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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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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Vinay Toomu on ScaleFluidly’s Revenue Orchestration Platform, AI & Adoption
01/25/2026
Vinay Toomu on ScaleFluidly’s Revenue Orchestration Platform, AI & Adoption
In this CPQ Podcast episode, Frank Sohn sits down with Vinay Toomu, who leads both ScaleFluidly (CPQ / quote-to-order platform) and CommerceCX (a systems integrator working with Salesforce and Conga). Since Vinay’s last appearance in 2023, ScaleFluidly has matured into a full quote-to-order revenue orchestration platform—built on a composable core engine that customers can extend with their own apps. Vinay shares what he sees across real implementations: the biggest wins come from improving adoption, reducing friction for sales teams, and putting the right governance in place. They discuss support for direct sales, partner sales, and ecommerce, ScaleFluidly’s low-code/no-code approach, and how their architecture differs for SMB (multi-tenant)versus enterprise (environment separation). The episode also covers newer capabilities like role-based controls, security certifications (ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type 2), and a Chrome assistant designed to streamline CRM workflows. Finally, they unpack ScaleFluidly’s practical view of AI in CPQ—where it works today, what’s harder at enterprise scale, and how consolidation in the CPQ market could influence innovation. 🔗 Learn more about ScaleFluidly at 📬 Contact Vinay on LinkedIn
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Salesforce Revenue Cloud, Agentforce & Usage-Based Pricing with Slalom
12/21/2025
Salesforce Revenue Cloud, Agentforce & Usage-Based Pricing with Slalom
In this CPQ Podcast episode, Frank Sohn talks with Calvin Chow, Senior Director at Slalom Consulting, about what it really takes to move from Salesforce CPQ to Salesforce Revenue Cloud (RCA/ARM). Calvin has hands-on experience with multiple CPQ platforms — including PROS, Apttus (now Conga), Salesforce CPQ / Revenue Cloud, Zuora CPQ, and Vlocity — and shares what he wishes he had known about the end-to-end quote-to-cash process earlier in his career. Calvin explains how Slalom supports mid-size to Fortune 500 customers with strategy, process improvement, data management, and CPQ/Billing transformations, and walks through lessons learned from nearly 10 Salesforce CPQ to RCA/ARM migration projects. He highlights why RCA is more complex than many teams expect, why data migration is the single most critical success factor, and how to rethink processes when moving to usage-based and consumption billing models. The conversation also explores the growing role of AI, agents, and Agentforce in Revenue Cloud. Calvin shares real use cases where agents help create quotes, support renewals, and provide product and pricing recommendations — and why he believes AI will augment sales teams rather than replace them, with over 50% of Slalom’s recent projectsnow involving AI and Agentforce. On a lighter note, Calvin also reveals his passion as a coffee connoisseur and aspiring future barista, adding a personal touch to a highly practical, insight-rich episode for anyone serious about CPQ, quote-to-cash, and Salesforce Revenue Cloud migrations. 🔗 Learn more about Slalom at 📬 Contact Calvin on LinkedIn
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Salesforce CPQ to ARM/RCA: Max from Prodly on DevOps & Migration
12/14/2025
Salesforce CPQ to ARM/RCA: Max from Prodly on DevOps & Migration
In this CPQ Podcast episode, Frank talks with Max from Prodly about the shift from Salesforce CPQ to Revenue Cloud Advanced (now Agentforce Revenue Management, ARM) and what it really takes to manage that transition successfully. They look at how Salesforce is moving customers to ARM, why this is not a simple upgrade but a separate implementation project, and what that means for CPQ teams, partners, and customers. Max reflects on the early Steelbrick days and how it helped democratize CPQ, his path from engineer and product manager to founder, and why he had to learn marketing, sales, and go-to-market the hard way. He also shares a few personal stories, including a 48-hour round-trip flight to Munich for a four-hour meeting, and his view on the coming agentic revolution in enterprise software. You’ll also hear how Prodly has grown into an Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) / DevOps platform for Salesforce with ~35–40 employees and a global, mostly North American, customer base. Max explains how Prodly helps larger organizations automate complex CPQ and quote-to-cash deployments (configuration, price rules, discount schedules, install base data, etc.), and why one of their biggest differentiators is that the platform is not limited to CPQ—it also supports use cases like field service, e-commerce, and rebate management. Today, Prodly works with any CPQ solution built on the Salesforce platform, with plans to expand beyond Salesforce in the future. Topics covered: Salesforce CPQ, Revenue Cloud Advanced, Agentforce Revenue Management (ARM), CPQ migration strategy, Salesforce DevOps, application lifecycle management (ALM), Prodly, Steelbrick, quote-to-cash, agentic revolution in enterprise software. 