Rack planning is a technical topic. Rack types, rack units, PDUs, blanking panels: anyone who hasn't been in a data center quickly loses track. That was the starting point for the EdgeOps Rack Configurator.
The Starting Question
It all began with an internal discussion: how do you make a technical product more appealing and accessible to a wider audience? Static forms and drop-downs work for technicians who know exactly what they need. Everyone else has to imagine the result.
Our answer: customers should see their rack while they plan it. Live in 3D, right in the browser, from the site down to the last rack unit. The configurator is now in use with a first customer.
More Catalog Than 3D
The biggest surprise during development: it wasn't the 3D rendering that took the most time, but the catalog logic behind it. Which device fits into which rack? Which combinations make technical sense? When does a blanking panel need to go in, and what does it all cost in the end?
The 3D view is the visible part. The rules in the background are what make sure it only shows valid configurations.
Open to Existing Systems
Prices and availability don't need to be maintained twice. The configurator can pull this data from a PIM or other existing systems, so customers always see up-to-date information.
What's Next
The Rack Configurator already works as a standalone solution. Next, we will bring elements of it into the EdgePortal, where customers will be able to maintain their inventory, for example.
And who knows: maybe one or two of the 3D models will find their way into topics like cross connects.
See It Live
Want to try the Rack Configurator yourself? Contact us for a personal demo.