Introduction
Compare DealHub CPQ vs. Configure One CPQ
One of the most critical elements of the sales cycle is the quoting process. Confusing, inaccurate quotes make it hard for prospective buyers to understand what they’re buying. The time it takes to develop keeps sellers away from profitable tasks like prospecting, outbound sales, and presenting product demos. CPQ software automates the document generation process, meaning that quoting, contracting, and order management are faster and more accurate, adding efficiency to the sales process and improving overall sales productivity.
DealHub CPQ and Configure One CPQ are two widely used quoting solutions, and they both share the same fundamental purpose: Streamline the quoting process and speed up the sales cycle. They both achieve this through standard CPQ functions, which include product configuration, guided selling, document generation, and CRM integration.
DealHub focuses on the whole revenue lifecycle. It gives sellers the data they need to create complex quotes quickly and accurately. For subscription businesses, it also handles billing and contract renewal to ensure on-time payment and long-term customer loyalty.
Configure One helps manufacturers and distributors drive product sales by making it easier for customers to purchase products. It has a powerful configurator that allows customers to customize their orders, as well as a comprehensive collection of tools, including 3D product visualizations and omnichannel order management.
Product Overview
Overview of each CPQ Solution
DealHub and Configure One approach the CPQ function quite differently. DealHub supports sales-heavy companies like software vendors by optimizing their revenue cycles. Configure One is purpose-built for manufacturers, including powerful tools specifically designed to manage quotes, high-volume orders, and the documents involved in those processes.
Defining DealHub CPQ
DealHub CPQ is a revenue amplification platform—that is, it’s designed for companies with a focus on increasing sales revenue. It offers CPQ and CLM software, as well as billing and subscription management. With DealHub, you can create complex quotes quickly and accurately, as well as track payment information for better relationships with customers.
DealHub automates time-consuming tasks for sales reps and provides them with a toolkit for closing deals. Its no-code environment allows sales and RevOps teams to adapt quickly to changes in business needs—such as pricing and product updates—in real-time.
The platform promotes revenue growth by allowing RevOps teams to manage discounts and dynamic pricing while controlling multiple quote versions for multiple customers. Advanced approval workflows make it easier to quickly implement changes based on sales and projected revenue.
Beyond its core features and added benefits of subscription and billing management, its separate product—DealRoom, a sales engagement platform—works hand-in-hand with DealHub CPQ. It unifies all sales collaboration, keeping multiple sellers and company decision-makers in one group for immediate document sharing, appointment scheduling, and communication.
Although DealHub serves multiple customer segments, these features (along with its scalability and no-code customizability) make it ideal for mid-sized to enterprise SaaS companies, many of which use recurring revenue models and microservice product architecture DealHub’s product effortlessly manages.
Defining Configure One CPQ
At the heart of Configure One is its standout product configurator, which has both 2D and 3D visualization capabilities. Customers can interact with this web-based configurator to see and make changes to product features according to their requirements. This results in more precise cost estimates, a lower likelihood of mistakes, and time savings for the purchaser and vendor.
With Configure One, CAD automation is another standout feature. Using Configure One CPQ, manufacturers can automatically create production drawings, BOMs (Bill of Materials), and routings based on selected product configurations. When CPQ and CAD operate in parallel, it streamlines the manufacturing process, reduces manual effort and errors, and accelerates time to market.
Configure One CPQ provides a powerful GraphQL API and custom coding options for enterprise manufacturers and those with complex product models (made up of hundreds of parts). Configure One customers with the IT infrastructure can integrate their CPQ with any CRM or ERP system. This makes it a flexible solution that enables a unified data flow across different systems, improving visibility across the entire sales and manufacturing process.
Product Features
Comparison of Key Features
Aside from core CPQ software features, DealHub and Configure One have many contrasting features. Since they serve completely different customer segments, both products have specific features tailored for their respective audiences. =
DealHub stands out with its DealRoom feature, a collaborative platform that brings all deal-related activities into a single workspace for more efficient decision-making and faster sales cycles. It also excels in subscription management, offering tools for automated billing, contract renewals, and customer retention, making it ideal for businesses with subscription-based pricing models.
Configure One shines in complex configuration of physical products. Its interactive web configurator eliminates one of the biggest challenges for B2B manufacturers: helping customers understand what the product looks like in real life. Omnichannel order management in Configure One CPQ seamlessly integrates with other systems to create a unified order management process.