🔗 Learn more about Prodly at 📬 Contact Max on LinkedIn
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How Ignize Uses AI Pricing & CPQ to Boost Manufacturing Profits
12/07/2025
How Ignize Uses AI Pricing & CPQ to Boost Manufacturing Profits
In this CPQ Podcast episode, host Frank Sohn talks with Andreas Westling, CEO and co-founder of Ignize, about how modern AI pricing and CPQ help B2B manufacturers increase EBIT, improve price fairness, and react faster to market volatility. Drawing on more than 20 years of pricing experience, including his time as CEO of Navetti (acquired by Vendavo). Andreas explains why pricing fundamentals haven’t changed, but the way manufacturers execute pricing has transformed. He also shares how Ignize supports mid-market and enterprise manufacturers with complex, multinational pricing operations that require both speed and precision. Andreas introduces Ignize’s concept of Generative Precision Pricing (GPP) and the role of the Ignizer, a modern engine that turns pricing expertise into data-driven, explainable recommendations. You’ll also hear how Ignize integrates with CRM systems such as Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics, ERP systems including SAP, Oracle, and legacy platforms, and CPQ solutions like Tacton to deliver consistent, value-based pricing across the commercial stack. We discuss why black-box AI pricing often fails in B2B manufacturing, and why explainability and transparency are essential to earn trust from pricing teams, product managers, sales, and customers. Andreas also outlines what manufacturers can expect from an Ignize implementation. From 8–12 week quick-start value phases to broader enterprise rollouts, and how modern pricing platforms help companies navigate tariffs, commodity swings, currency shifts, and other forms of market disruption. Ignize also operates on an enterprise-grade security foundation, backed by ISO 27001:2013 certification and SOC 2 Type II compliance, ensuring that sensitive pricing and commercial data is handled with the highest standards of information security and compliance. If you’re interested in CPQ, B2B pricing, or how AI can strengthen price quality, win rates, and overall financial performance, this episode is for you. 🔗 Learn more about Ignize at 📬 Connect with Andreas on LinkedIn:
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Next-Gen Salesforce Quote-to-Cash: RCA, RCB, and Agentforce AI
11/30/2025
Next-Gen Salesforce Quote-to-Cash: RCA, RCB, and Agentforce AI
In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, Frank Sohn sits down with Suren Reddy, founder of Cloudely, for a deep dive into where Configure-Price-Quote (CPQ) is heading—especially inside the Salesforce ecosystem. If you’re evaluating Salesforce CPQ, or wondering what Revenue Cloud Advanced really changes, this conversation is for you. Suren breaks down Salesforce Revenue Cloud Advanced (RCA) and Revenue Cloud Billing (RCB) in practical terms: why Salesforce is positioning them as the next-gen replacement for traditional CPQ, what’s new in product, pricing, and catalog architecture, and how quote-to-cash is becoming a single, unified revenue platform. He shares real implementation expectations too—why RCA projects are now trending closer to 4–8 months due to expanded analysis and design, and how that tradeoff can pay off in fewer downstream touchpoints and stronger ROI. The discussion also explores the fast-moving AI layer around CPQ. Suren explains Salesforce’s move toward multi-agent workflows through Agentforce, the role of Model Context Protocol (MCP) as an open standard for secure tool/data interaction, and what “Agentforce Vibes” (agentic development) could mean for accelerating CPQ and revenue applications. You’ll hear a concrete AI use case he’s seeing today: the Margin Optimization Agent, designed to recommend profitable product bundles while improving customer outcomes. Finally, Suren shares what he’s hearing from customers about the Conga/PROS acquisition, why many are re-evaluating their CPQ options, and what demand signals he expects to rebound in 2026. Plus, a look at Cloudely’s growth in India and emerging verticals like dairy, cement, and textiles. Tune in for a grounded, forward-looking CPQ conversation packed with Salesforce Revenue Cloud insights, AI realism, and customer-driven market perspective. Subscribe to the CPQ Podcast for more interviews on CPQ software, quote-to-cash, pricing, and revenue transformation. 👉 Listen now to learn how SMBs are achieving enterprise-grade automation without enterprise-grade complexity. 🔗 Learn more about Cloudely at 📬 Contact Suren on LinkedIn
