What are the best configure price quote (cpq) software?

Asking for the "best" CPQ software is like asking for the "best" car – it heavily depends on your specific needs, budget, existing tech stack, and the complexity of your products and sales process.

However, I can give you a breakdown of the top contenders and what makes them suitable for different scenarios.

**Key Factors to Consider When Choosing CPQ Software:**

1. **Company Size & Complexity:** Are you a small business, mid-market, or large enterprise? Do you have simple products or highly configurable ones with complex pricing rules?

2. **Existing Tech Stack:** What CRM (Salesforce, Dynamics, SAP, Oracle) and ERP systems do you use? Integration is crucial.

3. **Industry:** While CPQ is broadly applicable, some solutions might have strengths in specific industries (e.g., manufacturing, SaaS, services).

4. **Specific Needs:**

* **Product Configuration:** How complex are your product bundles, options, and dependencies?

* **Pricing & Discounting:** Do you need tiered pricing, subscription models, usage-based pricing, complex discounting rules, or AI-driven pricing optimization?

* **Quoting & Proposal Generation:** Do you need advanced document generation, e-signatures, and branded proposals?

* **Approval Workflows:** How many levels of approval do you need for quotes and discounts?

* **Contract Management (CLM):** Do you need integrated contract lifecycle management?

* **Guided Selling:** Do your sales reps need help identifying the right products for customers?

* **Scalability:** Can the solution grow with your business?

* **Ease of Use:** How intuitive is it for sales reps and administrators?

* **Implementation Time & Cost:** What's your budget and timeline for deployment?

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### Top CPQ Software Contenders:

Here are some of the leading CPQ solutions, categorized by their typical strengths:

**1. For Salesforce Users (Market Leaders):**

* **Salesforce CPQ (formerly SteelBrick):**

* **Strengths:** Deeply integrated with Salesforce Sales Cloud, highly configurable, robust for complex product configurations, pricing, and discounting. Excellent for companies already heavily invested in the Salesforce ecosystem. Strong community and extensive documentation.

* **Best For:** Mid-market to large enterprises using Salesforce as their CRM, especially those with complex product catalogs, subscription models, or intricate pricing rules.

**2. For Large Enterprises & Specific Ecosystems:**

* **SAP CPQ:**

* **Strengths:** Seamless integration with SAP ERP and CRM systems. Strong for companies already running on SAP's ecosystem, offering deep integration with manufacturing, supply chain, and financial processes.

* **Best For:** Large enterprises heavily invested in SAP, particularly those in manufacturing, retail, or other industries that benefit from tight integration with SAP's broader suite.

* **Oracle CPQ (formerly BigMachines):**

* **Strengths:** Robust and scalable, with strong capabilities for complex product configuration, pricing, and proposal generation. Integrates well with Oracle's CRM and ERP solutions.

* **Best For:** Large enterprises using Oracle's ecosystem, especially those in manufacturing, high-tech, or services with highly complex product offerings and global operations.

* **Conga CPQ (formerly Apttus CPQ):**

* **Strengths:** Enterprise-grade solution known for handling extreme complexity in product configuration, pricing, and contract management (often bundled with Conga CLM). Integrates with Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, and other CRMs.

* **Best For:** Large enterprises with highly complex sales processes, intricate product configurations, and a strong need for integrated contract lifecycle management.

**3. For AI-Driven Pricing & Revenue Optimization:**

* **PROS Smart CPQ:**

* **Strengths:** Differentiates itself with AI-driven pricing optimization capabilities, helping companies set optimal prices and discounts to maximize revenue and margins. Strong for complex B2B pricing.

* **Best For:** Mid-market to large enterprises, especially in manufacturing, distribution, and services, that want to leverage AI for dynamic pricing, personalized offers, and revenue growth.

**4. For Mid-Market & Streamlined Sales Processes:**

* **DealHub.io:**

* **Strengths:** Focuses on streamlining the entire sales process from quote to close. Offers guided selling, interactive proposals, e-signature, and robust analytics. Good for ease of use and quick deployment.

* **Best For:** Mid-market companies looking for an intuitive, all-in-one platform that simplifies quoting, proposal generation, and contract management, often integrating with Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, and HubSpot.

* **QuoteWerks:**

* **Strengths:** A long-standing player, known for its flexibility and ability to integrate with a wide range of CRMs (Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, ConnectWise, Autotask, etc.), accounting systems, and distributors. Cost-effective.

* **Best For:** Small to mid-sized businesses that need a flexible, robust quoting tool that can integrate with their existing diverse tech stack without breaking the bank.

**5. For Microsoft Dynamics Users (often with add-ons):**

* **Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales (with add-ons):**

* **Strengths:** While Dynamics 365 has basic quoting capabilities, for true CPQ functionality, users often integrate with third-party solutions like DealHub.io, Experlogix, or custom-built solutions.

* **Best For:** Companies already heavily invested in the Microsoft Dynamics 365 ecosystem that need a CPQ solution that integrates seamlessly.

**6. For Simpler Quoting & Document Generation (SMB Focus):**

* **PandaDoc / DocuSign CLM (with quoting features):**

* **Strengths:** Primarily document generation and e-signature platforms, but they offer robust quoting and proposal creation features. Excellent for creating professional, branded documents quickly.

* **Best For:** Small to mid-sized businesses with less complex product configurations that prioritize fast, professional proposal generation and e-signature capabilities.

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### How to Choose the "Best" CPQ for You:

1. **Define Your Requirements:** Document your current challenges, desired features, integration needs, and budget.

2. **Assess Your Current Tech Stack:** Prioritize solutions that integrate seamlessly with your existing CRM and ERP.

3. **Consider Your Product Complexity:** If you have highly configurable products, you'll need a more robust CPQ.

4. **Evaluate Implementation & Support:** Look into the vendor's implementation process, training, and ongoing support.

5. **Request Demos & Trials:** See the software in action with your specific use cases.

6. **Read Reviews:** Check independent review sites like G2, Capterra, and Gartner Peer Insights for user feedback.

There's no single "best" CPQ, but by carefully evaluating your unique situation, you can find the one that best fits your business.