Product Configuration Dictionary

The field of product configuration has many tricky words and abbreviations that are hard to guess the meaning of, especially when the whole chain from client to manufacturing is digital and automated. Therefore we have created a short dictionary with some of the words we encounter daily.


APIApplication Programming Interface
Interface available between software and cloud services for data exchange and interaction

ATOAssembled To Order

BIMBuilding Information Modeling
Process to capture digital representations (3D, info, meta) of buildings and their components (3D, meta, etc). Commonly uses the open file format .ifc for data exchange.

CAD – Computer Aided Design
Software that helps with the design of a product in 2D and 3D.

CPQConfigure Price Quote

CMS Content Management System
The system providing a website or intraweb

CRMCustomer Relationship Management

CTOConfigure To Order

Customer self service app
An application that enables the customer to do work that otherwise a sales person would have done for the customer

ERPEnterprise Resource Planning
Software that helps to manage the main business processes in a company.

ETOEngineered To Order

Design Automation
Automated software for automating processes around CAD. Most commonly used when designing a product but can also be used for with product configuration.

4IR – Fourth Industrial Revolution

Knowledge-based configuration
Synonym for Product Configuration

Mass Customization
On-demand manufacturing of configured and customized products with a high level of automation that enables pricing comparable to traditional mass-manufactured products.

MTOMade To Order

PIM Product Information Management

RFQ Request For Quote
Enable clients to send in a request for a quote. Commonly done with a web form or e-mail.

SaaSSoftware as a Service
Software services commonly run in the cloud that is billed regularly

STEPStandard for the Exchange of Product model
File format .stp or .step for 3D CAD information according to ISO 10303

Visual Configuration
Product Configuration with visual feedback of the final product with every choice made during the configuration. Can also refer to configuration by interacting with a 2D / 3D visualization directly.

VPSVirtual Private Server
Common hosting alternative for web services

UIUser Interface

UXUser eXperience