reps can generate complex quotes promptly, respond rapidly to proposal requests, and avoid “indecision” sales losses.

    A streamlined workflow results in faster quotes. A CPQ combined with the power of efficient CRM solutions makes a rep’s job much easier and reduces sales cycle time.

    Fewer Errors & Delays

    When reps are using CRM solutions and disconnected sales tools, the chance of errors occurring increases exponentially. Reps tend to waste time searching for pricing policies and sales materials because they aren’t part of the workflow.

    Manual price quoting is inherently error-prone. When reps have to search through Excel sheets, price lists, and product documents to configure a quote, mistakes are bound to happen. 

    When the CPQ process is integrated with CRM solutions, everything meshes. Prices are updated in real-time, and the CPQ acts as a single source of truth about products, inventory levels, pricing, and discounting rules. Quote generation is part of a workflow that reduces errors and allows reps to create accurate price quotes and proposals and include supporting content assets with ease.

    This impresses prospects, wows customers, and makes it more likely that reps will get an emphatic “yes” when it comes time to close the deal.

    Easy Adoption​

    An often-overlooked benefit of CRM-CPQ integration is that it eases user adoption. There’s little to no learning curve when integrating a CPQ with the CRM platform sales teams already use. The CPQ process becomes part of the sales workflow. Even new reps with little experience will easily learn how to CPQ and will quickly realize that it makes their job easier and helps them close deals faster.

    When justifying the need for CPQ, consider the needs of the organization, the sales operations department, the sales team, and customers.

    CPQ Justification

    Does your sales organization need Configure-Price-Quote software?

    There are many reasons why organizations need to implement CPQ. Among them are:

    • Sales process inefficiencies
    • Burdensome administrative tasks
    • Complex product configurations
    • Inaccurate sales quotes
    • Frequent rework of quotes
    • Rogue discounting
    • Quotes sent without approvals
    • Poor response time to customers’ requests for quotes
    • Missed upsell and cross-sell opportunities
    • Missed renewals
    • Poor customer buying experience and low satisfaction with the sales process

    When justifying the need for CPQ, consider the needs of the organization, the sales operations department, the sales team, and customers.

    Sales Operations needs CPQ to ensure sales productivity and efficiency in the sales process, including quote and proposal generation, as well as sales rep training.

    A CPQ ensures that each step in the sales process is carried out according to a standard playbook and that pricing and configurations are accurate.

    Team members always have updated accurate pricing and discounting built into the software, so the quote generation process is error-free.

    Organizations need CPQ for pricing standardization, quote accuracy, and corporate branding. CPQ enables sales teams to represent the company in a standardized manner in pricing, messaging, and the look and branding of the proposal. CPQ shortens the sales cycle by ensuring sales reps respond quickly to customers, produce quotes fast, and generate proposals that get noticed by decision-makers.

    CPQ solutions include tracking and analytics to measure customer response to quotes and determine where quotes are stuck in the sales pipeline. Analyzing the value of quotes and the acceptance and rejection of deals helps improve revenue operations.

    Further reading: 13 CPQ Features that Matter Most to Sales Operations Leaders

    CPQ benefits sales teams by reducing the amount of time they spend on non-sales activities. A CPQ helps them respond faster to their customers with the right pricing, messaging, and marketing documentation while eliminating time-consuming administrative tasks.

    CPQ ultimately benefits customers when they receive a quick response to their requests for quotes. They enjoy greater satisfaction with the sales process, and a greater sense of trust as well. Quotes are accurate and have gone through an approval workflow before being sent to the customer. Proposals include personalized content to help customers make sound business decisions. These factors are essential to a customer-centric sales process.

    Further Reading: Why Your CRM Needs a CPQ Integration

    Sales Operations Efficiencies

    How does CPQ help sales organizations achieve their goals?

    CPQ streamlines the sales process, which increases the efficiency and productivity of sales teams. Guided selling reduces new hire training time, decreasing time to value. When sales reps spend less time on administrative tasks and follow an intuitive workflow, they have more time to focus on building relationships with customers and selling.

    Take a look at the positive impact of CPQ on Sales Operations:

    Positive impact of CPQ on Sales Operations

    CPQ Integration

    When is the right time for CPQ?

