You think automation is just about speed? Think again.
The world of manufacturing is evolving rapidly. If you're still relying on outdated CPQ tools or spreadsheets to generate quotes, you're already falling behind. In 2025, product configurators and CPD platforms (Configure, Price, Deliver) are no longer just helpful, they are becoming the core of digital manufacturing.
Whether you're an engineer, a sales director, or a product manager, these 10 trends are transforming how customized products are sold, configured, and delivered. The future is fast, scalable, and powered by smarter technology than ever before.
1. CPQ Is Dead. Long Live CPD.
What used to stop at Configure-Price-Quote is now powering full product delivery workflows. In 2025, the shift from CPQ to CPD means your configurator must now handle BOMs, ERP integrations, and even manufacturing instructions automatically.
2. CAD-Driven Configurators Are the New Standard
Disconnected sales tools are being replaced. The most advanced CPD platforms now pull directly from CAD models, using live engineering data as the single source of truth.
3. Instant Quoting Is Non-Negotiable
Buyers expect real-time pricing. If your configurator doesn’t offer instant quoting tools based on current design specs, you’re already losing deals to competitors who can.
4. AI-Powered Recommendations Are In
Using AI in CPQ, configurators can now upsell, prevent errors, and suggest optimal configurations. No more guesswork. No more back-and-forth.
5. Machine Learning is Personalizing Everything
Machine learning in manufacturing means configurators can now tailor themselves to individual buyers based on behavior, industry, and previous purchases. It’s like Netflix for manufacturing.
6. Visual Commerce = Higher Conversions
Want to close more deals? Show buyers what they’re getting. The best visual product configurators offer photorealistic, real-time 3D previews—no downloads, no plugins.
7. Self-Service is Now the Norm
Buyers want control. Modern configurators let them custom manufacture their own parts or products online without talking to sales, without submitting RFQs, and without delay.
8. Scalability Beats Custom Code
Old-school, hand-coded configurators are out. In 2025, scalable product customization means adding new options in minutes through drag-and-drop UIs instead of lengthy dev cycles.
9. Cloud-Native = Survival
Browser-based CAD and cloud-native configurators are quickly becoming the norm. They offer speed, flexibility, and global access for remote engineering and sales teams.
10. Spokbee is Leading the Charge
We’re biased, but we’re also right: Spokbee 2.0 is the world’s first Onshape-native, fully cloud-based product configurator builder. It turns your CAD files into customizable, 3D-visualized, instantly priced configurators in minutes.
The Future of Digital Manufacturing
Product configuration software in 2025 isn’t just about aesthetics or speed. It’s about reimagining the entire path from engineering to customer delivery. With AI-powered CPD platforms like Spokbee, manufacturers can build a truly connected pipeline from CAD to customer.
Want to see it in action? Visit the Onshape App Store to explore Spokbee 2.0, the world’s first cloud-native configurator builder designed for modern manufacturing.
