CPQ Podcast
The CPQ Podcast is your go-to source for all things Configure-Price-Quote (CPQ). Each episode features in-depth interviews with industry leaders, innovators, and practitioners who share real-world insights, strategies, and success stories. Whether you're in Sales Ops, RevOps, IT, or Product Management, this podcast helps you stay ahead in the evolving CPQ landscape — from CPQ tools and processes to digital selling, product configuration, pricing strategy, and Quote-to-Cash trends. Tune in to expand your CPQ knowledge, explore new solutions, and hear from the voices shaping the future of B2B sales automation.
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From Visual CPQ to AI-Native CPQ: Threekit's AI Agents with Marc Uible
10/18/2026
From Visual CPQ to AI-Native CPQ: Threekit's AI Agents with Marc Uible
What does AI-native CPQ actually mean, and how is it different from adding AI capabilities to traditional CPQ software? In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, Frank Sohn speaks with Marc Uible, VP of AI at Threekit, about the company's evolution from 3D product visualization to AI-native Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) software and AI-powered sales agents. Marc explains how Threekit is addressing the challenges manufacturers face when selling complex, configurable products through direct sales teams and channel partners. He discusses how AI agents can simplify product selection, configuration, pricing, and quoting while working with existing product data and business rules. The conversation explores several topics, including: What distinguishes AI-native CPQ from traditional CPQ with added AI capabilities How dealers can generate proposals using photos, voice commands, or competitor quotes How AI-powered website agents can improve product discovery and guided selling How Threekit combines AI with rule-based validation to check product information and reduce inaccurate recommendations Implementation timelines for AI-powered web agents and complete CPQ solutions How Threekit integrates with enterprise platforms such as Salesforce, Oracle, SAP, and Infor Marc also discusses practical implementation challenges, including managing complex product information, defining business processes, and balancing manufacturers' requirements with the flexibility sales teams and dealers need. We also explore how Threekit uses AI internally and Marc's perspective on how AI agents could evolve to support more of the sales process, from initial product discovery to completed quotes. If you're evaluating CPQ software, exploring AI agents for manufacturing, or interested in how artificial intelligence is changing product configuration and B2B sales, this episode provides insights into Threekit's approach to AI-native CPQ and some of the practical considerations involved. Learn more: | | Don't forget to subscribe on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform. To stay up to date with the CPQ Podcast and the latest Novus CPQ research and insights, visit .
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A Smarter Way to Explore CPQ: Meet the Novus CPQ Advisor
10/11/2026
A Smarter Way to Explore CPQ: Meet the Novus CPQ Advisor
How much should you know about CPQ before relying on software vendors, consultants or implementation partners to guide your next steps? In this episode, Frank Sohn discusses why CPQ buyers should first learn enough to ask good questions, challenge assumptions and look at the market from more than one perspective. He also introduces the new Novus CPQ Advisor, an independent starting point for exploring CPQ vendors, solutions, research and next steps. The Advisor can help people who are new to CPQ as well as experienced CPQ stakeholders who want another perspective, information on a vendor, or help finding relevant Novus resources. The Advisor is not intended to provide the final answer to every CPQ question. Instead, it gives users a place to start, learn and explore before deciding where deeper research, technical expertise or direct advisory support may be useful. Try the Novus CPQ Advisor: novuscpq.com/#cpq-advisor Don’t forget to subscribe on and your favorite podcast platform. To stay up to date with the CPQ Podcast and the latest Novus CPQ research and insights, visit .
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From zipCPQ to HeliozOne: Modular CPQ, AI & Visualization with Antonio Brkic
10/04/2026
From zipCPQ to HeliozOne: Modular CPQ, AI & Visualization with Antonio Brkic
In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, Frank speaks with Antonio Brkic, Chief Product Officer at Helioz Technologies, about the evolution of zipCPQ into HeliozOne and the company’s broader vision for configurable product sales. Antonio explains why Helioz is moving from a CPQ-focused solution toward a modular platform that can support product configuration, pricing, quoting, e-commerce, spare parts, document generation, production quoting, and integrations. He also discusses what this transition means for existing zipCPQ customers, noting that current solutions and support remain in place and that adoption of additional HeliozOne capabilities is customer-driven rather than mandatory. The conversation explores several areas that are becoming increasingly important for manufacturers and other companies selling configurable products, including: AI-assisted product configuration and PDF-to-configurator workflows 2D and 3D product visualization CAD integration, including Onshape CRM, ERP, accounting, and e-commerce integrations API-based data exchange and modular architecture Production quoting and cost calculation Self-service CPQ for small and midsize businesses Antonio also shares Helioz’ approach to AI: using artificial intelligence to suggest, extract, and accelerate work while keeping people involved in reviewing and validating the results. He discusses growing customer interest in AI-driven configuration, sales guidance, and converting information from PDFs into structured configurator data. Frank and Antonio also look at where 2D and 3D visualization add the most value, how Helioz integrates with systems such as Salesforce, HubSpot, Microsoft Dynamics, and accounting platforms, and what types of organizations are the best fit for HeliozOne. If you are evaluating CPQ software, working with complex or configurable products, or interested in how AI, visualization, CAD, and integrations are changing Configure-Price-Quote processes, this episode provides a practical look at the evolution of a modern CPQ platform. Learn more: Antonio Brkic on LinkedIn | HeliozOne | Helioz Technologies Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform. To stay up to date with the CPQ Podcast and the latest Novus CPQ research and insights, visit .
