CPQ (configure, price, quote)
The software category that supports CTO processes. Traditional CPQ is per-seat for sales teams; Poly9 is CPQ for manufacturers.
Compare CPQ tools →Glossary
Configure-to-order
Configure-to-order (CTO) is a manufacturing strategy where products are configured from available options and built to customer specifications. Unlike make-to-stock (finished goods inventory) or engineer-to-order (custom engineering), CTO assembles predefined components and options into customer-specific configurations.
Definition
What configure-to-order means in practice
The three manufacturing strategies
Make-to-stock (MTS)
Products are manufactured in advance and held in inventory. Buyers order from finished goods. Fast delivery, no customization.
Configure-to-order (CTO)
Products are assembled from predefined options after the order. Buyers configure size, finish, hardware, fabric grade or other standardized choices. Priced from rules.
Engineer-to-order (ETO) or full make-to-order (MTO)
Products are designed or engineered for each order. Requires custom engineering, drawings or non-standard manufacturing. Priced per project, often with price on request.
Why CTO matters in custom product quoting
Configure-to-order is the sweet spot for manufacturers who offer customization without reinventing the product for every order. Furniture makers, cabinetry shops, textile mills, signage companies and industrial equipment suppliers often operate in CTO mode. The buyer picks finish, size, material grade or options from a defined set, and the manufacturer builds it to spec.
The challenge is quoting speed. When every configuration means hunting through price books, Excel lookups or waiting for the pricing team, orders stall. Buyers move on. CTO only works at scale when configuration and pricing happen in real time.
How Poly9 handles it
Configure options, price from rules or POR
Poly9 AI is built for configure-to-order products. A buyer or sales rep describes what they need in plain language. The AI asks clarifying questions to configure the product (finish, size, fabric grade, hardware, substrate, quantity), then prices it from your approved rules and matrices.
If a requested configuration is outside your defined options, for example a size you have not priced or a custom material, Poly9 returns price on request and drafts the request. The system never guesses a price for options you have not approved. Certified pricing from rules, or honest POR.
- Step 1Buyer describes what they needI need this dining table in walnut, eight feet long, with the brushed brass hardware.
- Step 2AI configures from your optionsPoly9 identifies the product, applies the walnut finish, extends it to the eight-foot length if you stock it, and adds the brass hardware option.
- Step 3Price from your rules, or PORIf walnut, eight feet and brass hardware are in your pricing matrix, Poly9 quotes the exact price. If the eight-foot length is not priced yet, it returns price on request and drafts the inquiry.
- Step 4Shareable quote or collectionThe configured product with its price (or POR) is added to a shareable quote or buyer collection link. No Excel rebuilds. No email ping-pong.
Industries using configure-to-order
- Furniture and cabinetry: Size, finish, hardware, countertop material
- Textiles and fabrics: Grade, colorway, size, vertical repeat, NFPA rating
- Signage and displays: Substrate, size, mounting, illumination
- Industrial equipment: Options, ratings, capacity, safety features
- Windows, doors and millwork: Material, glass type, hardware, dimensions
Questions about configure-to-order
How is configure-to-order different from make-to-order?
Make-to-order (MTO) starts production after an order is received and can involve any level of customization, including engineering work. Configure-to-order means the product is assembled from a fixed set of predefined options and components. CTO is faster and more standardized than full MTO.
What happens when a configuration requires custom engineering?
When a requested configuration falls outside your predefined option matrix, for example a size or material you have not priced, Poly9 AI returns price on request. It drafts the request for you. The system never guesses a price for options you have not approved. Every number on the quote is one you certified.
Can configure-to-order work for complex products like cabinetry or furniture?
Yes. Many furniture, cabinetry, textile and industrial equipment manufacturers run on CTO. The key is defining your configurable options (finish, size, fabric grade, hardware, substrate) and pricing them through rules. Poly9 AI handles the configuration conversation and applies your certified pricing matrices.
Is CPQ software the same as configure-to-order?
CPQ (configure, price, quote) is the software category that supports CTO processes. Traditional CPQ tools are built for enterprise sales teams with per-seat pricing. Poly9 AI is CPQ for manufacturers of custom products, priced per sales action rather than per seat, with plain-language chat and visual rendering built in.
See configure-to-order in your industry.
Create your account, add your catalog or start with your industry sample, and ask for a configured product. 250 sales actions free for 30 days, no card, and the account stays yours.