Here’s a breakdown of each product’s features:
| DealHub CPQ | Configure One CPQ |
|---|---|
| Centralized revenue management platform offering quote-to-cash, billing, subscription management, and sales engagement capabilities. | Specialized CPQ designed for manufacturers and distributors, focusing on product configuration, quote creation, and order management. |
| Seamless integration with numerous third-party applications, including CRM, ERP, accounting software, DocuSign, and invoicing platforms. | Facilitates integration with various CRM and ERP systems, enabling seamless data exchange and improved efficiency. |
| Ensures prompt deployment through no-code implementation for mid-sized customers. IT implementation and training required at larger companies. | Offers specialized support for larger teams, including extensive training and implementation assistance. |
| Guided selling flows help sales reps generate accurate proposals and quotes, with all data synchronized in CRM. | Powerful product configurator that allows sales reps to create detailed and accurate quotes for complex products. |
| Designed to scale and adapt according to the growth and expansion of the sales team. | Capable of handling large-scale, complex product configurations, making it scalable for growing businesses. |
| DealRoom facilitates the entire sales process with digital proposals sent via attachable files or links. | Employs 3D product visualizations and omnichannel order management to enhance the buying experience. |
| Ready-to-use features for contract management, document generation, e-signature, and multi-dimensional pricing models. | Offers a comprehensive suite of tools for managing product configurations, pricing models, and documentation. |
| Predictive sales playbooks accelerate the sales process by guiding sales reps. | Uses advanced configuration rules to guide sales reps through the product configuration process, speeding up the sales process. |
| All-encompassing suite for subscription, renewal, and order management with rules-based quoting for complex sales. | Adapt customer-specific sales discounts and prices with subscription features. |
| Furnishes sales reps with buyer engagement insights for future sales engagements. | Provides detailed configuration data, aiding sales reps in refining their approach for future sales engagements. |
| Automated approval workflows push buyers through the funnel faster. | Provides detailed configuration data, aiding sales reps in refining their approach for future sales engagements. |
| Cross-functional collaboration during the quoting process, complete with audit trails for accountability and transparency. | Utilizes automation in order management and production data integration to streamline the sales funnel. |
| Web-based platform. | Web-based platform. |
| Phone, mobile, and online customer support Knowledge base Training and enablement from DealHub experts | Online support Customer help portal Enterprise support portal |
Customer Size
Ideal Customer Profiles
Understanding which customers each product serves can help potential buyers decide which one is best for their organization.
DealHub is ideally suited for mid-sized to enterprise-level SaaS companies. Let’s consider a SaaS company that offers a main product in price tiers and various microservices as add-ons. It has a 20-person SDR teamthat focuses on outbound and manages inbound leads from marketing campaigns.
In this scenario, DealHub’s no-code environment allows sales management to quickly change product information, such as pricing adjustments or product updates, without needing extensive technical knowledge. It also allows them to create sales workflows to guide their SDR team.
For the SDRs, DealHub’s guided selling feature moves them through selecting the right products and identifying upselling opportunities, ensuring a more personalized and efficient approach to each prospect. With DealHub’s automated document generation process, Reps generate sales quotes almost immediately, speeding up the sales cycle and helping customers make faster and more informed decisions.
Configure One is designed for B2B ecommerce. Let’s consider a manufacturer of consumer packaged goods (CPG) that’s creating an eco-friendly snack bar with biodegradable packaging for a new customer.
In this context, Configure One’s 3D product configurator allows the prospective buyer to interact with a 3D model of their custom packaging ahead of time. This would not only enhance the customer’s experience but also reduce the likelihood of misunderstandings or miscommunication about the final product’s design.
Sales reps could then assemble detailed customer quotes, even for complex or highly customized orders. This capability would significantly speed up the quoting process, enhancing customer satisfaction and allowing the sales team to handle a higher volume of orders.
Throughout this process, leadership uses Configure One’s robust integration capabilities to achieve a unified view of sales and manufacturing data across their CRM and ERP systems.
Customer Support
Support Features & Resources for Each Solution
Customer support is especially important for CPQ software—implementation requires significant IT resources to ensure companywide adoption and ongoing support is a requirement for long-term success. Both DealHub and Configure One provide dedicated customer support teams to help with implementation, training, and ongoing technical assistance.
DealHub provides comprehensive customer support, starting from the onboarding process. An in-house team of experts ensures proper product setup and educates reps and managers on using the software effectively. This hands-on approach, coupled with ongoing support, fosters quick software adoption and reduces the likelihood of post-implementation issues.
Configure One offers robust support tailored to the needs of larger organizations through its dedicated enterprise arm. For all other customers, its customer portal serves as a hub for users to access various resources, including FAQs, tutorials, and direct communication with the support team, ensuring businesses have the resources needed to effectively use the software and troubleshoot issues.
Pricing
Breakdown of Pricing Options
Pricing plays a critical role in any CPQ software decision. DealHub and Configure One both offer pricing plans that aim to increase efficiency, reduce complexity, and deliver value for their customers. Both companies use the subscription business model and operate using quote-based pricing that requires a conversation with the sales team.
On the low end, DealHub’s software starts at $50 per month. There are no pricing tiers—all product features are included with every software license. The price increases with each additional sales rep added to the subscription.
Configure One’s pricing is similar—its base-level pricing is $150. Like DealHub, it offers all features in each plan, and its pricing is primarily scaled based on the number of users.
Here’s a quick rundown of the costs associated with each product:
| DealHub CPQ | Configure One CPQ | |
|---|---|---|
| Product Pricing | Contact sales | Contact sales |
| Implementation Fees | One-time implementation fee | One-time implementation fee |
| Additional Licenses | No additional license fees | No additional license fees |
Summary
Considerations for Choosing Between the Two Solutions
When deciding between DealHub CPQ and Configure One CPQ, there are several distinguishing factors.
Right off the bat, any organization that isn’t in B2B ecommerce or manufacturing is not a good fit for Configure One’s features. Paying such a high amount for a CPQ tool is only a good idea if a company has a real use for Configure One’s 3D product configurator, website integrations for online buyers, and CAD automation. An agency or HR company, for example, wouldn’t benefit from these at all.
Most of DealHub’s customers are SaaS companies—organizations that operate based on projects or one-time contracts would be better off using a software that prioritizes multiple different branded document templates over a streamlined sales cycle and recurring revenue.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
A good CPQ solution must be scalable—it needs to grow with your business and adapt to changing needs. It should also integrate seamlessly with existing sales workflows to avoid disruption and enhance efficiency. Strong customer support is a must to ensure successful implementation and drive companywide adoption.
Each business has unique needs, so it’s important to evaluate multiple vendors to identify the CPQ solution that fits best. A good CPQ solution should also provide.
Conga CPQ (formerly Apttus), which is built on the Salesforce platform, is the most well-known CPQ software. But the choice of CPQ software can depend heavily on specific business needs. There are niche CPQ solutions like DealHub, which is popular for SaaS companies, and Configure One, which is tailored for manufacturers. Agencies and HR companies often rely on PandaDoc, which is known for its document automation capabilities.
The configure stage is where customers select the features, options, and accessories they want in a product or service. This is often done through an interactive interface that allows customers to customize their orders according to their needs—such as size, color, and product pricing. The CPQ software then calculates the total cost of the order based on all these customer-selected elements.
Product variations are necessary for CPQ platforms to provide customers with accurate pricing information. They also ensure that customers can purchase the exact product they need—whether it’s a customized solution or a standard one. Product variations streamline the sales process by making sure that customers get exactly what they’re looking for, quickly and efficiently.
DealHub integrates seamlessly with Salesforce. Salesforce customers can work deals in DealHub’s interface and reflect their data in each customer profile on Salesforce. It also provides insight into pipeline health and close rates, so you can better understand how your sales team performs at each stage of the cycle.
Configure One integrates natively with Salesforce and is available on the AppExchange. This integration helps streamline operations and provides sales teams with a comprehensive view of customer data, including pricing information and product configurations. It also allows for automatic updates to be made to the Salesforce system whenever prices or features change.
The biggest limitation of CPQ in Salesforce is the lack of integration with other Salesforce products. This isn’t a huge issue if a company only relies on its CRM, but it could be problematic for organizations running entirely on Salesforce.
Another issue is the difference in UI. Constantly switching between Salesforce and CPQ can be jarring, so some users opt for a natively integrated product or Salesforce’s own CPQ, rather than a custom-coded integration.
Rhonda Bavaro excels in boosting SaaS companies’ growth through innovative content marketing, thriving in the dynamic sales tech industry amidst evolving technologies that drive revenue acceleration.