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Agentic AI in CPQ and Quote-to-Cash: Where Autonomy Belongs | Sourabh Kukar, Salesforce
09/27/2026
Agentic AI in CPQ and Quote-to-Cash: Where Autonomy Belongs | Sourabh Kukar, Salesforce
Copilot, assistant, agent — the terms get thrown around interchangeably, but they describe three very different levels of AI autonomy. So where does agentic AI actually belong in the configure-price-quote process, and where should humans stay firmly in control? In this episode, Frank sits down with Sourabh Kukar, Director of Technical Consulting at Salesforce, where he leads a team of enterprise architects working across Revenue Cloud, Agentforce Revenue Management, CPQ, and H&A solutions for large enterprise customers. Sourabh was named Salesforce's FY24 CMT Technical Architect of the Year, holds 23 industry certifications, and is an IEEE Senior Member. Sourabh brings a rare mix of backgrounds to the conversation — starting as a Java developer, spending a decade as an integration architect, then moving deep into the Salesforce platform in 2019. That combination of coding roots, systems breadth, and platform depth shapes how he thinks about which parts of quote-to-cash are ready for real AI autonomy and which still need deterministic guardrails and human sign-off. Frank and Sourabh also dig into how to architect multiple specialized agents so one agent's bad output doesn't become another agent's bad input, why fixing your data and simplifying your processes matters more than the AI layer itself, and what changes for revenue operations teams as quoting and approvals move into conversational tools like Slack. In this conversation we cover: The real difference between a copilot, an assistant, and an agent — and where Salesforce's Agentforce quoting agent fits Which parts of configure-price-quote are ready for high AI autonomy, and where humans need to stay in the loop How to architect multiple specialized agents so errors don't cascade downstream Why fixing your data and simplifying your processes matters more than the AI layer on top What changes architecturally when quoting and approvals move into Slack A practical framework for choosing phased coexistence over a full CPQ-to-Revenue-Cloud migration If you're a Salesforce CPQ customer evaluating a move to Revenue Cloud, an enterprise architect thinking through agentic AI governance, or a revenue operations leader trying to separate real AI capability from hype, this episode offers grounded, practitioner-level insight from someone building these systems for enterprise customers every day. Learn more: Don't forget to subscribe on and your favorite podcast platform. More CPQ research and resources at
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From Renewal Reminders to Revenue Automation: Channel CPQ, Agentic AI & the Long Tail | Yagna iQ
09/20/2026
From Renewal Reminders to Revenue Automation: Channel CPQ, Agentic AI & the Long Tail | Yagna iQ
Renewals are becoming a strategic revenue priority — but why do so many companies still manage them through disconnected systems, spreadsheets, emails, and partner portals? In this episode, Frank talks with Ram Rai, founder & CEO of Yagna iQ, and Manish Agrawal, Co-Founder & CTO, about how recurring revenue and renewal management are changing as companies move toward subscription and lifecycle-based business models. They discuss why renewals become particularly challenging in indirect sales channels, where OEMs, distributors, resellers, and end customers may all participate in the process. Ram and Manish explain Yagna's approach to channel CPQ and renewal automation, including how renewal processes can extend beyond simple expiration reminders to customer onboarding, adoption monitoring, account health, value realization, quoting, and expansion opportunities. They also discuss how Yagna integrates with existing CRM, ERP, and CPQ environments rather than replacing them. The conversation also explores the growing role of agentic AI in renewals and quoting—from processing supplier quotes and automating RFQs to AI-assisted customer outreach—as well as where human oversight, data readiness, integration, and governance remain important. In this conversation we cover: Why renewal management is moving from a transactional process to a strategic revenue discipline Why indirect channels create unique CPQ and renewal challenges across OEMs, distributors, and resellers How Channel CPQ can complement existing vendor-side CPQ systems Where agentic AI, voice agents, and automated quote processing can support renewal workflows Why data cleansing, CRM/ERP/CPQ integration, governance, and human-in-the-loop processes remain important How automation can help address the “Long-tail” of lower-value, high-volume renewals that are often uneconomical to manage manually If you work in CPQ, Revenue Operations, recurring revenue, channel sales, or partner management, this episode provides a useful look at how renewal automation is expanding beyond reminders and traditional quoting — and how AI may change the economics of managing recurring revenue at scale. Learn more: · · · Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform. More CPQ research and resources at
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Visual CPQ, Engineering Automation, and AI with Scott Heide of Engineering Intent
09/13/2026
Visual CPQ, Engineering Automation, and AI with Scott Heide of Engineering Intent
Where does traditional CPQ stop—and where does engineering automation need to take over? In this episode, Frank sits down with Scott Heide, CEO of Engineering Intent, to explore how CPQ can support products that require far more than standard configuration, pricing, and quoting. Scott brings more than 30 years of experience working with engineer-to-order companies, knowledge-based engineering, and sales engineering automation. Returning to the CPQ Podcast for the first time since 2023, Scott explains why customers typically approach Engineering Intent when their products involve complex engineering calculations, dynamic geometry, visual configuration, detailed bills of materials, or automatically generated sales and manufacturing drawings. He also discusses KBridge, Engineering Intent’s design automation platform, and how it can connect the commercial CPQ process with the engineering work required to produce a valid custom design. Frank and Scott also examine Engineering Intent’s new direct Salesforce integration, its established relationship with ServiceNow, and the growing role of systems integrators in projects that combine CRM, CPQ, and engineering automation. Scott shares how Engineering Intent is using AI to accelerate the capture of product knowledge and design rules—while maintaining the repeatable, deterministic, and documentable outputs required in manufacturing. In this conversation, we cover: Why traditional CPQ solutions may struggle with highly engineered and graphically complex products Where CPQ ends and engineering or design automation begins How KBridge generates dynamic 3D models, visualizations, drawings, calculations, and detailed bills of materials The difference between fixed-geometry visualization tools and parametric models that change dynamically Engineering Intent’s new Salesforce integration and how KBridge can work alongside Salesforce Revenue Cloud How AI may reduce the time and effort required to capture and automate product-specific engineering rules Recent capabilities including advanced solid modeling, animation, source merge, and offline runtime Engineering Intent’s growing focus on material handling, MEP, precast concrete, and other vertical applications Why systems integrators may need stronger engineering skills to implement advanced design automation successfully What Engineering Intent plans to demonstrate at Dreamforce and other upcoming industry events If you work with engineer-to-order products, visual product configuration, manufacturing CPQ, or complex sales and engineering processes, this episode provides a practical look at how CPQ and design automation can work together across the full lifecycle—from early sales visualization to manufacturing-ready drawings and bills of materials. Learn more about and connect with . Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform. More CPQ research and resources at
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From Salesforce CPQ to Agentforce Revenue Management | ShiftLogic.io
08/02/2026
From Salesforce CPQ to Agentforce Revenue Management | ShiftLogic.io
Salesforce CPQ is officially end of sale — but what does that actually mean for your business, and where do you go from here? In this episode, host Frank sits down with Jamie Trigg and Timo Taipale from ShiftLogic.io to unpack the shift from Salesforce CPQ to Agentforce Revenue Management (ARM), and why this transition is a full revenue transformation, not just a platform swap. Jamie brings nearly 20 years of CPQ experience, from the early days at Big Machines and Steelbrick through a long run in Salesforce Revenue Cloud. Timo shares his journey as a self-described "accidental admin" who chose Revenue Cloud over Steelbrick CPQ during a greenfield implementation, long before joining ShiftLogic.io. Frank, Jamie, and Timo also examine why "end of sale" doesn't mean "end of life," and why experienced CPQ practitioners often find ARM the hardest transition to make — thanks to a deeply ingrained "quote-centric" mindset that doesn't always translate cleanly to a revenue-centric world. In this conversation we cover: Why the real urgency behind ARM adoption comes from customers wanting more capability, not from Salesforce forcing a switch Why experienced CPQ practitioners often struggle most with the shift to ARM How to tackle technical debt and legacy CPQ rules with a "vision lock" approach The difference between engineering CPQ and sales CPQ, and where ARM fits for manufacturing and complex products How AI and Agentforce adoption is accelerating across CPQ and revenue lifecycle management Real customer adoption patterns, typical implementation timelines, and what to expect from a Salesforce CPQ to Revenue Cloud migration If you're a Salesforce CPQ admin evaluating your next move, a revenue operations leader planning an ARM implementation, or simply curious about where CPQ and revenue management are headed, this episode offers grounded, practitioner-level insight from two people who've lived it on both sides of the table. Learn more: · · Don’t forget to subscribe on and your favorite podcast platform.
