With so many CPQ (Configure Price Quote) software products on the market today, it’s easy to get overwhelmed in your search for the right solution for your company’s needs. A simple way to compare CPQ vendors is to look at recent user reviews, as well as the awards the software products have won based on rankings by current customers. Then, when you narrow down your selection, take a closer look to see how the vendors compare on key criteria and make it a point to explore those features during a demo.
When G2 Crowd rates CPQ vendors, they base their awards on key factors that are important to CPQ users, namely Implementation, Usability, and Support. We agree that these criteria are what buyers look for when comparing CPQ vendors. From our years developing a CPQ solution that is ranked as a high performer and easiest to use, we have a keen understanding of what companies need in a CPQ.
How to Compare CPQ Vendors
Let’s delve into those three factors and what they mean for you as a CPQ buyer. Learn how to compare CPQ vendors, and you’ll be prepared to find the best solution to meet your organization’s needs.
CPQ Implementation
An essential feature to look for when comparing CPQ software is ease of implementation. Several factors are involved in CPQ implementation, such as set up, configuration of pricing rules and discounting, customization of workflows, integration with a CRM, user training, and user adoption. A lengthy and costly implementation delays a positive ROI.
G2 Crowd asks users to rate vendors on the following factors. When looking at CPQ reviews, we encourage you to consider these features in your evaluation:
- The ease of setting up the software
- How long it took to go live with the software
- The length of time to see a positive ROI
CPQ Usability
Here’s where you can separate a good CPQ from a great one. CPQ reviews are most concerned with the usability of the product. If it doesn’t do what you need it to do, if it’s difficult to use, or if it cannot be configured to your specifications; then it will be worthless.
Compare CPQs on ease of use to get a good picture of whether or not they will be worth the investment. CPQ should automate many administrative tasks and streamline the pricing and quoting process. Take into account how its functionality and these CPQ features:
- Guided selling
- Product catalog
- Configuration of rules and pricing
- Versioning
- Discounting
- Grouping
- Ordering
- Approvals
- Renewals
- Quote document generation
- Document customization
- CRM Integration
CPQ Support
Implementing a new software is rarely smooth sailing. The needs of internal stakeholders often require customization. Plus, integration with other software can cause issues. For these reasons, it’s crucial you find a CPQ vendor that offers exceptional support before, during, and after implementation.
When reading CPQ reviews, get a feel for how they rank on user support in these areas:
- Ongoing customer support
- Channel partner support
- Mobile user support
- Scalability
- Reliability
We encourage you to compare CPQ vendors and take a look at how DealHub measured up against other CPQ solutions in the G2 Crowd Winter 2019 Usability Index for CPQ Software report. Then, schedule a demo to see for yourself how DealHub’s CPQ solution can elevate your sales processes and help your team win more deals.