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Photo credits: Design Bois (69), a specialist in high-end interior design, as well as the design and fabrication of custom woodworking solutions, St\u00e9phane Couchet\u00a9<\/em><\/p>\n Imagine a sales representative who arrives at a customer\u2019s location, opens his laptop, and configures\u2014right there in front of the customer\u2014the exact product that meets their needs, complete with a real-time 3D visualization and a price that updates with every change. <\/span><\/p>\n This is what TopSolid\u2019Web Configurator offers\u2014the new web-based solution launched in February 2026 by TOPSOLID. A first in the CAD\/CAM ecosystem: a configurator fully integrated with the TopSolid database, with no duplication or re-entry required, and accessible from any browser. <\/span><\/p>\n Julien Poirot<\/a><\/b>, product manager at TOPSOLID, discusses the project\u2019s origins, its practical applications, and what fundamentally sets it apart from other web-based configurators on the market.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n It all <\/span>begins at the 2024 Batimat <\/a>trade show<\/span>. TOPSOLID discreetly presents a video there showing a <\/span>web configurator prototype<\/b>. There isn’t a version to test yet\u2014just a demo to gauge market interest.<\/span><\/p>\n The response was immediate. \u201cThere was a certain amount of enthusiasm. It reaffirmed our decision,\u201d says Julien Poirot. Contacts are pouring in, needs are becoming clearer, and development is picking up speed. <\/span><\/p>\n After a year in the Early Access phase, TopSolid\u2019Web Configurator will officially launch in February 2026 as a stable release: reliable, data-guaranteed, and ready for production use. The product will now be part of TOPSOLID\u2019s annual update cycle. <\/span><\/p>\n And it is this same Batimat trade show, next October, that will host its official presentation to the general public.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n There are plenty of web-based configurators out there. But almost all of them follow the same pattern: a database dedicated to the configurator on one side, and the design office\u2019s database on the other. The result: <\/span>two systems to maintain<\/b>, high integration costs, and the risk of discrepancies between what the sales team presents and what the engineering department designs.<\/span><\/p>\n Julien Poirot sums up the problem: \u201cMaintenance costs, design costs\u2014everything\u2014are doubling. Whereas in TopSolid, the <\/span>database is unified<\/b>. We create things once, and then we can use them across both of our solutions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n TopSolid\u2019Web Configurator draws directly on<\/span> existing TopSolid files<\/b>. Configurable products are designed in TopSolid 7, without the need for redesign or duplicate data entry. Updates from the design department are automatically reflected in the configurator. And since the configuration process directly leverages the power of TopSolid, there is no limit to the possible variants, options, or combinations. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n TopSolid\u2019Web Configurator addresses two distinct but complementary needs. The first is sales-oriented, and the second is focused on customer autonomy. <\/span><\/p>\n During a client meeting, the sales representative opens the configurator on their computer, selects the product options (dimensions, materials, accessories, etc.), and the client instantly sees the<\/span> 3D model<\/b> update, with the price recalculated in real time.<\/span><\/p>\n Once the configuration has been approved by the client,<\/span> the 3D files are sent directly to the process engineering teams<\/b>\u2014unambiguously, without the need for re-entry, and without the risk of misinterpretation.<\/p>\n For companies whose teams spend a lot of time on <\/span>repetitive, low-value-added quotes<\/b>, TopSolid\u2019Web Configurator makes it possible to redirect part of this workflow directly to customers.<\/span> <\/p>\n \u201cAnd if the customer wants to go into more detail about a specific design, you offer to put them in touch with a sales representative\u2014but with a solid foundation to build on,\u201d summarizes Julien Poirot.<\/span><\/p>\n This model frees up sales time for more complex projects<\/b>, without compromising the quality of customer service. Teams focus on areas where their expertise truly makes a difference. <\/span><\/p>\n >>>See also \u2013 <\/span>Automation, integration, simulation: A guide to game-changing CAD\/CAM trends<\/a><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n TopSolid\u2019Web Configurator includes a pricing engine and CQS <\/b>(<\/span>Cloud Quote Services<\/span><\/i>)<\/span>). It automatically calculates the price of each configuration by applying the pricing rules defined by the company: quantities, options, assembly costs, surcharges, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n The issue goes beyond a simple price calculation. \u201cThis provides a <\/span>structure<\/b> and<\/span> discipline<\/b>. \u201cAnd it allows the company to capitalize on its expertise,\u201d explains Julien Poirot. “Because today, when you have a sales representative who has all the expertise and experience with products and pricing, if they decide to leave, everything is lost. With the configurator, we can establish company policies. This allows for a <\/span>passing on this expertise<\/b>. \u00bb<\/span><\/p>\n The implementation of the CQS also provides an opportunity to<\/span> formalize rules<\/b> which were sometimes based on rough estimates. How do you calculate the cost of installing a railing, a staircase, or a complex structure? Discussions around the table result in clear, well-documented, and reproducible rules, regardless of who is preparing the estimate. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Thomas Lat\u00e9ul\u00e8re, industrial designer at <\/span>Echelles N\u00e9ressy<\/a><\/b>, a manufacturer specializing in industrial access equipment\u2014including ladders, walkways, and guardrails\u2014has been using it in production for seven months. This deployment in a demanding sector illustrates the <\/span>solution reached maturity as soon as it was launched.<\/span><\/p>\n This type of configurable product\u2014structures whose dimensions, safety options, and installation requirements vary from one job site to another\u2014is precisely where TopSolid\u2019Web Configurator delivers the most value: numerous combinations, specific industry rules, and a need for a compelling visual presentation to clients.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n TopSolid\u2019Web Configurator is self-hosted on the customer\u2019s servers. No mandatory use of the cloud, no data transfer through a third party: the company remains <\/span>has full ownership and control over its configurator and data<\/b>. Please note: The CQS pricing engine operates through a dedicated cloud service; only the data necessary for price calculations is transmitted through it.<\/span><\/p>\n The solution is fully customizable: logo, brand guidelines, catalog, visuals. It is also <\/span>multilingual<\/b>, making it a tool well-suited for manufacturers that sell internationally. The goal is clear: for the configurator to be seen as the customer\u2019s tool, not as a TopSolid product. <\/span><\/p>\n Three deployment architectures<\/b> are available, depending on the traffic volume and the need for isolation from the engineering department: centralized, remote, or isolated.<\/span> <\/p>\n >>>See also \u2013 <\/span>Training Tomorrow\u2019s Technicians Using Today\u2019s Tools<\/a><\/i><\/p>\nA \u201cmessage in a bottle\u201d that found its audience<\/h2>\n
The Decisive Advantage: A Unified Database<\/h2>\n
Two uses, one tool<\/h2>\n
A salesperson armed with a visual sales pitch<\/b><\/h3>\n
A self-contained client based on standard configurations<\/b><\/h3>\n
The CQS: Formalizing Cost Estimates, Capitalizing on Expertise<\/h2>\n
Already in production: Echelles N\u00e9ressy<\/h2>\n
Hosted on your own servers, featuring your brand’s colors<\/h2>\n