3D configuration without duplicate data storage directly in SAP

Efficient and practical end-to-end configuration is a key component for the economic success of a variant manufacturer. Internal or external sales staff, engineers or customers - B2B users today expect convenient configuration without technical hurdles. Graphically clear design and high 3D quality should meet the demands of private online shopping.

Visualization and interactive configuration in 3D

The SaaS cloud 3D visualization solution from Networker Solutions stores the visualization rules and seamlessly links them to SAP AVC, SAP LO-VC and SAP CPQ via services. The solution consists of three components that cover different requirements.

The vivid 3D real-time visualization of the product, which runs alongside the configuration process, shows every change immediately. This type of visualization is used, for example, to display the customer order in the back office or to visualize different configurations in a 3D viewer in a web store. The interactive graphical 3D configuration goes a decisive step further with a 360-degree view directly on the parametric 3D model.

The end user selects the components and features to be configured with a mouse click on the 3D model and receives the corresponding options from the SAP backend in a context menu for selection. The interactive 3D configuration supports the sales field service, for example, when a product is to be put together on the mobile device in SAP CPQ together with the customer. In this way, it is not only possible to make the necessary adjustments immediately, but the price can also be determined on the spot. This speeds up the sales and manufacturing process.

The supreme discipline of 3D system configuration

The tool also supports system configuration on the 3D model, which is also referred to as the "supreme discipline" of configuration due to its complexity. New systems and machines can be integrated into an existing factory environment (the system) relatively easily thanks to a graphical 3D configuration and visualization. The end user can upload their layout plan to the 3D solution in real time. In this way, it is immediately apparent whether the new machine or its 3D product model is correctly positioned. If this is not the case, the model can easily be moved to the correct position by rotating and/or moving it.

Model once - configure and use anywhere

As the cloud-based 3D visualization solution is linked to the SAP backend, it uses the master data and rules of the central SAP configuration model, enriched by the visualization rules from the cloud. This is fully in line with the "model once - configure and use anywhere" concept. This has a positive effect on data quality and the efficiency of data management. Redundant data maintenance is eliminated, as data maintenance is limited to the corresponding set of rules for visualization and the associated media management (graphics or STEP files).

The additional work involved in managing and maintaining data in separate 3D configurator software is eliminated, as is redundant data storage. This also works if non-SAP configuration software is used. The 3D visualization solution from Networker Solutions can also be connected to these systems thanks to the corresponding cloud architecture.
High-quality 3D visualization is guaranteed by the use of proven 3D real-time technologies from the Unity Engine. The 3D solution from Networker Solutions also supports the conversion of 3D models into 2D models. These can then be integrated into the corresponding documents such as quotations, order confirmations or product data sheets.

To the partner entry: