Configurators
A configurator is a tool that help you to combine parts of a product into a customized product. A configurator does not only combine the physical parts of the product but also intangible items such as support hours etc. Configurators are typically used by product specialists and sales.
Integration
Configurators are typically integrated directly to an ERP-system or PDM-system. Depending on the quality of the configurator, this can be done more or less automized.
Common users of a configurator are internal and external sales, distributors, product specialists and customers.
Product configurators
A product configurator is specialised in configuring products into a very detailed bill of material. Some sort of product configurators are often included in ERP-systems although typically not as powerful and easy to use as best-of-breed configurators.
Here is a list of companies selling product configurators.
Sales configurators
A sales configurator is a product configurator with the ability to provide a user friendly user interface. A sales configurator provided the user with need based questions rather than product based questions. E.g. where a product configurator would ask the user if he or she want Pump A or Pump B, a sales configurator would ask the user what the pump should be used to, and create a configuration according to the answer.