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AI and CPQ: Revenue Cloud, System Integrators, and the Future of Configure Price Quote
07/26/2026
AI and CPQ: Revenue Cloud, System Integrators, and the Future of Configure Price Quote
With Javed Jafar, CPQ and Billing Expert with 20+ years of experience across enterprise implementations, advisory work, and customer-side transformation programs. How will AI change CPQ for customers, vendors, system integrators, and CPQ professionals? In this episode, Javed shares his perspective on why AI is not replacing CPQ expertise, but changing what good CPQ expertise looks like. Routine configuration work, documentation, testing, and delivery tasks are becoming easier to accelerate with AI tools. At the same time, deep domain knowledge is becoming more important, since customers still need experts who can recognize incorrect AI output, manage complexity, and translate business requirements into scalable commercial processes. Frank and Javed also discuss how AI is changing expectations for system integrators, as customers increasingly expect more value for every professional services dollar — a shift that may push the market toward fixed-price offerings, reusable accelerators, boutique specialists, and AI-enabled delivery models. They also examine the current business climate around AI adoption, including why many organizations are investing in AI tools but still struggle to demonstrate measurable ROI. In CPQ specifically, Javed sees many companies experimenting with automation and AI assistance, while true agentic CPQ adoption is still in the early stages. In this conversation we cover: Why AI is changing what good CPQ expertise looks like, not replacing it How AI is accelerating configuration, documentation, testing, and delivery work Why deep domain knowledge matters more as AI output needs expert review How AI is reshaping expectations and pricing models for system integrators The gap between AI investment and measurable ROI in CPQ today The state of agentic CPQ adoption and Salesforce Agentforce Revenue Management The impact of legacy CPQ end-of-sale messaging The shift from rule-based to constraint-based thinking What types of customers benefit most from AI-first, API-driven revenue architecture If you are a CPQ customer, part of a Salesforce Revenue Cloud team, a system integrator, a CPQ vendor, or a revenue operations leader trying to understand how AI will reshape Configure, Price, Quote over the next few years, this episode offers a grounded, experience-based perspective. Learn more: Javed on
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AI-Powered CPQ Explained: Stan Chirk on Building Talkulate AI CPQ
07/19/2026
AI-Powered CPQ Explained: Stan Chirk on Building Talkulate AI CPQ
Can AI actually replace the sales engineer in complex product configuration — without sacrificing accuracy? In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, host Frank sits down with Stanislav "Stan" Chirk, founder of R[ai]sing Sun, an EU-based AI solutions company building custom AI agents for B2B companies. Stan walks us through his journey from engineering and entrepreneurship into the world of Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ), and how that combination led him to found R[ai]sing Sun just over a year ago. We dig into the company's "AI-native" philosophy — building AI-first rather than retrofitting AI onto legacy systems — and their guiding principle: no AI for the sake of AI. The conversation centers on R[ai]sing Sun's flagship product, Talkulate AI CPQ, a self-service configurator that guides buyers through complex product decisions and delivers instant, accurate quotes — no sales engineer required. Frank pushes Stan on one of the biggest questions in AI-driven CPQ: how do you guarantee deterministic, repeatable outputs when generative AI is involved? Stan explains how structured product databases and rule-based logic keep quote generation accurate, even while the upfront sales conversation stays flexible. You'll also hear about R[ai]sing Sun's phased delivery model (including a bold promise to walk away from projects that don't hit KPIs), a typical 3–5 week go-live timeline, their traction in medical and engineering industries, and how AI-native CPQ stacks up against established, traditional platforms. Whether you're a CPQ practitioner, a sales operations leader, or simply curious about how AI agents are reshaping B2B quoting and configuration, this episode offers a grounded, practical look at where AI-powered CPQ is headed. 🎥 Stick around for a separate demo video showing Talkulate AI CPQ in action, configuring a real-world "home media server" request from scratch. 🔗 Learn more about R[ai]sing Sun at 📬 Contact Stan on LinkedIn at
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Why AI Agents Fail at CPQ — and How to Fix It with Dr. Sanjay Mittal
07/12/2026
Why AI Agents Fail at CPQ — and How to Fix It with Dr. Sanjay Mittal
Can you trust an AI agent to configure your products, apply your pricing rules, and generate an accurate quote — every single time? According to Dr. Sanjay Mittal, founder of and one of the original pioneers of constraint-based product configuration, the answer right now is: not without guardrails. In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, Sanjay breaks down one of the most underappreciated risks in enterprise AI adoption — logic hallucinations. Unlike factual hallucinations, where an AI simply makes up information it doesn't have, logic hallucinations happen when an AI has all the right facts but still applies your business rules, constraints, and pricing policies incorrectly. For CPQ, where 100% correctness and completeness are non-negotiable, that gap can mean revenue leakage, incompatible configurations, and costly disputes with customers. Sanjay speaks from deep experience. He founded Selectica in 1996, building constraint-based CPQ solutions for Cisco, IBM, GE, and Dell — guaranteeing 100% configuration correctness at scale. Cisco ran on their platform for 15 years. Today, at , he's applying the same deterministic reasoning engine as a co-pilot alongside large language models, letting LLMs handle natural conversation while a constraint engine validates every output before it reaches the customer. In this conversation we cover: The difference between factual and logic hallucinations in LLMs Why probabilistic AI and deterministic CPQ are fundamentally mismatched What "correct and complete" really means in product configuration How a deterministic co-pilot architecture bridges that gap What questions enterprise buyers should ask any CPQ vendor adding AI If you're evaluating AI-powered CPQ, building one, or just trying to understand where the hype ends and the real engineering begins — this episode is for you. 🔗 Learn more about predictika at 📬 Contact Sanjay on LinkedIn at