    There are preconceptions about the right time for organizations to consider CPQ. Organizations don’t need a certain number of salespeople before looking at CPQ or very complex pricing or configurations to see the value from a CPQ solution. There are more relevant factors to consider when determining the right time for implementation.

    Consider these questions:

    How much time are your salespeople spending on generating quotes?

    If your sales team spends a great deal of time on administrative tasks and manually generating quotes, it may be the right time for CPQ.

    Is the size of your sales team increasing?

    If new salespeople spend weeks learning your sales process and how to use your sales tech, you’re losing value from your new hires. CPQ can speed up the training process, so new reps provide value quickly.

    How fast are you able to get back to your customers?

    Customers expect and appreciate a fast response to their requests for quotes. They are deep into the buying process before they ever reach out to you. A quick response shows your customers that you are prepared to meet their needs and helps build trust.

    Is generating quotes a tedious process that requires sales reps to pull information from several sources?

    If your quote generation process encumbers your sales cycle, it’s the right time to consider CPQ software.

    Are quotes going into your CRM, and is everyone using the same playbook?

    If your reps are entering their own discounts or you are unable to track quotes because they aren’t synced with your CRM software, it’s time to take a look at a CPQ that integrates with your CRM.

    What are the costs of errors from incorrect configurations or incorrect pricing?

    If you are losing revenue due to inaccurate quotes and/or your products require complex configurations, your organization should consider CPQ.

    Compliance Challenges for CPQ

    Financial data stored in your CPQ is governed by regulations that protect shareholders. Below we discuss the measures you can take to comply with these regulations.  

    SOX Compliance

    SOX, also known as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 or Corporate and Auditing Accountability, Responsibility, and Transparency Act, was passed to improve corporate governance and protect shareholders from fraudulent activities by company executives.

    SOX compliance refers to the process of ensuring that a company is in compliance with the provisions of the act. This includes preparing financial statements that accurately reflect the company’s financial position and disclosing any material information that could potentially impact investors’ decision-making.

    In order for a CPQ system to comply with SOX, companies must put into place internal controls and procedures to ensure the accuracy and completeness of their financial reporting. CPQ solutions store data about pricing, discounts, and other such information. When monitoring compliance, auditors will want to see that a price change, for example, was authorized, tracked, and properly delegated. You will be out of compliance if you can’t demonstrate that it was.

    Protecting CPQ Rules

    A CPQ must have security features that protect the CPQ rules so that only authorized users can access and modify them. There are two main ways to do this: by protecting the rule itself and by protecting the data used by the rule.

    To protect the rule itself, the CPQ needs to have built-in security features, such as profiles and permission sets. For example, you can create a profile or permission set that only allows users to view CPQ rules. To protect the data used by the rule, you can use security features, for example, that only allow users to see data that is relevant to their job function.

    Protecting Products with an Agent

    Protecting products with an agent is a great way to keep your product catalog safe and secure in your CPQ. It ensures that only authorized users can make changes to your products. An agent can help you manage pricing, discounts, and other product details.

    When you add a new product to your catalog, most CPQ software will allow you to specify whether or not you want to protect the product with an agent. You’ll need to specify the agent’s email address. The agent will then receive an email notification any time someone attempts to modify a product.

    Custom Policies

    Your CPQ solution should allow you to create custom policies that can be used to automate pricing and approval processes. Custom policies can be created using a point-and-click interface, and they can be triggered by events such as quote submission or line item changes.

    Custom policies can automatically calculate prices based on certain criteria or send quotes for approval based on predefined rules. Custom policies can also be used to create discounts or bundles, and to manage approvals for quote changes. Creating custom policies in CPQ is a simple process that can be completed by anyone with basic knowledge of their CPQ platform. However, it is important to note that custom policies should be tested thoroughly before being deployed to a production environment.