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Inside the CPQ Sales Report: A Practical Guide for CPQ Buyers, Vendors & SIs
11/23/2025
Inside the CPQ Sales Report: A Practical Guide for CPQ Buyers, Vendors & SIs
Evaluating Configure-Price-Quote (CPQ) solutions and drowning in buzzwords, vendor decks, and generic analyst reports? In this solo episode of the CPQ Podcast, Frank walks you through something he has been building for exactly that problem: the CPQ Sales Report from Novus CPQ. This is not a sales pitch. Think of this episode as a reference guide you can come back to whenever you need to shortlist CPQ vendors, support a sales cycle, or explain a solution to your internal stakeholders. You’ll learn: What the CPQ Sales Report is and who it’s for (buyers, system integrators, and CPQ vendors) What’s inside each 20+ page, vendor-specific report and how it adds value to real sales cycles When to use a report for shortlisting, internal alignment, business cases, and partner enablement How the CPQ Sales Report differs from the CPQ Briefing Subscription Which vendors are currently covered: camos Software, Bit2win, XaitCPQ, Engineering Intent, SAP (CPQ-related), Salesforce Revenue Cloud Advanced, Nue.io – plus an upcoming report on Revalize Frank also shares what’s new (including the updated XaitCPQ report), what’s coming next, and how these reports stay vendor-neutral, fact-based, and practical—so you can make better CPQ decisions without rewriting everything yourself. 👉 Learn more and see the latest reports at 💬 Questions or vendor suggestions? Connect with Frank on LinkedIn ( ) or via
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From SAP to Salesforce Revenue Cloud: AI, CPQ, and the “Death of Middleware”
11/16/2025
From SAP to Salesforce Revenue Cloud: AI, CPQ, and the “Death of Middleware”
In this episode, Frank Sohn talks with Hiren Shah, founder of B2B-Matrix, about how small and mid-sized manufacturers and distributors are modernizing their sales processes through AI-driven CPQ, CRM, and ERP integration. Hiren, a former SAP America consultant turned Salesforce expert, shares his perspective on the future of Configure-Price-Quote (CPQ), Revenue Cloud, and AI in sales automation. He explains B2B-Matrix’s three-phase Salesforce AI project, where automation is already reducing clicks, quote times, and approval delays—and how the final phase will connect directly to ERP and internet data. You’ll also hear his insights on: When and why companies should migrate from Salesforce CPQ to Revenue Cloud Advanced (RCA) The “death of middleware” and how modern APIs enable seamless CRM-CPQ-ERP integration The top three customer priorities today: AI, master data cleanup, and faster transaction velocity Why CPQ customers typically replace systems every eight years How B2B-Matrix white-labels its services for larger consulting firms and delivers sub-$100K CPQ projects for SMBs Beyond business, Hiren also shares his personal passion for Pilates and Hot Yoga, a balance that keeps him focused as he leads digital transformation projects for manufacturers across North America. Whether you’re interested in Salesforce Revenue Cloud, CPQ modernization, AI in sales, or integration strategy, this episode offers practical, real-world insights from someone who’s bridging enterprise architecture, business process design, and cloud innovation. 👉 Listen now to learn how SMBs are achieving enterprise-grade automation without enterprise-grade complexity. 🔗 Learn more about B2B Matrix at 📬 Contact Hiren on LinkedIn
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🎧 The Fastest Way to Understand the CPQ Landscape
11/09/2025
🎧 The Fastest Way to Understand the CPQ Landscape
Confused by all the CPQ options out there? You’re not alone — with more than 135 vendors and endless marketing claims, figuring out where to start can feel impossible. In this episode, host Frank Sohn (Novus CPQ Consulting) breaks down the CPQ landscape in under 15 minutes and shows you a smarter way to learn it. You’ll hear how the CPQ Briefing Subscription helps you cut through the noise with short, fact-based reports based on real demos — not hype. Learn how analysts, students, and business leaders use these briefings to understand capabilities, compare vendors, and explore the market with AI tools like ChatGPT. 🎯 Ready to learn CPQ the fast, structured, and reliable way? Sign up now for the CPQ Briefing Subscription at 👉 Any questions: Contact
