Accelerating Boat Lift Design & Sales with 3D Configurator
Challenges:
- Lack of realistic visualization of boat lift designs
- Lengthy quoting process involving multiple teams
- No instant design and quoting tool for sales
Industry
Marine Construction
Solutions:
Custom web application configurator with 2D & 3D visualization
Results:
- Realistic 2D, 3D view of custom designs .
- Faster and accurate quote generation.
- Reduced sales cycle time.
- Ability to drive higher close rates.
Location:
Midwest USA
About the Client
The client is a Wisconsin-based marine construction company providing waterfront solutions for residential and commercial properties. They specialize in designing, installing, and servicing piers, docks, and boat lifts across Southeastern Wisconsin. The organization combines experienced design, engineering, fabrication, installation, and service capabilities to deliver reliable waterfront systems. Its approach focuses on creating durable solutions that help property owners protect their watercraft and make better use of their waterfront spaces.
Designing boat lifts requires input from multiple teams, including designers, engineers, and the installation crew. The process typically begins with the design team creating a custom CAD representation of the proposed site. Sales representatives then run multiple rounds of discussions with customers and designers to finalize the design. Generating quotes also needed sales reps to manually map designs with entry lists to create a Bill of Materials. The process was time-consuming and slowed the sales process.
Case Overview
Fingent proposed a Custom Configurator Web Application with 2D and 3D design capabilities. The app is accessible to the client’s sales team, engineers, and administrators, improving collaboration and eliminating multiple rounds of discussions. It also integrates with the client’s ERP, Oracle NetSuite, to automate calculations. This helps sales reps instantly analyze the approved design, identify the required materials, dimensions, and components, retrieves the corresponding inventory and pricing data, and generate quotes with actual prices.
The application empowers sales representatives to create and showcase customer-specific boat lift designs on the spot. They can make design changes, visualize the structure in 3D, and respond to customer requirements without waiting for input from other teams. The application significantly reduces the time and manual effort involved in preparing quotes. The automated process can reduce quoting effort by 60–70% while improving pricing accuracy.
CHALLENGES
Roadblocks Faced In The Existing Systems
Heavy dependence on multiple teams for design
Manual mapping of components to inventory in ERP system
Limitations in getting a realistic view of proposed designs
Longer quote preparation and approval times
Longer sales cycles risking deal closures
SOLUTION
Fingent’s Approach - Custom Configurator Web Application with 2D and 3D Design
The configurator enables users to seamlessly design unique boat lifts specific to a customer's requirements. Its 2D canvas allows users to adjust dimensions, select materials, and scale designs accurately. Users can also quickly place accessories using the drag-and-drop feature. The 3D view provides a realistic representation of the proposed boat lift. This helps customers better understand the final structure and make informed decisions.
The application integrates with the client’s ERP, NetSuite, to automate price calculation. When a user opts to ‘Generate Quote’, the system analyzes the approved design and identifies the required materials, dimensions, and components. It then retrieves the corresponding inventory and pricing data from NetSuite. The system generates a quote with the required Bill of Materials (BOM). Quotes can also be exported as PDFs and shared with customers for immediate review and sign-off.
2D Canvas for boat lift design
Integration with NetSuite
Realistic design visualization in 3D
Want to explore our client's full story?
BENEFITS
Making An Impact On Client Success
The web-based configurator helps the sales team make the most of site visits, conferences, and trade shows. Faster design discussions can shorten sales cycles and potentially improve close rates by 15–20%. Instant quote generation reduces quoting effort by 60–70% while improving pricing accuracy. By linking designs with actual inventory data, the application helps teams identify required components earlier. Better design and material visibility can reduce rework and material waste, while also lowering manufacturing complexity and associated costs.
Faster and More Accurate Quoting
Shorter Sales Cycles
Higher Chances of Sales Conversion
Reduced Construction Rework and Material Wastage
