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In today's fast-paced and ever-evolving manufacturing industry, businesses are constantly seeking ways to streamline their processes and deliver innovative products to meet the demands of their customers. One such method that has gained significant popularity is Configure-To-Order (CTO) manufacturing. In this article, we will explore what CTO products are, the benefits they provide, and the key differences between CTO and Engineer to Order (ETO) products.

In times of economic uncertainty, manufacturing enterprises are often challenged with reluctance to making business investments. Economic crises tend to trigger cost-cutting measures and cautious spending. However, Configure Price Quote (CPQ) solutions can be considered as an exception, since it forms an essential tool to support sales and provide potential benefits. Let’s take a look at why investing in CPQ in times of crisis is so crucial.

CPQ or Configure Price Quote simplifies quoting for manufacturers of complex products. It is a powerful sales tool, but it only reaches it full potential when it’s implemented correctly. CPQ implementation is often really challenging. We have a team of CPQ specialists ready to help you every step of the way.

Since the beginning of Hive, we have started nearly all our Configure Price Quote projects with a Proof of Concept, which we have called a Seeing Is Believing or SIB. What exactly does our Seeing Is Believing entail? What are the advantages of this approach and which results can you expect on which time frame?

You might feel like you are stuck with your current Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) software system because you have already spent so much time and effort on its setup and maintenance. But you don’t have to stick with a solution that doesn’t work for your business. We believe you deserve to switch whenever you’d like. That’s why we created the Hive Smart Forklift, the easiest way to transition from your current CPQ to Hive. 

The war for talent rages on. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, companies are not only dealing with a talent gap, or a lack of skills in the workforce, but also with the great resignation, making people rethink their salaries, working conditions, and job satisfaction. The number of people quitting their jobs has rarely been higher. Studies have shown that the manufacturing industry in particular has been hit hard by this job market crisis. How can you protect your company from the increasing influence of the talent gap and the great resignation?

Customers that have to wait for months on their orders, empty shelves in stores and unseen increases in price: the manufacturing industry is currently struggling with a worldwide shortage of raw materials. The lack of materials such as lumber, aluminum or plastic has caused a crisis for manufacturers. But where does this sudden scarcity come from? And what is the best way for companies to handle this situation?

Manufacturers are often struggling with long and complex sales processes, making it hard to increase sales. This has to do with the complex nature of the goods, but also with the fact that B2B sales requires various stakeholders to work together. On top of that, the manufacturing market has had some intrusive changes: increasingly demanding B2B buyers and global competition continue to impact companies. Increasing sales in manufacturing is therefore not as straightforward as it often is in other industries. We are bundling some tips to increase your sales again. Read along!

The current situation of the manufacturing industry is very complex, as companies evolve in a very competitive environment. But competition is not the only challenge manufacturers face, as product life cycles have been growing shorter and customers are demanding customized products more and more. The arrival of 5G will ease these challenges, but it is important to be prepared, by investing in the right software today.