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AI-Native CPQ, PQA & the Future of Quote Automation | Roadrunner.ai
07/05/2026
AI-Native CPQ, PQA & the Future of Quote Automation | Roadrunner.ai
In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, Frank Sohn speaks with Tiffany Devlin-Drye, Head of Solution Architecture at , about Roadrunner’s view of the CPQ market and its AI-native approach to quoting, approvals, and revenue operations. Tiffany shares her background as a Salesforce CPQ developer, solution architect, and former system integrator before joining . She explains why Roadrunner describes its platform as PQA — Prompt, Quote, Approve — and why the company believes traditional CPQ is being challenged by a new generation of AI-native quote automation platforms. The conversation covers Roadrunner’s standalone platform, its Salesforce managed package, and its out-of-the-box connectors for systems such as Ironclad, DocuSign, NetSuite, Zuora, and Slack. Tiffany also discusses how prompt-based quoting can support complex scenarios, usage-based pricing, multi-year deal structures, real-time calculations, and approval workflows. A key topic is Roadrunner’s implementation model. Tiffany explains why the company currently does not rely on system integrator partners and instead provides implementation teams directly as part of the first-year license. She also describes how Roadrunner uses AI to analyze existing CPQ implementations, requirements documents, and configuration logic to accelerate project delivery. This episode also explores the difference between AI-native and AI bolt-on approaches, the role of deterministic rules in preventing hallucinations in quoting, and why early Roadrunner customers include large SaaS and AI companies with complex pricing and approval requirements. For anyone evaluating the future of CPQ, Salesforce CPQ alternatives, AI-native quoting, quote-to-cash automation, or usage-based pricing, this episode provides a timely look at one of the newer entrants trying to redefine the category. 🔗 Learn more about Roadrunner at 📬 Contact Tiffany on LinkedIn at
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AI, No-Code CPQ & Quote-to-Service-to-Cash with MobileForce.ai
06/28/2026
AI, No-Code CPQ & Quote-to-Service-to-Cash with MobileForce.ai
In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, Frank Sohn speaks with Jagadish Bandhole, CEO and Founder of , about how CPQ is changing as AI, no-code administration, mobile workforces, and broader revenue operations requirements reshape the market. Jagadish describes himself as an engineer turned entrepreneur and shares how MobileForce has evolved since his last appearance on the CPQ Podcast in 2023. The discussion covers the company’s move from Mobile Force Software to , why the shift is more than a rebrand, and how the company’s approach has moved from AI-enabled toward AI-first while still recognizing that fully AI-native CPQ is an ongoing journey. The conversation also explores what CPQ customers can realistically expect from AI today. Topics include AI-assisted quote creation, automatic renewal quotes, catalog and price book updates, approval and pricing rule support, and upsell recommendations. At the same time, Jagadish explains why highly configurable products, complex rules, dynamic pricing, and cross-system orchestration remain difficult problems that require careful implementation and governance. Frank and Jagadish also discuss why CPQ projects are often delayed or fail, including poor documentation of current processes, unclear KPIs, and underestimating the need for ongoing business-led updates. The episode provides practical guidance for CPQ buyers, sales operations teams, RevOps leaders, and business analysts evaluating no-code CPQ platforms. Additional topics include CRM-agnostic CPQ, direct and indirect sales channels, partner portals, headless CPQ, offline mobile CPQ, field service integration, and quote-to-service-to-cash workflows for manufacturing, industrial, trade, and service-oriented businesses. 🔗 Learn more about mobileforce at 📬 Contact Jagadish on LinkedIn at
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Short Update: Free CPQ Research Access Until July 17
06/22/2026
Short Update: Free CPQ Research Access Until July 17
In this short CPQ Podcast update, Frank Sohn shares a temporary Novus CPQ research access window running from June 18 to July 17. During this period, visitors can request one free CPQ Vendor Briefing from the Novus CPQ Briefing Library. In addition, selected CPQ Sales Reports are available through sponsored free access, starting with camos CPQ 365 and soon Engineering Intent / kBridge. The Yagna iQ Customer Pulse Report on recurring revenue and renewals is also available after registration. This short episode explains what is available, who the resources may be useful for, and where listeners can find the relevant pages on novuscpq.com. CPQ Briefing Subscription CPQ Sales Report Yagna iQ Customer Pulse Report:
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Salesforce CPQ End of Sale: What Should Customers Do Next?
06/14/2026
Salesforce CPQ End of Sale: What Should Customers Do Next?