    Customizing Your CPQ

    Most CPQ solutions have “out of the box” features that enable sales teams to generate quotes with basic tool configurations such as product lists and pricing. However, most organizations need some degree of customization of their CPQ for things like:

    • document configuration
    • complex pricing models
    • product customization
    • approvals processes
    • subscription management and renewals
    • contract redlining
    • discounts and exceptions

    Without an in-house CPQ expert or software consultant, it is difficult for many sales operations leaders to administer their CPQ if it is not an agile solution. When searching for a CPQ vendor, it is essential to look for one that is easy to customize.  An easily customizable, no-code, agile CPQ is the modern solution for sales teams. Customizable CPQ software typically includes product catalogs, pricing rules, and product configurators that are easy to change to meet the organization’s specifications and workflows. Allowing sales administrators to set up custom logic on some CPQ components without requiring heavy code makes an agile CPQ easier to set up and maintain. In addition, a no-code CPQ enables sales admins to easily update pricing, products, and discounts without needing IT assistance.

    CPQ Selection Process

    How to find the right CPQ for your needs

    CPQ is cross-organizational, so consider the needs of the different groups within the organization, including Sales Management and Operations, Finance, and Legal.

    Determine what Sales Management and Sales Operations are trying to achieve. List the pains they are experiencing and the features that a CPQ solution must have to address those issues. 

    Sales Management and Operations will be concerned with issues such as:

    • Price quote control
    • Version control
    • Quotes synced with CRM
    • Standardizing product configuration rules
    • Advanced approvals
    • Margin approval accuracy
    • Sales process standardization
    • Improved buyer experience
    • Sales rep administrative tasks vs. active selling time
    • Reduction in error rates and inaccuracies
    • Response time to requests for quotes

    What needs do Finance and Legal have that the CPQ solution will address? Consider how a lack of standardized pricing, advanced configurations, inconsistent discounting, and non-compliant contracts may be causing issues within your current sales processes. The CPQ should be able to solve those problems so every sales quote that is sent to buyers is accurate and compliant. 

    Further reading: 15 Tips for Choosing the Right CPQ Software

    How to Select a CPQ Vendor

    Selecting the right CPQ solution for an organization’s needs can be confusing. There are solutions of varying complexity on the market.

    When evaluating CPQ vendors, consider your organization’s growth and the scalability of their solution. Ask yourself, “What is the functionality that I need today? What is the functionality that I will need in the next 9, 12, 18 months?”

    Look at the functionality of the CPQ solutions you’re assessing. Are they going to offer the capabilities that you need as you grow, as your team grows, and as your needs expand?
    When you make the final selection of your CPQ, take a look at any hidden considerations that may be involved, paying particular attention to the time required to implement the solution. CPQ implementation projects can range from three to six weeks, up to 12 to 15 months, depending on the solution. Every project involves disruption and defocus within the organization, so implementation time should be a main consideration.

    Select a CPQ that is going to minimize the disruption within the organization. There is also a cost involved in implementation time; not only the cost of physically implementing the solution but the time to value. How long is it going to take your sales team to see value from that solution? That’s a cost that you must consider.
    An often overlooked consideration when selecting a CPQ vendor is determining how dedicated they are to CPQ. Are they committed to enhancing that CPQ functionality, to taking that solution to where you need to go in the next 6 to 12 months and beyond? Will it scale with your business? Make sure to take into account these hidden considerations when selecting your CPQ.

    How to Create CPQ Requirements Documentation

    Once you’ve evaluated the needs of different stakeholders, and have gathered the requirements from each group, prepare a requirements document. When you speak with CPQ vendors, use this document as a checklist or score sheet to ensure the software addresses the needs of each group. Document your evaluations so you can compare vendors based on your specific needs – your must-haves and your nice-to-haves.

    Why is it Important to Evaluate a CPQ Vendor?

    Once you’ve interviewed your stakeholders and you’ve built out your requirements document, then examine how each vendor matches your requirements. Bring those vendors in and have them demonstrate, in a live environment, their capabilities, and how they meet your specifications.

    It’s not enough for vendors to promise that their solution offers certain capabilities. It’s crucial to see that functionality operating. Then, short-list the vendors that match your capabilities or requirements and bring the stakeholders back into the process for the final evaluations and decision-making. You want their consensus. You’re going to need their buy-in. Get them involved in the final decision.

