If you’ve ever wrestled with getting your quoting software to handle more than just the basics, this guide is for you. Maybe you’ve got a sales team that keeps running into weird product combinations, or you’re tired of fixing quotes after the fact. Configuring complex product rules in Experlogix can actually save you from a lot of headaches—but only if you do it right.
This isn’t about setting up one or two “if this, then that” rules. We’re talking about building logic that can handle real-world sales: bundles, dependencies, incompatibilities, pricing exceptions, and workflows that don’t break every time the product team sneezes. Let’s break down how to get there—without making things more complicated than they need to be.
1. Get Your Groundwork Right: Map Your Product Logic
Before you even open Experlogix, take a step back. Don’t try to translate messy spreadsheets or tribal knowledge straight into rules. You need a clean, written map of:
- Product options: Every selectable feature, add-on, or upgrade.
- Dependencies: What’s required if you pick X? What can’t be chosen with Y?
- Constraints: Are there legal, technical, or business limits? (e.g., “Can’t sell this widget in California.”)
- Pricing rules: What changes the price, and how?
- Approval requirements: When do quotes need to get flagged for review?
Pro tip: Don’t skip this. If you start building rules without a clear map, you’ll end up with a tangled mess that’s hard to fix later.
2. Start Simple: Build and Test Core Rules
Experlogix is pretty flexible, but it’s tempting to go wild and automate everything up front. Resist the urge. Start with the basics:
- Model your products and options. Use Experlogix’s product catalog tools to list out each product, option, and variant.
- Add basic constraints and validations. Set up rules for the most obvious “can’t do that” combinations. For example:
- If “Premium Support” is selected, “Basic Support” can’t be.
- If “Large Frame” is chosen, only certain motors are available.
- Test in the configurator. Don’t just trust that your rules work—run through likely (and unlikely) combinations yourself.
What works
- Experlogix’s rule builder is straightforward once you get used to it.
- You can start with simple “exclusion” and “inclusion” rules and layer in complexity as needed.
What doesn’t
- Don’t try to encode every rare edge case immediately.
- Avoid building rules that rely on people knowing unwritten exceptions—write them down or you’ll regret it later.
3. Layer in Advanced Logic: Dependencies, Bundles, and Dynamic Pricing
Once the basics are solid, you can add more advanced logic. This is where Experlogix’s rule engine starts to shine—if you keep things organized.
a. Dependencies and Required Selections
Set up rules so that certain options are automatically selected (or required) when others are picked. For example: - If “International Shipping” is chosen, a “Customs Documentation Fee” is required. - If a “High-Voltage Power Supply” is selected, certain safety certifications must also be included.
b. Bundles and Optional Packages
Maybe you want to offer preset bundles or let reps build custom packages. Use groupings and bundle rules: - Create bundles that auto-select compatible products. - Allow optional add-ons, but enforce compatibility checks.
c. Conditional Pricing
Experlogix can handle pretty complex pricing—tiered, volume-based, or conditional discounts. - Set rules for price overrides if certain combinations are picked. - Use formulas for volume or customer-specific discounts. (But keep your formulas readable. If you need a PhD to follow them, you’ve gone too far.)
Pro tip: Document each advanced rule in plain English somewhere outside Experlogix (e.g., a shared doc). When rules start to fail, you’ll thank yourself later.
4. Validation, Error Handling, and User Guidance
Don’t just block users when they make a mistake—help them fix it. Experlogix lets you customize error messages and guidance.
- Write clear error messages: “Can’t select Turbo Engine with Economy Trim. Choose a different combination.”
- Use warnings for soft constraints: “This option requires manager approval.”
- Guide users to the right options instead of just saying “no.”
What to ignore: Default error messages are usually vague and frustrating. Spend the extra 10 minutes to write your own.
5. Automate Approvals and Special Workflows
If your sales process requires approvals for certain configurations or discount levels, set up workflow triggers in Experlogix.
- Flag quotes for review if they contain restricted products or exceed discount thresholds.
- Route approvals to the right manager or team, not just a generic queue.
- Integrate with your CRM or ERP so approvals (and rejections) sync automatically.
Heads up: Don’t over-automate. Not every minor exception needs an approval workflow, or you’ll drown your managers in pointless emails.
6. Test, Test, and Test Again (Then Get Feedback)
This is where most teams fall down: they build a bunch of rules, try them once or twice, and call it done. Here’s what actually works:
- Run through the top 20 sales scenarios, not just the happy path.
- Ask your sales team to break it. You’ll find issues you never thought of.
- Check edge cases: What happens if someone skips a step or enters weird data?
- Document bugs and confusion points as you go.
Pro tip: Don’t be afraid to delete or rewrite rules that turn out to be more trouble than they’re worth.
7. Maintain and Audit Your Rules Regularly
Product rules aren’t “set and forget.” Set up a regular cadence—quarterly is about right—to review and prune your configuration logic.
- Remove rules for products you no longer sell.
- Update logic as products, pricing, and policies change.
- Ask sales and ops teams where the rules are causing confusion or slowing them down.
What to ignore: Don’t keep legacy rules “just in case.” If nobody can explain why a rule exists, it’s probably safe to get rid of it.
Quick Reference: What to Do (and What to Skip)
Do: - Map your rules before you build them. - Start simple and layer on complexity. - Write error messages like a human. - Test with real sales scenarios. - Prune rules that cause more pain than they solve.
Skip: - Over-automating every rare exception. - Building rules nobody can maintain. - Relying on default messages. - Ignoring feedback from the field.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate Often
Configuring complex product rules in Experlogix can save you—and your sales team—a ton of time and frustration, but only if you treat it like a living system. Don’t chase perfection right away. Build what really matters, test with real people, and keep cleaning things up as you go.
A good rule of thumb: if your rules are getting harder to follow than your actual products, it’s time to step back and simplify. Start with what works, and add sophistication only where it genuinely helps. That’s how you get a quoting process that’s powerful and practical.