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CPQ ROI That CFOs Trust: Cameron Marsh (Nucleus Research)
11/02/2025
CPQ ROI That CFOs Trust: Cameron Marsh (Nucleus Research)
How do you prove CPQ value in CFO terms—not hype? In this episode, Cameron Marsh, Analyst at Nucleus Research, breaks down how their ROI Case Study and Value Matrix quantify CPQ outcomes customers feel every day: faster quote cycles, higher throughput with the same team, better margins from pricing, and fewer back-and-forth revisions thanks to visualization. We also dig into why data quality—not model magic—decides CPQ AI success, and where channel vs. direct CPQ returns really land. Key Takeaways: Quantifying ROI like a CFO: Nucleus standardizes benefits into save time, save money, make more money—and they’re NASBA-certified in how they measure value. Quote Cycle Efficiency: Typical improvements of 60–80%—from hours to minutes—plus 20–30% more quote throughput with the same headcount. Pricing > Cross/Upsell: Price optimization usually creates more value than cross/upsell alone by protecting margin. Payback Windows: Average CPQ payback in 9–12 months; channel CPQ often sees faster first-year payback, while direct CPQ compounds larger value longer-term. What’s Beating AI (for now): Visualization (≈ 25% reduction in quote revisions), Deal Desk Automation (≈ 85% reduction in manual review time), and eSignature are delivering immediate, measurable wins. AI’s Real Bottleneck: Inconsistent rules, outdated/fragmented price lists, and weak integrations. Bad data = bad outputs. Market View: Strongest traction in North America enterprise, with growing momentum across Europe and APAC. Vendor Advice: Lead with customer value and usability, not feature lists. 🔗 Learn more about Nucleus Research at 📬 Contact Cameron on LinkedIn
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From College Startup to CPQ Vendor: Martin Johansen on Mercura’s Playbook
10/26/2025
From College Startup to CPQ Vendor: Martin Johansen on Mercura’s Playbook
In this CPQ Podcast episode, Frank Sohn talks with Martin Johansen, founder of Mercura, a Denmark-based CPQ vendor focused on small to mid-sized manufacturers. With a background in finance and international business, Martin started Mercura straight out of college—initially building a configurator “by accident” for a customer request—and has since grown it into a SaaS platform used across Europe. We discuss Mercura’s no-code setup and short implementation cycles (often 1–2 months), its support for cost-plus pricing, and partner/distributor workflows where channel users can upload and manage their own price lists. Martin explains how Mercura’s in-browser 3D visualization enables room planning, snap-to placement, and collision detection in real time. While Mercura doesn’t connect directly to CAD suites, customers can supply STEP files or drawings for CPQ-side visualization. A big portion of the conversation covers integrations—especially Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales and Microsoft Business Central—plus experience with PIM solutions and HubSpot. Martin shares how Mercura applies AI on the admin side to speed configuration/rules setup, why headless is not a near-term priority, and the company’s focus on manufacturers in sectors like playground equipment and healthcare (typical 5–200 users). We also touch on his sales mindset, weekly tennis/soccer routine, and how the book Work the System shapes Mercura’s process discipline. Listen in for practical insights on delivering an easy-to-implement CPQ with modern visualization and tight Microsoft integrations. 🔗 Learn more about Mercura CPQ at 📬 Contact Martin on LinkedIn or via email at
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Merkato CPQ: Fast Time-to-Value for Manufacturers (with Marc de Mey)
10/19/2025
Merkato CPQ: Fast Time-to-Value for Manufacturers (with Marc de Mey)
