When a customer needs a part order, Creabis is ready to respond. Learn how the German 3D printing service bureau developed its web shop to accept part orders 24/7.
Today, consumers have high expectations for the online purchasing experience. Whether buying a personal item from their preferred platform or purchasing on behalf of an organization, customers are accustomed to seamless and efficient digital interactions.
Creabis, a 3D printing service bureau based in Munich, Germany, recognized an opportunity to grow its business and enhance customer experience by making its services more accessible online. The company sought an off-the-shelf solution that would allow them to focus on their core expertise: 3D printing parts. This led them to 3YOURMIND.
A Place Where Customers Can Order 24/7
Creabis has always prioritized customer service, but they recognized an opportunity for improvement. One way to do that was to empower prospective customers to place orders outside traditional business hours.
“One of the reasons we chose 3YOURMIND software was to have an online shop where our customers can place orders 24/7,” says Ralf Deuke, Managing Director at Creabis.
Although there were options like building a custom website or using generic eCommerce platforms, Creabis knew they needed a solution that understood 3D printing operations. Most software platforms lacked the specialized quoting capabilities for additive manufacturing. For example, creating price quotes for 3D-printed part orders is a complex process that requires considerations such as print feasibility, material selection, post-processing services, and the number of print jobs needed to complete the order.
“At a minimum, we receive 20 to 30 orders daily, sometimes more,” Deuke says. “Some of these orders contain 30 to 40 parts, and we even handle orders with more than 100 geometries.”
Before launching the web shop, Creabis sent customers price quotes within four to six hours—an impressive turnaround given the complexity of additive manufacturing orders.
“One of the key factors in making additive manufacturing profitable is nesting parts to maximize job loads,” Deuke explains. “In the past, our sales managers had to manually sort through all available orders, analyzing different geometries, pictures, and written measurements to determine which parts could be combined into one job.”
Pictured: Creabis uses software to streamline its order and production operations.
Creabis used 3YOURMIND’s Distributed Manufacturing software to significantly streamline its pre-production workflow. Instead of four to six hours, customers have a price and delivery quote instantly.
“Now, with the software, we can sort parts by size, priority, or target delivery date,” says Deuke. “It also speeds up the process of identifying the right parts for the right jobs, giving us a clear advantage in pre-production.”
Creabis Uses Workflow Solutions to Grow Its Business
Beyond operational efficiencies, the online shop has also driven business growth. Creabis can track customer orders and buying patterns, so when a customer reaches a certain level of orders or requests, a salesperson can contact the customer to explore additional service opportunities.
“I would say the web shop has lowered the barrier to entry,” Deuke adds. “The software has helped us generate more customers, and they really like it. It’s also incredibly easy for them to reorder.”
When customers submit a reorder, Creabis can quickly reference the software’s order history to ensure consistency in production, including using the same machine and materials, as well as maintaining the same build orientations.
“That’s a big advantage, especially for serial manufacturing,” Deuke concludes.
Overall, presenting prospective customers with the option to order online or contact a Creabis sales representative has had a positive impact on new business.
“We have customers who never contacted us via email or spoke to our sales team,” says Deuke. “The availability of the web shop has definitely generated new business.”
Try it out for yourself. Visit Creabis' web shop to place your next 3D printed part order.