Understanding Configura: A Leader in Intelligent Space-Planning Software
Since its founding in 1990, Configura has grown from a Swedish software startup into a globally recognized leader in space-planning and product configuration solutions. At its core, Configura creates intelligent, high-value software tools that help businesses design spaces, specify complex products, accelerate sales workflows, and visualize outcomes in stunning 2D and 3D formats.
Headquartered in Linköping, Sweden, Configura operates in multiple countries, including Germany, the United States, Malaysia, China, and Japan — with offices and commercial operations around the world.
In the arena of Parametric Graphical Configuration (PGC) software — where rules-based components are used to automate design and sales tasks — Configura is widely considered the industry standard.
What Does Configura Do?
At its heart, Configura builds software that simplifies the complex by automating tasks that would otherwise take hours or days. Its technology lets companies design configurable products and spaces easily, generate accurate proposals instantly, visualize projects in 3D, and integrate seamlessly with digital ordering systems.
Parametric Graphical Configuration (PGC)
Configura’s core technology is known as Parametric Graphical Configuration — software that embeds product rules, constraints, pricing, and logic directly into a graphical user interface. For users, this means:
- Designing configurable products and environments in both 2D and 3D.
- Automatic calculations and validation of dimensions, price, and compatibility.
- Real-time generation of quotes, materials lists, installation documents, and orders.
Rather than manually creating drawings, configuring products, and calculating costs in separate systems, Configura combines these steps into one fluid process. This reduces errors, speeds up workflows, and enables sales teams to present professional, accurate proposals directly to clients.
Signature Products: CET and More
Configura’s technology is packaged primarily under the CET platform, a suite of SaaS tools designed for specific industries.
CET Designer
This flagship product — often just referred to as "CET" — allows designers, salespeople, and dealers to:
- Drag and drop realistic 3D representations of products.
- Configure complex systems with built-in rules and constraints.
- Produce automatic quotes, part lists, renderings, and documentation.
- Create immersive visual outputs, including photorealistic renderings and walkthrough animations.
The goal is to make the drawing itself the solution — meaning every detail needed to close a sale or complete a project can be derived from a single design session.
While older versions of Configura’s original standalone software are now being phased out, CET represents the modern, cloud-enabled future of how configurable products are sold and specified.
Industry-Specific Editions
Configura tailors its software to different markets:
- CET Commercial Interiors: For office, healthcare, educational spaces, and contract furniture.
- CET Material Handling: For warehouse layouts, storage systems, and logistics planning.
- CET Kitchen & Bath: For kitchen, bath, and closet design.
Each version includes real manufacturer product libraries, precise pricing, and rules that reflect real-world constraints — making it a powerful tool for specification and sale.
Why Configura Matters: The Business Impact
Configura’s tools have a dramatic impact on efficiency, accuracy, and revenue generation across industries that sell configurable products.
Boosts Efficiency
Traditionally, designing a configurable product or workspace involved multiple disconnected steps:
- Drafting drawings separately.
- Manually calculating prices and compatibility.
- Generating quotations.
- Re-entering data into ordering systems.
Configura consolidates these workflows. A design created in CET can instantly produce quotes, visuals, and order data — saving significant time and minimizing errors.
Enhances Sales and Customer Experience
Sales teams using Configura can present customers with:
- Interactive, accurate design visualizations.
- Instant pricing and parts breakdowns.
- Well-formatted proposals without manual overhead.
This modernizes the selling process and helps companies appear more professional and responsive.
Reduces Errors and Risk
By embedding product rules and logic directly into the design software, Configura ensures that configurations are valid and manufacturable — preventing costly mistakes before orders are placed.
Global Reach and Partnerships
Configura’s software is used worldwide by designers, manufacturers, dealers, and sales professionals. With offices in Europe, Asia, and North America, the company supports customers across diverse industries and markets.
The company also works with a large ecosystem of manufacturing partners — more than 200 brands have content in Configura’s libraries — giving users access to a vast range of configurable products with accurate specifications and pricing.
Company Mission, Vision, and Values
Configura’s mission centers on pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space design by making complex things easy. The company envisions its platform as the world’s most intelligent system for designing sustainable, beautiful, and efficient spaces.
With a culture built around innovation, teamwork, and commitment, Configura invests in long-lasting solutions and supports both internal growth and customer development. Sustainability efforts, educational initiatives, and local community engagement are also part of the company’s broader philosophy.
Innovation and Future Growth
In recent years, Configura has continued expanding its SaaS offerings, integrating cloud capabilities, and enhancing collaboration features. For example, online tools like Aline help users quickly specify products using web-based catalogs alongside real-time collaboration features.
These advancements reflect a broader shift toward modern, accessible design platforms that support remote teams and streamline complex technical workflows.
So, Who Should Consider Configura?
Configura’s software is ideal for:
- Manufacturers of configurable products who need rule-based systems to reduce sales cycles.
- Interior designers, architects, and space planners who want integrated visualization and quotation tools.
- Sales professionals who sell modular systems like furniture, fixtures, material handling equipment, and architectural elements.
- Dealers and resellers who require accurate, up-to-date product libraries and seamless integration with ERP and order management systems.
Final Thoughts
Configura has carved out a unique niche by solving a practical challenge faced by many businesses — how to sell and specify configurable products without manual errors, time-consuming tasks, and disconnected tools. By leveraging the power of Parametric Graphical Configuration and intuitive software design, Configura has helped thousands of professionals around the globe work smarter, faster, and more accurately.
Whether you are a manufacturer seeking to modernize your sales process or a designer looking to streamline your workflow, Configura’s solutions provide powerful capabilities that bridge design, sales, and production in one intelligent platform.