Automotive configurator as a digital platform for product customization

Abstract

The paper focuses on the characteristics of product sales and services online in the automotive business. The study sheds light on product customization and its effect in the eyes of customers, and examines modern tools in marketing communication such as online configurator, online product videos, tutorials for customers, and online chatbots as a possibility of creating a positive experience for different customers. The authors investigated the automotive configurators of two global car producers, Skoda Auto and Opel. Based on the research conducted as an experiment configuring a vehicle by respondents in the Czech Republic, the results show that from the customer’s point of view, the Skoda Auto configurator possesses more comprehensive characteristics in comparison to its competitor, Opel.