In this solo episode of the CPQ Podcast, Frank Sohn discusses why many organizations are reassessing their Salesforce CPQ roadmap, what the shift toward Salesforce’s newer Revenue Cloud and Agentforce Revenue Management direction may mean, and why customers should evaluate their next step through a practical lens: CPQ fit, technical debt, ERP integration, lifecycle requirements, administrative capacity, and total cost. Frank also discusses four possible paths Salesforce CPQ customers may consider: maintaining the current Salesforce CPQ environment, rebuilding in the newer Salesforce revenue architecture, evaluating adjacent CPQ solutions, or pursuing a hybrid CRM/ERP-connected approach. Frank is also running a LinkedIn poll to better understand how Salesforce CPQ customers, partners, and the broader CPQ community are responding to the End-of-Sale announcement. The goal is to reach at least 150 responses, with input from existing Salesforce CPQ customers especially valuable. Please participate in the poll here:
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G2 CEO Godard Abel on AI, AEO, Reviews, and the Future of CPQ Buying
06/07/2026
G2 CEO Godard Abel on AI, AEO, Reviews, and the Future of CPQ Buying
In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, Frank Sohn speaks with Godard Abel, co-founder and CEO of G2, about how AI, software reviews, and answer engines are changing the way companies evaluate CPQ and enterprise software. Godard shares G2’s key priorities for 2026, including AI transformation, the integration of Gartner Digital Markets, and the growing importance of trusted software review data. With the acquisition of Capterra, Software Advice, and GetApp, G2 now works with more than 6 million reviews and a significantly larger buyer audience. This creates new opportunities for software buyers, CPQ vendors, and AI-driven recommendation engines. The conversation also explores how more CPQ buyers are starting their research journey in tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude instead of relying only on Google searches, analyst reports, or traditional review sites. Godard explains why Answer Engine Optimization, or AEO, is becoming increasingly important and how it relates to SEO. He also discusses how G2 is optimizing content for both human buyers and AI agents. Frank and Godard also talk about the role of AI in CPQ, including where AI can help with research, software comparison, and decision support, and why human judgment remains important for complex CPQ evaluations. Godard also shares G2’s plans around AI blueprints, AI-enabled software identification, and the future of cross-system automation. Beyond technology, Godard discusses G2’s PEAK values — Performance, Entrepreneurship, Authenticity, and Kindness — as well as Pledge 1%, entrepreneurship, and his personal experience completing the Leadville 100 mountain bike race. This episode is especially relevant for CPQ buyers, CPQ vendors, software evaluators, revenue leaders, and anyone interested in how AI is reshaping enterprise software selection. 🔗 Learn more about G2 at 📬 Contact Godard on LinkedIn at
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Conga Advantage CPQ, Conga Smart CPQ, AI Agents & Pricing Optimization with Rohit Chhabra
05/24/2026
Conga Advantage CPQ, Conga Smart CPQ, AI Agents & Pricing Optimization with Rohit Chhabra
In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, Frank Sohn speaks with Rohit Chhabra, Chief Product Officer at Conga, about Conga’s CPQ strategy, the role ofConga Smart CPQ, and how AI is becoming a broader part of the quote-to-cash and commercial operations landscape. Rohit shares insights from more than 25 years of business, engineering, and product leadership experience, including how his background shapes the way he works with teams, prioritizes product investments, and focuses on customer outcomes. He also discusses his involvement with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation / Breakthrough T1D and how that personal connection has influenced his views on leadership, urgency, and mission-driven work. The conversation covers Conga’s two CPQ product lines: Conga Advantage CPQ and Conga Smart CPQ. Rohit explains why the solutions address different customer segments and industry requirements, and why Conga plans to continue investing in both offerings rather than forcing them into a single product path. A key topic is the role of pricing optimization and pricing explainability, especially following Conga’s acquisition of PROS. Rohit also discusses Conga’s broader AI approach across CPQ, pricing, contract lifecycle management, and document automation, including sales agents, redline-related AI capabilities, admin AI for rule maintenance, and a unified AI technology stack. Listeners will also hear Rohit’s perspective on integration strategy, including Conga’s OEM relationship with Workato, expansion beyond Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics, potential HubSpot CRM support, and how Conga prioritizes its roadmap using a business-outcome-based approach. This episode is especially relevant for anyone interested in CPQ software, pricing optimization, AI in quote-to-cash, revenue lifecycle management, CLM integration, and the future direction of Conga’s CPQ portfolio. 🔗 Learn more about Conga at 📬 Contact Rohit on LinkedIn at
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CPQ for Shopify, HubSpot, and eCommerce: Parag Jagdale on Quotific and Unific
05/17/2026
CPQ for Shopify, HubSpot, and eCommerce: Parag Jagdale on Quotific and Unific
In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, Frank Sohn speaks with Parag Jagdale, Co-Founder and CEO of Unific, about the continued evolution of Quotific, Unific’s CPQ and quoting solution for eCommerce-driven businesses. Parag explains how Quotific has developed since his last appearance on the podcast, including deeper integration with Shopify, support for customer-specific price lists, location-based inventory visibility, and improved product catalog search capabilities. He also discusses why Shopify’s recent B2B-related enhancements are creating new opportunities for companies that need a more connected quote-to-order process. A major theme of the conversation is the growing need to reduce fragmentation between eCommerce, CRM, quoting, pricing, approval, and order management processes. Parag shares why many customers want sales teams to work primarily inside HubSpot, while still connecting quoting and ordering activity with Shopify. He also explains why Unific has chosen to focus more deeply on Shopify and HubSpot before expanding its integration efforts with platforms such as Salesforce or Microsoft Dynamics. The discussion also covers common challenges in B2B eCommerce and high-ticket B2C selling, including pricing complexity, discount approvals, fragmented workflows, and the difficulty of changing sales rep behavior. Parag shares examples from customer conversations and explains why time savings, easier quote management, and a smoother buyer experience are key adoption drivers. Toward the end of the episode, Frank and Parag discuss the role of AI in CPQ, including product recommendations, customer segmentation, and the potential for AI to improve the buying experience in eCommerce-focused CPQ scenarios. This episode is especially relevant for anyone interested in CPQ, eCommerce CPQ, Shopify CPQ, HubSpot quoting, B2B eCommerce, quote-to-order automation, and the future of AI in CPQ. 🔗 Learn more about Unific at 📬 Contact Parag on LinkedIn at
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Scaling RevOps: From $100M Growth to AI-Powered CPQ with Siva Rajamani
05/10/2026
Scaling RevOps: From $100M Growth to AI-Powered CPQ with Siva Rajamani
In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, host Frank Sohn sits down with Siva Rajamani, the Co-Founder and CEO of Everstage, to discuss the evolving landscape of Revenue Operations and the critical role of Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) software in modern business. Siva shares his journey from managing Revenue Operations at Freshworks—where he witnessed the company scale from $10M to $100M ARR—to founding Everstage in 2020. Having seen firsthand how pricing changes can disrupt downstream operations, Siva built Everstage to empower RevOps and Finance teams with a strategic, no-code platform. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The Evolution of Everstage: How a platform with 300+ enterprise customers for incentive compensation expanded into a cutting-edge CPQ solution in October 2024. AI & Agent-Led Innovation: How Everstage is leveraging AI and intelligent agents to automate code creation and simplify the user experience for sales reps. Market Focus & Growth: Why Everstage is prioritizing the tech industry for its CPQ rollout and its ambitious goal to add 150 new CPQ customers this year. Complex Pricing & Integrations: A deep dive into the platform’s ability to handle subscription pricing, ramp deals, usage-based models, and 100+ out-of-the-box integrations including Salesforce, HubSpot, NetSuite, and Stripe. The Human Side of Tech: Siva talks about his life as a "Girl Dad" and the importance of staying grounded while scaling a global startup. Whether you are a RevOps professional, a finance leader, or a CPQ enthusiast, this conversation offers a masterclass in building scalable systems that drive revenue growth. 🔗 Learn more about Everstage at 📬 Contact Siva on LinkedIn at Don't forget to subscribe to the CPQ Podcast on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform for more insights into the world of Quote-to-Cash!
