What it takes to get a product selector live
What we need from you, how much of your expert's time it takes, how long it takes, and what happens if it gets something wrong. The questions people ask before they start, answered plainly.
Most people like the idea of a product selector straight away. The hesitation comes after: how much work is this going to be for us? Here are the questions we get asked before a project starts, answered plainly.
What do you need from us?
Your product information, in whatever shape it's in. Price lists, spreadsheets, datasheets, a link to your website. It doesn't need to be tidy. Almost nobody's is, and sorting it out is part of the job.
We also need one person who knows the products well. Your Dave. They don't need to be technical about software, they just need to know what they'd recommend and why.
How much of our expert's time does it take?
Less than people expect. A conversation at the start, where we learn the questions they ask customers and the rules they follow. Then short review sessions as the selector takes shape. We do the building; their job is to tell us where it's wrong.
How long does it take?
Weeks, not months. You'll see a first working version built on your real products early on. The time after that goes into getting it right, and how quickly that goes mostly depends on how quickly your expert can review.
What does the process look like?
- Pick a range. Start with the one that causes the most calls, questions or returns.
- Map the questions. A short conversation with your expert gives us what they ask a customer and what each answer changes. We do the rest from your product data.
- First version. A working selector on your real products, in your branding.
- Review rounds. Your expert runs real past jobs through it and flags anything they'd have done differently. We fix it and go again.
- Go live. For your staff, your distributors, your customers, or all three.
What if it gets something wrong?
Then it gets fixed. The review rounds exist for exactly this: nothing goes live until your expert is happy it gives the answer they would. After launch, if your range changes or something needs adjusting, it gets updated and everyone using it gets the change at once.
Do we have to change our systems?
No. The selector sits alongside what you already use. It can live on your website, on its own link, or as a tool your staff open during a call. The result can be emailed to the customer or copied into your quote.
What do we end up with?
- A selector in your branding that recommends the right product from your range.
- Your expert's knowledge, written down and working, not just in their head.
- A view of what customers are looking for, what gets recommended, and where people drop off.
- Enquiries that arrive with the customer's answers already attached.
What does it cost?
It depends on the size of the range and how involved the selection is. We'll give you a clear price once we've seen your products.
The easiest way to judge it is to see one built on your own products. Send us a range and we'll show you.
