CIS Configurator Software

Faster quotation process.

Pros

Easy to use, it takes you step by step, it has and does everything I need for quotation purposes and lets me convert my files in to pdf easily.

Cons

Slows down a lot some times, once you select an item and press continue or ok it takes a long time to show the next window of options, we've experience connectivity problems as well.

Most of our competitors do not have a quoting system. Next to our outstanding product lines, this has added the support our accounts need to be successful and close deal much faster.

Pros

Easy to follow, it's fast and very detailed. The system will not allow a user that is not as experienced, build a quote that will cost the dealer money because some selected options require other mandatory features.

Cons

Would love to tailor to our largest accounts. Meaning, the ability to create a package, which most have an exclusive package for their dealership, but none of the other dealers can use or see it.

CIS configurator is helpful simplifying our day-to-day job and making our production process easier. CIS integrates tools into SAP B1 interface, we don't need to create BOM (Bill of Materials) for each order, CIS configuration can automatically create BOM during Sales order process. Also their service is always excellent and we are pleased with our relationship.

Pros

*easy to add and remove items
*fast product import and export
*friendly navigation

Cons

*we depend to much on Navigator to get changes made
*need a bi-lingual system

When looking for a new ERP system, Visual Lighting Technologies (VLT), a manufacturer of specification-grade LED lighting products, was leaning towards SAP Business One but it wasn't until we found the CIS Configurator that we knew that Business One could handle dynamic creation of our millions of SKU's. Further, VLT has a special need where each of those millions of SKU's can be manufactured using up to eight distinct bills of materials.

VLT uses the PPS One add-on to SAP Business One, made by CIM Pool PPS, to manage production with these different BOMs, but that would only work with pre-entered Business One items. We needed to bridge the gap between the dynamically created CIS items and PPS One. CIS was able to work with CIM Pool PPS to facilitate a custom integration allowing VLT to create Configuration Models which include all of the components for the multiple BoM's which are then imported into PPS One and interpreted into PPS One standard Resource Lists. The end result allows the Quotations team to sell a "generic" product which the Production team can then choose to build in one of many different ways.

VLT also utilized CIS's Custom Solutions services for several other smaller tweaks, both directly within the CIS applications and also in CIS's SAP Business One integration component. This combination of core CIS functionality, customization of their application, and integration with PPS One make the CIS Configurator a key component in our ability to manage the sales and production of the millions of product variations we offer.

After setting up the configurators the final step was putting the quote system in place. The upload and export Excel feature made importing all of my items, descriptions, pricing, customer info, etc very easy. My outside sales reps all use this program and since it has gone live nearly two years ago I can't think of a single user who hasn't been happy with how easy the system is to use.

The software provided by CIS is extremely easy to use and quite intuitive. If you can use amazon.com you can use CIS software.

Pros:
Quote Builder works as advertised. The integration of Quote Builder to Model Builder and the configurations is what sold us on the tool. Standard Quoting is Standard Quoting, but when tied to the Configurator your Sales Team are free to no longer remember Product Codes, but answer the questions and let the system resolve those questions and answers to the Products you sell. CIS has been a great partner in adding customizations to fit our needs. Whereas nothing is free in this world, their prices for customizations and changes are not out of line.

Cons:
Our only complaint has been the inability to customize our own Quote forms to fit our needs. Any changes need to go through CIS to get the forms as we need or to add new ones.

Pros: Reduces our Quote time from an hour to just a few minutes and errors on quotes are now a thing of the past. The reports that are available help us in several ways. We can now make sure the sales team is following up on quotes and sales.

Cons: Haven't found any cons.

Overall: If you have a application for a product that requires different items to build. You should let CIS show you how they can increase your productivity the way they have ours. They have a very knowledgeable group that can build a solution for you.

Pros: The CIS Configurator & Quote Builder system will put Bravo Trailers a step ahead of our competition. Customer service and quality of product is key in our industry. Providing our dealers with a state of the art program that allows them to quickly and accurately quote trailers to their retail customers is key to their success and ours. The sales management tool also provides our dealers with a great way of measuring the success of their sales team.
Working with the CIS Team during the data build and implementation of our program has and continues to be a great working relationship.


Cons: Depending on the nature of your business and how you plan to use the program the investment in time can be extensive. Be prepared and organized prior to beginning and make sure you totally understand the instruction & capability of the program purchased.

Overall: If you are considering purchasing a quote builder/configurator program I would highly recommend CIS to be your partner.

If you are considering purchasing a quote builder/configurator program I would highly recommend CIS to be your partner.

Pros

The CIS Configurator & Quote Builder system will put Bravo Trailers a step ahead of our competition. Customer service and quality of product is key in our industry. Providing our dealers with a state of the art program that allows them to quickly and accurately quote trailers to their retail customers is key to their success and ours. The sales management tool also provides our dealers with a great way of measuring the success of their sales team.
Working with the CIS Team during the data build and implementation of our program has and continues to be a great working relationship.

Cons

Depending on the nature of your business and how you plan to use the program the investment in time can be extensive. Be prepared and organized prior to beginning and make sure you totally understand the instruction & capability of the program purchased.

If you have a application for a product that requires different items to build. You should let CIS show you how they can increase your productivity the way they have ours. They have a very knowledge group that can build a solution for you.

Pros

Reduces our Quote time from an hour to just a few minutes and errors on quotes are now a thing of the past. The reports that are available help us in several ways. We can now make sure the sales team is following up on quotes and sales.

Cons

Haven't found any cons.

I would definitely recommend this software for businesses looking to increase the speed and productivity of their sales force.

Pros

Very responsive team of developers and sales people. Always willing to assist with implementation. You have the option of customizing the software to meet specific needs at an additional cost. The software works great across multiple platforms.

Cons

Newer software package, may need customization to fit your application.