Host Frank Sohn welcomes Marc de Mey of Merkato Group—the team behind Merkato CPQ and brands Quootz, CPQ Belgium, Sell It Easy, CPQing Solutions, and DOK.legal. Marc shares his path from aircraft mechanics to CPQ leadership and explains how Merkato’s low-code/no-code, API-first, headless architecture helps manufacturers move from complex requirements to accurate quotes fast. We compare hands-off vs. hands-on implementation models across the group, and why an external ecosystem of Merkato experts accelerates adoption. You’ll hear practical integration patterns with Salesforce, SAP, Epicor, Infor, Odoo, Zoho and CAD tools like PTC Creo and Solidworks. We also cover three buying drivers—capturing hard product knowledge, creating a single source of truth that eliminates double entry, and delivering modern visualization. Best for manufacturers, OEMs, distributors, and EPCs (50–1000 employees), primarily in Europe but with global reach. 🔗 Learn more about Merkato Group 📬 Contact Marc on LinkedIn
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Pre-Dreamforce Brief with David Beebe from Salesforce Revenue Cloud
10/12/2025
Pre-Dreamforce Brief with David Beebe from Salesforce Revenue Cloud
Headed to Dreamforce (Oct 14–16)? In 30 minutes, Salesforce’s David Beebe breaks down: RCA now: 6 releases, faster UX, upgraded constraint builder Revenue Cloud Billing: what’s new + why demand is spiking Unified CPQ + Billing: fewer errors, faster cycle time Pricing & AI/Agents: usage-based, analytics, interoperability Sessions to add: RC Keynote, Consumption Models, Invoice-to-Cash Listen Oct 12 to plan your week! 🔗 Learn more about Salesforce RCA at 📬 Contact David on LinkedIn
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HubSpot’s Vision for Revenue Lifecycle Management with Adam Wainwright
10/05/2025
HubSpot’s Vision for Revenue Lifecycle Management with Adam Wainwright
In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, Frank Sohn welcomes Adam Wainright, a veteran with 15+ years in the Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) space, now helping lead HubSpot’s CPQ and revenue strategy. Adam shares his career journey across Selectica/Determine, CallidusCloud, Clari, Cacheflow (acquired by HubSpot), and beyond. Adam discusses: HubSpot’s CPQ launch at INBOUND and how it delivers speed, visibility, and control to sellers and revenue operations teams. Why their North Star is Revenue Operations—and how HubSpot is building a complete Revenue Lifecycle Management solution. Lessons learned from scaling companies from $7M to $200M in revenue, navigating multiple M&As, and leading global sales teams. His “Supersonic Sales Process” philosophy, with the mantra: Don’t pitch product—pitch process. The role of AI in CPQ, from conversational quote builders to revenue governance. Personal insights on leadership, active listening, and balancing life in Marina, CA with family, running, and hiking Big Sur. If you’re interested in HubSpot CPQ, Revenue Operations, or the future of Revenue Lifecycle Management, this episode offers valuable insights into strategy, technology, and customer success. 🔗 Learn more about HubSpot CPQ 📬 Contact Adam on LinkedIn Contact Adam via email at
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Aleran Software with Tarak Patel: Sustainable Innovation in Connected Commerce
09/28/2025
Aleran Software with Tarak Patel: Sustainable Innovation in Connected Commerce
In this CPQ Podcast episode, host Frank Sohn speaks with Tarak Patel, Sr. Vice President of Product and Technology at Aleran Software, about how Aleran is bringing sustainable innovation to Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) and digital commerce. Aleran’s Connected Commerce platform is designed for mid-size manufacturers ($20M–$1B) and their channel partners. Built on headless, API-first, cloud-native architecture, the platform integrates with leading ERP systems(SAP, Epicor, Microsoft Dynamics, Infor, Acumatica and more) and CRM solutions (Salesforce, SugarCRM). It also offers native eCommerce, pre-built connectors, Avalara tax, payment gateways, and shipping integrations—helping companies move beyond spreadsheets and home-grown tools. Tarak explains how Aleran supports CTO and ETO products, with a feature- and rules-based configuration engine, plus AI-driven guided selling and automated product content generation. With low-code/no-code flexibility and an average 2-month implementation, manufacturers can achieve fast ROI. Beyond technology, Tarak shares insights on trust-based leadership, Aleran’s rapid growth, and how his philosophy of “sustainable innovation” drives both the company and his personal life—including golfing with his two teenage sons. 👉 Listen in to learn how Aleran is shaping the future of CPQ and B2B commerce. 🔗 Learn more about Aleran Software at 📬 Contact Tarak on LinkedIn
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Resolto Configon: CAD-Driven CPQ for SMBs and Enterprises
09/21/2025
Resolto Configon: CAD-Driven CPQ for SMBs and Enterprises