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Visual CPQ & The Future of 3D Product Configuration with Erik Pilgrim
05/03/2026
Visual CPQ & The Future of 3D Product Configuration with Erik Pilgrim
In this episode, Frank Sohn sits down with Erik Pilgrim, Founder and CEO of RenderDraw, to explore how 3D visualization is transforming the complex world of CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote). Erik shares his journey from leading pre-sales and product teams in the SAP and Salesforce ecosystems to founding RenderDraw just as the world changed in early 2020. We dive deep into how RenderDraw acts as a powerful visualization and interaction layer for some of the world’s largest manufacturers and high-tech companies. They discuss: The "Visual Gap" in CPQ: Why standard configurations often fall short for heavy industrial manufacturing and complex CAD-heavy assemblies. Platform Agnosticism: While heavily rooted in the Salesforce ecosystem (including integrations with Agentforce), Erik explains how the market is shifting toward a CPQ-agnostic approach, with RenderDraw now supporting ServiceNow () and Conga. The Manufacturing Lifecycle: Moving beyond the quote to explore product discovery, digital twins, and spare parts reordering. The AI Revolution: An inside look at Journeys, RenderDraw’s new standalone 3D + AI application designed for both humans and AI agents. Implementation Realities: Why a "one-day setup" is a myth for enterprises, and how to build a visual solution that a standard Salesforce Admin can maintain. Whether you are a Mid-Market leader or an Enterprise architect in industrial manufacturing or data centers, this episode provides a roadmap for leveraging spatial reasoning to close deals faster and improve the post-purchase experience. 🔗 Learn more about RenderDraw at 📬 Contact Erik on LinkedIn at
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DealHub’s Growth, AI Strategy, and the CPQ + Billing Opportunity
04/26/2026
DealHub’s Growth, AI Strategy, and the CPQ + Billing Opportunity
In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, Frank speaks with Eyal Orgil, co-founder and Chief Growth Officer of DealHub, about how the company has evolved over the past 12 years and what that growth says about broader trends in CPQ, billing, and revenue lifecycle management. Eyal reflects on the responsibility that comes with building a company of roughly 300 employees and serving around 1,000 customer organizations, while also sharing why this stage of growth feels especially meaningful. The conversation also explores Eyal’s transition into the Chief Growth Officer role after leading sales for more than a decade, and how that shift changes his focus from direct customer engagement to broader product and growth strategy. Frank and Eyal discuss DealHub’s acquisition of Subskribe, including the reasoning behind the move and why the combination of CPQ, billing, and invoicing is becoming increasingly important for many companies. In addition, this episode covers DealHub’s recent $100 million funding round, the continued strength of the tech and SaaS customer base, the changing CRM landscape, and the market impact of Salesforce’s Revenue Cloud end-of-sale announcement. Eyal also shares how DealHub is approaching AI, including conversational quoting, prompt-based insights, contract intelligence, role-specific AI capabilities, and plans around MCP servers and future admin-focused AI developments. For anyone following CPQ trends, revenue operations, AI in quoting, or the convergence of CPQ and billing, this episode offers a timely look at how one established vendor is thinking about growth, product direction, and market change. 🔗 Learn more about dealhub at 📬 Contact Eyal on LinkedIn at
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Rourke McCarron on AI-Native CPQ for Precision Manufacturing
04/19/2026
Rourke McCarron on AI-Native CPQ for Precision Manufacturing
In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, Frank Sohn speaks with Rourke McCarron, founder of Kabaido, about building a modern CPQ solution for precision manufacturers. Rourke shares how his experience in the tooling industry revealed a disconnect between sales and engineering teams, which ultimately led him to launch Kabaido in late 2025. The conversation explores how Kabaido is approaching complex quoting and product configuration for manufacturers that process high volumes of quotes. Rourke explains the company’s focus on precision manufacturing, its support for 2D and 3D configuration use cases, and how its platform is designed to help companies move faster from customer request to quote and integration. He also discusses implementation timelines, customer size fit, and why adoption can matter just as much as technical deployment. A key part of the discussion centers on AI. Rourke talks about KAI, short for Kabaido Applied Intelligence, and describes how AI is being used to support quoting, configurator logic, and integrations with tools such as Excel, Symphony CRM, and Microsoft Dynamics. The episode also touches on Kabaido’s MCP-native approach, current growth stage, global team setup, and efforts to obtain SOC 2 Type 2 and related certifications. For anyone interested in CPQ software, AI in manufacturing, product configuration, quoting automation, or the future of digital sales in complex manufacturing, this episode offers an early look at how a new vendor is approaching the market. 🔗 Learn more about Kabaido at 📬 Contact Rourke on LinkedIn at
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Tyler Moini on AI, Governed Execution, and Modern Revenue Management
04/12/2026
Tyler Moini on AI, Governed Execution, and Modern Revenue Management