    Using CPQ Software to Evolve Your Sales Operations

    The great engineer and management consultant W. Edwards Deming said, “Eighty-five percent of the reasons for failure are deficiencies in the systems and process rather than the employee. The role of management is to change the process rather than badgering individuals to do better.” Utilizing a best-in-class CPQ, integrated with a CRM, allows sales operations to change their processes and achieve better results for their organization, their team, and their customers.

    Aberdeen reported that by using a CPQ, best-in-class sales teams were better able to realize efficiencies in the following areas:

    • Minimizing the number of people, functions, etc, required to develop and deliver quotes to buyers
    • Managing by exception with pricing/discounting “guardrails” in place
    • Generating complex quotes in a timely manner
    • Providing sellers with marketing tools to develop, send, and track response to messaging (Source: HubSpot and Aberdeen Group Report)

    When choosing a CPQ platform for your organization, look for CPQ vendors that perform well in these areas. These guidelines will help you find a CPQ that will make a positive impact and help you meet your sales operations goals.

    When you can manage your entire deal flow within your CRM, there’s no risk of losing crucial information. Your CPQ should be an extension of your sales operations workflow, native within your CRM. DealHub CPQ integrates seamlessly with Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, and Freshworks. All fields feature bi-directional synchronization so your information is updated in real time.

    Our customers love DealHub CPQ because it’s fast to implement and easy to use: plug in your product data, configure your business rules, and start quoting. No coding necessary, so you can be set up and ready to go in minimal time. Our customers also appreciate our competitive price point.

    We invite you to take a look at how DealHub stacks up against other CPQ vendors rated by users on G2 Crowd. You’ll see how DealHub has been named the Highest Performer, and how our solution ranked best in the CPQ Software Category in the following categories:

    • Best Usability
    • Best Support
    • Easiest Setup
    • Easiest to Use
    • Best Relationship
    • Best Meets
    • Requirements
    • Learn about DealHub CPQ

     

    CPQ is part of a holistic sales process, focusing on consistent and accurate delivery of the essential information buyers need to make decisions. The best CPQ tools have the power to streamline the quoting and proposal generation process, helping sales teams close deals faster. Choose a CPQ solution that will help your sales team achieve their sales goals while helping your organization increase revenue.

    CPQ Podcast

    CPQ has transformed the sales process for buyers and sellers. As the new wave of CPQ technology has emerged in recent years, so has CPQ’s profile been elevated in revenue operations’ news and media. Two recent RevAmp podcast episodes highlighted how CPQ helps create a frictionless buying experience.

    Microsoft Dynamics CRM + DealHub CPQ = A Frictionless Buying Process

    In this episode of the RevAmp podcast, Mike Dickerson, CEO of ClickDimensions, discusses the importance of a buyer-centric sales process and how CPQ helps sales teams close deals by enabling real-time collaboration between all deal stakeholders.

    DealHub CPQ and DealRoom enable multiple approvers to access the quote and sales proposal wherever they come into the buying process. This reduces friction, especially for remote sales teams and buyers who need to be able to quickly find the digital information they need to make a decision.

    How CPQ Software Has Transformed B2B Sales

    Frank Sohn joined the RevAmp podcast to share his insights on how CPQ has transformed selling and the customer experience. With 25+ years of experience in the CPQ industry, Frank has witnessed the evolution of CPQ from “product configurators” used primarily in manufacturing to the integrated configure-price-quote solutions used across industries today.

    Now, CPQ can handle more complex product configurations, and the UI and UX have completely changed, making it easier for salespeople to use the software. The move toward subscription-based pricing has ushered in another exciting development in CPQ, the ability to integrate CPQ with billing solutions.

    People Also Ask

    What is the CPQ process?

    The CPQ process is a set of steps that helps sales organizations streamline their quoting and pricing sales processes. It can help companies improve accuracy and efficiency while also reducing costs.

    The CPQ process typically includes the following steps:

    1. Define the products and services that will be offered.
    2. Create pricing models for each product and service.
    3. Configure the products and services to meet customer specifications.
    4. Generate quotes based on customer specifications.
    5. Review and approval of quotes.
    6. Sending the approved quote to the customer.