In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, host Frank Sohn sits down with Matthias Radner of Resolto, a Festo company, to discuss his journey from face-to-face mattress sales to enterprise CPQ software. Matthias shares how early lessons in customer interaction shaped his approach to selling Configure, Price, Quote solutions, and why patience is key in long sales cycles—like when a customer signed an offer he created four years earlier. Listeners will hear about Resolto’s Configon CPQ platform, designed for both SMB plug-and-play deployments (with average implementation times of just four weeks) and enterprise-level projects worth €400K–€500K. Matthias explains the importance of CAD integration via Cadenas, their unique use of Google Blockly-style rule building, and how Resolto works closely with parent company Festo to shape its roadmap, including upcoming AI-driven innovations. Beyond technology, Matthias opens up about his personal passions—from competing in international hip hop dance championships to playing tennis for relaxation today. The conversation also explores Resolto’s growing footprint across DACH, Italy, the Netherlands, the US, and Japan, and why industries like machine engineering and electrical devices are key focus areas. If you’re interested in visual product configurators, CAD-driven CPQ solutions, and strategies for simplifying complex product sales, this episode offers valuable insights into the evolving world of CPQ. 🔗 Learn more about Resolto's Configon Solution 📬 Contact Matthias on LinkedIn Contact Matthias via email
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CPQ Podcast Summer Break 2025 Update
08/10/2025
CPQ Podcast Summer Break 2025 Update
The CPQ Podcast is taking a short late summer break — but we’ll be back with new episodes on September 21! In this quick update, Frank Sohn shares what’s happening at Novus CPQ in the meantime: ✅ 18+ CPQ Briefings now available – more coming soon ✅ CPQ Sales Report updates for XaitCPQ, camos software, and Bit2win ✅ CPQ Selection help for customers evaluating vendors ✅ CPQ Circle Subscription with 12 monthly newsletters + 20 hours of consulting ✅ New webinars available on the CPQ Channel 🔗 Learn more: CPQ Circle Subscription: CPQ Channel on YouTube: All Novus CPQ Subscriptions: If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to rate or review the podcast: On Apple Podcasts: Scroll to the bottom of the show page and tap ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ or “Write a Review” On Android: Use Spotify, Google Podcasts, or your favorite app to rate and follow See you back here on September 21!
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Composable, Headless, AI-Driven: What’s Next for CPQ at ServiceNow
08/03/2025
Composable, Headless, AI-Driven: What’s Next for CPQ at ServiceNow
In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, we dive deep into one of the most talked-about moves in the CPQ space—ServiceNow’s acquisition of Logik.ai for a reported $500 million. I’m joined by Anandan “AJ” Jayaraman, VP of the Lead to Cash portfolio at ServiceNow, and Christopher Shutts, Co-Founder and CEO of Logik.ai, for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes conversation. Together, we explore what this acquisition means for the future of CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote), CRM, and Revenue Operations. Discover why Logik.ai’s composable, headless architecture, world-class configuration engine, and Amazon-like user experience caught ServiceNow’s attention. Learn how the combined power of AI-driven quoting, Salesforce and Shopify integrations, and a unified ServiceNow platform is setting a new standard for modern CPQ. Chris shares how the acquisition talks began around Christmas 2024 and what it was like working with ServiceNow’s leadership—including inspiration from CEO Bill McDermott’s Winner’s Dream. AJ reflects on his global journey across India, Israel, and the U.S., and explains how CPQ is at the heart of modern enterprise selling. Whether you’re in sales ops, revenue management, CRM architecture, or enterprise technology, this episode delivers key insights on: Why CPQ is core to digital selling How AI is transforming CPQ for sales reps and admins alike What this means for Salesforce, Shopify, and standalone customers Subscribe now and stay ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving CPQ and Revenue Tech landscape. 🔗 Learn more about ServiceNow and Logik at 📬 Contact Chris on LinkedIn or email 📬 Contact AJ email
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Transforming CPQ with Constraint Logic & Revenue Cloud Advanced – Don Khamapirad, CEO of Veloce
07/27/2025
Transforming CPQ with Constraint Logic & Revenue Cloud Advanced – Don Khamapirad, CEO of Veloce