In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, Frank Sohn speaks with Tyler Moini, Founder and Managing Director of Expedite Commerce, about how the company has evolved since its earlier positioning around composable commerce and API-first architecture. Tyler explains why Expedite Commerce now describes its approach as a governed execution platform, designed to help organizations manage commercial processes across pricing, quoting, contracts, subscriptions, billing, and asset-related workflows. A central topic in the discussion is Genesis, the company’s underlying AI system. Tyler outlines why Expedite Commerce sees AI not as a separate add-on, but as part of the foundation of the platform. The conversation looks at how this approach is intended to support user guidance, manage commercial state across the revenue lifecycle, and help organizations handle complex selling environments with more structure and consistency. The episode also covers the company’s target market, including mid-market and early enterprise organizations with complex revenue models, such as subscription businesses, manufacturers, and companies managing configured products, services, warranties, or serialized assets. Tyler also discusses support for CRM platforms such as Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zoho, as well as ERP integrations with systems including SAP S/4HANA, NetSuite, Oracle, and Workday. In addition, Frank and Tyler discuss e-commerce capabilities, billing support for more complex pricing models, and how AI may affect the future of revenue management and CPQ. The conversation provides useful context for listeners interested in CPQ, revenue lifecycle management, AI in CPQ, subscription management, digital commerce, and enterprise sales technology. If you follow developments in CPQ software, AI-driven quoting, revenue management platforms, or enterprise monetization, this episode offers a detailed look at how one vendor is approaching those challenges today. 🔗 Learn more about Expedite Commerce at 📬 Contact Tyler on LinkedIn at
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AI Pricing, Fair Market Value, and Used IT Asset CPQ with Garima and Pulin
04/05/2026
AI Pricing, Fair Market Value, and Used IT Asset CPQ with Garima and Pulin
In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, Frank Sohn speaks with Garima and Pulin about how AI-driven fair market value (FMV) intelligence can support pricing and CPQ-related processes in the used IT asset market. The conversation goes beyond product features and also explores the personal stories behind the business. Garima shares her journey from flight attendant to entrepreneur and explains why perseverance has been such an important strength throughout her career. Pulin talks about starting out in finance, teaching himself computer skills, learning from a failed startup, and even driving Uber in the early days of the company to help keep the business going. On the business side, this episode looks at how their platform is designed to bring more structure and pricing transparency to the used IT asset industry. Pulin describes the goal as creating something similar to a Kelly Blue Book for used IT assets, while Garima explains why fair market value is at the center of the platform. The discussion also covers why they see CPQ and their business as mirror images, how FMV-based intelligence can influence pricing decisions, and why this matters for organizations involved in reverse supply chain and asset monetization processes. Frank, Garima, and Pulin also discuss the company’s ideal customer profile, including OEMs, VARs, and ITAD organizations, as well as broader trends around AI, data, integration, and the future of pricing. This episode is especially relevant for anyone interested in: CPQ AI in pricing Fair market value intelligence Quote-to-cash Used IT asset pricing Reverse supply chain technology IT asset disposition (ITAD) If you work in CPQ, pricing, revenue operations, or B2B technology, this conversation offers a different perspective on how pricing intelligence can shape commercial processes in markets that have historically lacked consistent benchmarks. 🔗 Learn more about Pyxtech at 📬 Contact Garima on LinkedIn at Contact Pulin on LinkedIn at
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What Conga Connect 2026 Revealed About Conga’s CPQ Direction
03/15/2026
What Conga Connect 2026 Revealed About Conga’s CPQ Direction
At Conga Connect 2026 in Orlando, Conga made one thing clear: it wants to be seen as more than a CPQ or CLM vendor. In this episode, Frank Sohn shares his high-level takeaways from the event, including Conga’s new brand direction, what the company’s “connected commerce” message means, and why the future of its three CPQ paths matters for customers and prospects alike. Frank also looks at the emerging split between Advantage and PROS CPQ, Conga’s iFrame-based approach to surfacing Advantage capabilities inside its Salesforce-based product, and why price optimization and AiMe stood out as important parts of the story. The result is a balanced, practical debrief for anyone trying to understand where Conga appears to be heading — and what buyers should watch next. Note: We go on a short spring break and will be back by April 5
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The 6 Questions That Fix Most CPQ Shortlists (Before You Watch Another Demo)
03/08/2026
The 6 Questions That Fix Most CPQ Shortlists (Before You Watch Another Demo)
It’s a solo episode this week — interview scheduling has been unusually tough this year, so I’m using the opportunity to talk about something that’s top of mind for many teams early in the year: CPQ selection. In this episode, I share the six questions that fix most CPQ shortlists before demos start: business model, biggest challenge, CRM fit, ERP fit, go-live speed, and company complexity. The goal isn’t to rank vendors — it’s to get to a realistic shortlist faster, using a repeatable framework grounded in high-quality briefing research. I also tease a new way I’m building to help teams decide which CPQ briefings to read first — without showing the app. If you tell me your preferred tone (more neutral/analyst vs more conversational), I can tighten this into a single final description that matches your usual intro style exactly.
