Search Strategies in Tacton CPQ: A Comprehensive Guide

In the realm of product configuration, creating an efficient and accurate configuration model is vital for providing optimal solutions to customers. One powerful way to achieve this is by implementing search strategies. Search strategies guide the configuration engine through a sequence of steps, helping it solve the configuration problem in the most effective way.

In this blog post, we'll explore the two main reasons for modifying search strategies: improving performance and changing default values. Let's dive in and learn how to make your configuration model more efficient and adaptable.

Improving Performance with Search Strategies

The standard search strategy provided by the configuration engine is quite intelligent, but it may not always be the best approach for your specific model. As a product or configuration expert, you might know a better way to solve the problem based on the structure and logic of your model. By modifying the search strategy, you can instruct the configurator to solve attributes in a different order, potentially speeding up the process.

To improve performance with search strategies, follow these steps:

1. Open the search strategy editor: Navigate to Execution -> Advanced Step Properties -> Edit Custom -> Advanced.

2. Create a new search strategy: Click the '+' button and name your search strategy, for example, 'ImprovedSS'.

3. Add an element to your search strategy: Click the downward-facing arrow under the second '+'.

4. Choose 'For All': This will instruct the configurator to start with a specific attribute. In the information panel on the right, click the 'Select' box and type the name of the attribute you want the configurator to start with, such as 'weight'.

5. Specify the order: With 'For All' highlighted, click the downward-facing arrow again and choose 'Add Try All'. In the information panel on the right, ensure the 'Order' dropdown is set to 'Ascending' for the configurator to start with the lowest value and move upwards.

6. Complete the search strategy: Highlight the whole search strategy, click the downward-facing arrow once more, and add 'For All'. Then, without modifying the settings on the right, click 'Try All'.

By following these steps, you've created a search strategy that directs the configurator to start with a specific attribute, potentially improving the performance of your configuration model.

Changing Default Values with Search Strategies

Another reason to modify search strategies is to change the default values chosen by the configurator. This can be particularly useful when you have many default values in your model and want to prioritize certain attributes or change them based on specific conditions.

To change default values using search strategies, follow these steps:

1. Open the search strategy editor: As before, navigate to Execution -> Advanced Step Properties -> Edit Custom -> Advanced.

2. Create a new search strategy: Click the '+' button and name your search strategy, for example, 'DefaultValuesSS'.

3. Add an element to your search strategy: Click the downward-facing arrow under the second '+'.

4. Choose 'Try': This will allow you to set default values for specific attributes. In the information panel on the right, modify the 'Symbol' box to specify the attribute you want to change the default value for, and enter the new default value in the 'Value' box.

5. Complete the search strategy: Highlight the whole search strategy, click the downward-facing arrow once more, and add 'For All'. Then, without modifying the settings on the right, click 'Try All'.

By following these steps, you've created a search strategy that changes the default values for specified attributes in your configuration model.

Conclusion

Understanding and implementing search strategies in your configuration model is essential for optimizing its performance and adaptability. With a well-designed search strategy, you can guide the configuration engine through the most efficient path, improving the overall user experience and reducing the time taken to generate accurate solutions. Additionally, by modifying default values, you can better cater to the specific needs of different scenarios, making your model more versatile and user-friendly.