In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, we welcome Don Khamapirad, CEO of Veloce Apps, to explore how modern CPQ solutions are evolving for complex industries like manufacturing, life sciences, business services, and fintech. Don shares his journey from Oracle and Apttus/Conga to leading multiple startups through growth stages—and now driving Veloce’s transformation from a software provider to a full-service Salesforce Revenue Cloud implementation partner. You’ll hear insights on: Why constraint-based configuration is key to solving large-scale quoting challenges How Salesforce Revenue Cloud Advanced supports multi-layer configurations and up to 100,000 quote lines Where AI fits into the CPQ process, especially in speeding up quote creation and improving customer response times How Veloce delivers CPQ success with 5–18 month projects, deep Salesforce alignment, and a focus on high user adoption The five major use cases Veloce solves, including SAP upgrades and complex pricing transformations Don also shares a personal side—his love for archery with his daughter and his excitement about building industry connections at Dreamforce this October. If you're navigating the shift to Salesforce Revenue Cloud Advanced, or tackling complex quoting problems, this episode is packed with practical takeaways. 🔗 Learn more about Veloce at 📬 Contact Don on LinkedIn
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Salesforce RCA & CPQ Trends with Spaulding Ridge
07/20/2025
Salesforce RCA & CPQ Trends with Spaulding Ridge
In this episode, we sit down with Derik Quinn, Managing Director at Spaulding Ridge, to explore the fast-evolving landscape of CPQ, Revenue Management, and Salesforce Revenue Cloud Advanced (RCA). Derik shares insights from his two-decade journey across BigMachines, Apttus, Argano, and now Spaulding Ridge, where he leads large-scale quote-to-cash transformations in manufacturing, high-tech, and medtech. We discuss the shift toward constraint-based configuration, the excitement around Dynamic Revenue Orchestration (DRO), and why Salesforce RCA is gaining traction across industries. Derik highlights differences in adoption trends—new implementations in manufacturing versus migrations in high-tech—and the growing interest in AI for sales efficiency and revenue intelligence. With over 100 RCA consultants globally, Spaulding Ridge is driving momentum into Dreamforce and beyond. Plus, we hear about Derik’s passion for endurance sports, parenting two active daughters, and how customer KPIs shape project success. If you’re interested in quote-to-cash innovation, Salesforce RCA adoption, or industry-specific CPQ trends, this episode delivers expert perspectives you won’t want to miss. 🔗 Learn more about Spaulding Ridge at 📬 Contact Derik on LinkedIn
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🎙 From Blueprint to Breakthrough – Bill Barlas on CPQ, HubSpot & Xait CPQ
07/13/2025
🎙 From Blueprint to Breakthrough – Bill Barlas on CPQ, HubSpot & Xait CPQ
In this episode, we sit down with Bill Barlas, Co-Founder and Solution Architect at Quick2Bid, a fast-growing system integrator specializing in CPQ solutions for mid-market manufacturers and enterprise service providers. With over 10 years of CPQ experience, Bill shares his unique journey—from working on his first CPQ project at a plumbing company using Blueprint CPQ (now Xait CPQ) to building a consulting firm that tailors every solution from the ground up. We dive into: How Quick2Bid balances Xait CPQ, HubSpot CRM, and PandaDoc to deliver high-impact quoting solutions Why demand for product configuration on HubSpot is surging—and how they're meeting it The top 3 business drivers for CPQ buyers today: quote velocity, quote accuracy, and faster onboarding The shift away from Salesforce CPQ—and what customers are looking for instead Where AI fits into CPQ workflows (and where it doesn’t) How Quick2Bid delivers projects—time & materials for CPQ, fixed price for HubSpot Plus, we get personal: Bill opens up about his martial arts practice, homeschooling his three kids, and how his mother and Kevin Geraghty (Blueprint CPQ co-founder) helped shape his career. If you're selecting a CPQ solution or want to understand the evolving CPQ landscape—from 2D visual quoting to AI-driven insights—this episode is packed with real-world insights and practical takeaways. 🔗 Connect with Bill: LinkedIn: Email: 📍 Meet him at in San Francisco
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CPQ for the AI-Native Era – Chargebee’s Take with Nikhil Muralitharan
07/06/2025
CPQ for the AI-Native Era – Chargebee’s Take with Nikhil Muralitharan