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Why CPQ is Vital for Intelligent Revenue ft. Sergey Jermakov
03/01/2026
Why CPQ is Vital for Intelligent Revenue ft. Sergey Jermakov
In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, Sergey Jermakov joins Frank Sohn to explore how CLARITY is moving beyond classic Quote-to-Cash into intelligent revenue operations management—a broader approach that connects CPQ with billing, revenue processes, and monetization models. Sergey explains how his role has shifted from “sales leader” to Revenue Architect, focused on designing scalable solution architectures and packaged delivery. They discuss CLARITY’s focus on mid-market to enterprise organizations (now often $50M+ revenue) in high tech and hybrid product + services businesses, plus their expanded delivery footprint across Europe, North America, and Asia. A major theme is AI: not as magic, but as an accelerator. Sergey shares where AI adoption is strongest today (especially sales and marketing) and how AI can help with document-heavy work and data-driven pricing support—while also exposing weaknesses in process and data readiness. They also dig into why CPQ projects fail—reactive architecture, over-customization, and unclear ownership—and why CLARITY increasingly favors implementation packages over open-ended custom projects to drive faster time-to-value and more controlled releases. Finally, Sergey outlines why many SAP customers are moving from Quote 1.0 to SAP Quote 2.0, with performance and scalability as major drivers. Topics: CPQ, AI in CPQ, revenue operations, SAP Quote 2.0, CPQ implementation best practices, solution architecture, packaged delivery, hybrid selling. 🔗 Learn more about CLARITY at 📬 Contact Sergey on LinkedIn
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PandaDoc CPQ for SMB: No-Code Quotes, CRM Integrations + AI
02/22/2026
PandaDoc CPQ for SMB: No-Code Quotes, CRM Integrations + AI
In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, we sit down with Dustin Anglen, Strategic Partnerships Manager at PandaDoc, to discuss how PandaDoc CPQ supports faster quoting for SMB teams (roughly 5–500 employees). PandaDoc is widely known for proposals and eSignature, and Dustin explains why CPQ is a natural extension—especially for organizations that want a practical, easy-to-administer approach without heavy configuration overhead. We cover where PandaDoc CPQ fits best (including SaaS, software & technology, professional services, and education) and how customers typically use it alongside their CRM. Dustin outlines PandaDoc’s API-forward SaaSapproach and its key integrations with HubSpot, Pipedrive, and Salesforce. We also discuss what’s available today—and what’s still evolving—such as ERP connectivity (currently not a standard integration, with MVP work underway) and common customer expectations around implementation, which is often 8–12 weeks. On the capability side, Dustin shares the top requests he sees from the market: product configuration, contract-based pricing, and CRM integration. We talk about product structure support (including bundles), pricing flexibility across segments and regions, usage-based pricing, and how PandaDoc positions its CPQ as a rules engine that is largely no-code (with options for more advanced logic when needed). We also dig into PandaDoc’s AI direction—template generation, OCR and document intelligence, metadata-driven automation, and an admin-focused AI feature for helping set up product and pricing rules (currently in testing, with broader availability expected later this year). You’ll also hear a few personal moments from Dustin—from his early career in the Salesforce ecosystem (including starting at Apttus in 2014), to an unexpected chapter running a beekeeping business in Santa Barbara, to his passion for freediving near San Diego. A PandaDoc CPQ free trial is available on PandaDoc’s website. 🔗 Learn more about PandaDoc CPQ at 📬 Contact Dustin on LinkedIn
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From CPQ to a Configurable Product Platform: Tacton’s Nils Olsson
02/15/2026
From CPQ to a Configurable Product Platform: Tacton’s Nils Olsson
In this CPQ Podcast episode, Frank Sohn sits down with Nils Olsson, Chief Strategy, Product, and Customer Officer at Tacton, to discuss how Tacton is evolving beyond traditional CPQ into a broader platform for configurable products. Nils shares his unique perspective as a former Tacton customer who joined the company in 2015, and explains why staying close to manufacturing customers—through regular conversations across North America, Europe, and Japan—is central to Tacton’s strategy. He outlines why 2026 will be a transformative year, with new offerings planned not only for CPQ, but also for engineering, order fulfillment, and services. The conversation also explores how customers are responding to Tacton’s recent acquisitions of Variantum and Serenytics, and where AI is delivering real value today. Rather than replacing core CPQ logic, AI is primarily being used to support product modeling, helping customers turn unstructured data into usable configuration knowledge faster and with less effort. Additional topics include hybrid sales models in manufacturing, the shift from ETO to CTO, and why trust, security, and enterprise certifications matter more than ever. Topics covered: The shift from CPQ to end-to-end configurability AI adoption in real-world CPQ projects Manufacturing sales and automation trends What’s next for Tacton in 2026 A must-listen for anyone tracking the future of CPQ, configurable products, and manufacturing transformation. 🔗 Learn more about Tacton at 📬 Contact Nils on LinkedIn
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What CPQ Headlines Miss — and Why That Matters for 2026
02/08/2026
What CPQ Headlines Miss — and Why That Matters for 2026
2025 was full of CPQ and Quote-to-Cash headlines: AI agents, platform transitions, consolidation, and promises of faster execution. Following those announcements is important — but it rarely tells the full story. In this episode, I look at what often gets lost between public messaging and real-world CPQ decisions. Drawing on patterns observed throughout 2025, I explore where market narratives diverged from evaluation and delivery reality — and why that gap becomes even more important as we head into 2026. The discussion covers AI and agent-based capabilities, platform transitions, consolidation, and delivery constraints — not to judge vendors or predict winners, but to explain how execution, readiness, and sequencing shape actual outcomes. If you’re involved in CPQ as a buyer, vendor, system integrator, or investor, this episode offers a practical lens for reading headlines without mistaking them for reality. Contact Frank at for any questions LinkedIn
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New Year CPQ Search? Why CPQ Is So Hard | 125+ Vendors, Too Much Info & What Matters
02/01/2026
New Year CPQ Search? Why CPQ Is So Hard | 125+ Vendors, Too Much Info & What Matters
It’s the beginning of the year — a common time when companies evaluate a new CPQ or Revenue Management solution, or consider replacing what they have. If you’ve started researching and feel more confused than before, you’re not alone. In this solo episode, Frank Sohn explains why CPQ selection is uniquely challenging: there are 125+ CPQ vendors, plus analyst rankings, review sites, partner input, Reddit threads, and now AI tools — all creating information overload. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why there are so many CPQ vendors (and what that really means) The difference between CPQ and Revenue Lifecycle Management Why CPQ is a system decision, not just a sales tool What a unified data model is — and why it matters for AI Why subscriptions, amendments, and usage-based pricing change requirements How to build a smarter shortlist without relying on demos or rankings alone If you’re in the market for CPQ — first-time or replacement — this episode will help you cut through the noise and focus on what matters. Any questions: Send an email to Check out our CPQ Briefing Subscription @ Check out our CPQ Sales Report @
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