Product Configuration Systems: State of the Art, Conceptualization and Extensions

Blecker, Thorsten and Abdelkafi, Nizar and Kreutler, Gerold and Friedrich, Gerhard (2004): Product Configuration Systems: State of the Art, Conceptualization and Extensions. Published in: Génie logiciel & Intelligence artificielle. Eight Maghrebian Conference on Software Engineering and Artificial Intelligence (MCSEAI 2004) (2004): pp. 25-36.

Abstract

Product configurators are considered to be among the most successful applications of artificial intelligence technology. In this paper, we determine different conceptualizations of configurators and condense them in a comprehensive morphological box, which should support configurator designers as well as decision makers in selecting the right system. The analysis of the criteria according to which configurators that are designed thus far reveals a neglect of the front-end perspective. Therefore, it is relevant to extend configurators with a front-end component assisting customers during product configuration through advisory. We develop a framework describing the main requirements on an advisory system and propose the technical infrastructure for its implementation. Finally, the advisory system and the configurator are integrated into a comprehensive interaction system.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Institution: University of Klagenfurt
• Language: English
• Keywords: product configurators; advisory system; product personalization
• Subjects: M - Business Administration and Business Economics ; Marketing ; Accounting ; Personnel Economics > M1 - Business Administration > M11 - Production Management; M - Business Administration and Business Economics ; Marketing ; Accounting ; Personnel Economics > M1 - Business Administration > M10 - General; M - Business Administration and Business Economics ; Marketing ; Accounting ; Personnel Economics > M3 - Marketing and Advertising > M31 - Marketing