In this episode of the CPQ Podcast, we’re joined by Nikhil Muralitharan, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Chargebee, to explore how modern CPQ solutions are evolving for software and digital service businesses. Nikhil shares his unique journey from software engineering to product marketing leadership—and how his career path mirrors his personal theme of "connecting the dots." We dive deep into Chargebee’s API-first, modular CPQ platform, built to support hybrid sales motions like PLG and sales-assisted selling—without maintaining separate catalogs or tech stacks. With customers ranging from $3M to $150M in revenue across the UK, Europe, ANZ, and North America, Chargebee offers out-of-the-box integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, NetSuite, Sage Intacct, and over 60 other systems. Nikhil also discusses: Their AI-generated quote summaries and vision for CPQ in an AI-native world Why sales and finance teams should operate from a shared data foundation Chargebee’s approach to billing-first CPQ architecture, SOC 1/SOC 2 and ISO 27001 compliance A new guided selling experience launching later this year Their 6-stage implementation methodology and fast go-live timelines If you're looking for a CPQ solution designed for digital growth, flexible pricing models, and enterprise-grade compliance—this episode is a must-listen. 🔗 Learn more about Chargebee CPQ at 📬 Contact Nikhil on LinkedIn or via email Micro-demos of Chargebee CPQ: [Ungated]
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🎙️ CPQ Podcast: Tina Kung – 4 Generations of CPQ + Billing, Nue.io, and the Future of RevTech
06/29/2025
🎙️ CPQ Podcast: Tina Kung – 4 Generations of CPQ + Billing, Nue.io, and the Future of RevTech
In this episode, we’re joined by Tina Kung, Co-Founder and CTO of , a rising CPQ & Billing platform redefining the quote-to-cash experience for modern SaaS businesses. With a career spanning Ariba, Oracle, Zuora, Salesforce, CA Technologies, and more, Tina brings over two decades of experience building and evolving four generations of CPQ and Billing systems. 🔍 We discuss: Her journey from on-premise software to modern SaaS Key insights from working at Salesforce and Zuora, where cracks in the CPQ–Billing integration became clear to her How Amazon’s B2C user experience inspired her to rethink B2B ’s product strategy: real-time pricing, platform-agnostic architecture, and a unified data model The importance of empathy, resilience, and communication in solving complex RevOps challenges Why hybrid pricing models, mid-term changes, and renewals are critical in SaaS Her vision for AI in CPQ & Billing over the next 12 months The recent $20M Series A funding, the acquisition of Approvals Pro, and ’s plans for Dreamforce and Q3 events Tina also shares what sets apart from other CPQ vendors—and how their metadata-driven, Salesforce-native approach aims to eliminate handoffs between quoting and billing entirely. 🎧 Whether you're a CPQ buyer, system integrator, SaaS leader, or RevOps pro, this episode offers rare insights into the future of revenue technology. 🔗 Learn more about : 📊 Learn more about Nue.io in our CPQ Sales Report @ 📬 Contact Tina via LinkedIn or email
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How Twyn.ai Is Redefining Telco CPQ with AI and No-Code Simplicity – A Conversation with Frits Haas
06/22/2025
How Twyn.ai Is Redefining Telco CPQ with AI and No-Code Simplicity – A Conversation with Frits Haas
In this CPQ Podcast episode, Frank Sohn speaks with Frits Haas, consultant at Twyn.ai—a no-code, AI-powered platform purpose-built for the telecom industry. Based in South Africa and backed by Jurumani with 450+ employees, Twyn.ai delivers a unified OSS/BSS solution that includes CRM, CPQ, order management, help desk, and more. Frits shares how Twyn.ai empowers Tier 1 to Tier 3 telcos and ISPs across Africa, Europe, and beyond—offering end-to-end quoting, product configuration, and proposal workflows powered by NLP and intelligent automation. He explains how the platform’s rule-based configurator and geospatial tools help simplify complex telecom offerings, while real-time APIs enable seamless integration with systems like Salesforce, SAP, and Oracle BI. Beyond tech, Frits emphasizes that "people buy from people"—a lesson rooted in his role as a trusted advisor and his passion for competitive mounted archery on his farm near Johannesburg. Tune in to discover how Twyn.ai is changing the CPQ landscape for telcos—one digital twin at a time. This episode is packed with real-world advice for CPQ professionals, ServiceNow customers, and anyone interested in scaling smarter with AI, governance, and business-led configuration. 🔗 Connect with Frits Haas: 🌐 Learn more about Twyn.ai:
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