    The CPQ process can be customized to fit the needs of each organization, but these are the general steps that are typically followed. By following a CPQ process, companies can improve their quoting accuracy and efficiency while also reducing costs.

    Is CPQ part of CRM?

    No, CPQ is not part of CRM. CPQ stands for Configure, Price, and Quote, and is a software application that helps businesses generate quotes for configurable products and services. While CPQ can be used in conjunction with CRM software, it is not technically part of CRM.

    Some businesses may choose to use CPQ as part of their CRM software suite in order to streamline the quote generation process. However, CPQ can also be used as a standalone application.

    What is the difference between CRM and CPQ?

    CRM (customer relationship management) and CPQ (configure, price, quote) are two popular software solutions for businesses. Both CRM and CPQ software help businesses manage customer data and communication, but they have different functions.

    CRM software is designed to help businesses manage their customer relationships. It includes features such as contact management, customer service, and sales automation. CRM software helps businesses keep track of their customers’ contact information, communication history, and purchase history. It can also help businesses automate sales and customer service processes.

    CPQ software is designed to help businesses with the quoting and ordering process. CPQ software includes features such as product and pricing configuration, quote generation, and order management. CPQ software helps businesses create accurate quotes quickly and efficiently. It can also help businesses manage orders and keep track of product configurations.

    Is CPQ part of ERP?

    CPQ software is not part of an ERP system. CPQ stands for Configure, Price, and Quote. It is a software application that helps businesses generate accurate sales quotes for their products and services. CPQ software typically integrates with CRM and accounting systems, but it is not part of an ERP system.

    Why is CPQ used?

    CPQ, or Configure Price Quote, is a tool that allows sales teams to automate the creation of quotes and pricing for their products and services. This can save time and money by eliminating the need for manual quote creation and also ensures that prices are always accurate.

    In addition, CPQ can help to improve customer satisfaction by providing accurate quotes quickly and easily.

    By using CPQ, businesses can streamline their quoting process and provide their customers with the information they need in a timely manner.

    What is CPQ in SaaS?

    CPQ software offers specific advantages for SaaS companies due to their unique product nature and sales processes. Here’s how CPQ caters to SaaS needs:

    Addressing Complexity:

    Guided Selling: SaaS products often involve multiple tiers, features, and add-ons. CPQ software acts as a guided selling tool, prompting salespeople with relevant options based on customer requirements. This ensures they present the most suitable solution without overwhelming the customer.

    Product Configuration: SaaS offerings can be intricately configured in CPQ. The software manages these complexities by establishing a defined product catalog with pre-configured options. This allows sales reps to swiftly tailor packages to specific customer needs.

    Streamlining Quoting:

    Automated Pricing: SaaS pricing often complex with subscriptions, usage-based models, and varying discounts. CPQ automates these calculations based on pre-set rules and customer data. This eliminates manual errors and ensures accurate quotes are generated promptly.

    Subscription Management: CPQ software simplifies subscription management for SaaS companies. It automates tasks like order creation, renewals, and cancellations, saving time and minimizing errors.

    Additional Benefits:

    Improved Efficiency: By automating quoting and configuration, CPQ frees up valuable time for salespeople, allowing them to focus on building customer relationships and closing deals.

    Reduced Errors: Manual quote creation is prone to errors. CPQ automates the process, significantly reducing the risk of mistakes and ensuring accurate pricing and product configuration.

    Enhanced Customer Experience: With faster and more precise quotes, CPQ software streamlines an otherwise complex sales process for the customer. They receive clear proposals that accurately reflect their needs.

    Why would you want to combine CPQ and contract management?

    One of the main reasons you want to combine CPQ and contract management is that it can help improve efficiency and accuracy. When you have a separate system for each, it can be easy to make errors when inputting data or updating information. Having everything in one place can help to avoid these kinds of mistakes.

    In addition, seeing all of the information related to a customer in one place can make it easier to provide good customer service. For example, a CPQ combined with contract management allows visibility into subscriber history so sales reps can make informed quoting decisions for individual customers and track subscription trends.

    Contract management software can also help you to automate some of the tasks associated with managing customer contracts and subscriptions. For example, you can set up automatic reminders for contract renewals and payments.