Configit: Interview With CEO Johan Salenstedt About Configuration Lifecycle Management And AI In Manufacturing

Configit provides Configuration Lifecycle Management (CLM) software that helps manufacturers manage the complexity of configurable products across engineering, sales, production and service. Its platform uses patented Virtual Tabulation technology to manage product configuration rules and support consistency throughout the product lifecycle. The company is also expanding its cloud and AI capabilities to help manufacturers respond to changing product requirements and market conditions. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Configit CEO Johan Salenstedt to learn more about the company’s technology, its approach to managing complex product configurations, and how AI is influencing the future of manufacturing.

Johan Salenstedt’s Background

When asked about his background, Salenstedt shared:

I started my career in tech at a young age, initially working as a programmer before moving into project management. Over time, I transitioned into sales and marketing, where I found my strengths and passion.

I’ve now spent more than three decades in the software industry, holding leadership roles at companies like IBM, Adobe and Qlik.

Throughout my career, I’ve been driven by a desire to keep learning and to take on new challenges, and in 2019, I joined Configit as CEO.

Leadership Responsibilities

When asked about his primary responsibilities at Configit, Salenstedt explained:

As CEO, my role is ultimately about ensuring the company executes its strategy effectively. That includes setting direction, communicating clearly across the organization, and making sure we deliver value to our customers.

A big part of the job is also supporting our people, fostering a strong culture, and maintaining close relationships with customers and partners.

At this level, you’re always “on,” balancing internal leadership with external engagement.

Favorite Memory

When asked about his favorite memory working for Configit so far, Salenstedt said:

What stands out most isn’t a single moment, but the people. Working with talented, motivated individuals who bring energy and ideas to the table is incredibly rewarding.

Seeing teams collaborate, solve complex problems and deliver meaningful results for customers is what I enjoy most.

Core Products And Features

When asked about Configit’s core products and features, Salenstedt detailed:

Configit is a trusted leader in Configuration Lifecycle Management (CLM), providing market-leading global manufacturers with business-critical solutions for the configuration of complex products.

Based on the patented Virtual Tabulation (VT) technology, Configit’s solutions enable companies to reduce time to market, increase quality of configurable products and improve process efficiency.

VT is what powers all of our solutions. It is AI-based technology that compiles every possible product configuration rule into a single, compact data file.

We build configuration solutions for manufacturing companies to master the challenges of getting configurable products and services to market faster, and to sell, manufacture and service them more effectively.

Trusted by global Fortune 500 companies for their mission-critical functions, our advanced configuration platform handles the most complex products on the market.

Helping Manufacturers Adapt To Change

When asked how Configit’s technology helps manufacturers remain agile as products, regulations and customer expectations evolve, Salenstedt explained:

The key is enabling companies to manage complexity without overcomplicating their processes. By providing a structured way to handle product configurations, we help manufacturers adapt more quickly to change.

Whether it’s new regulations, shifting customer demands, or product innovation, having the right systems in place turns potential disruptions into opportunities rather than obstacles.

Navigating Industry Challenges

When asked about recent challenges in the technology sector and how Configit has addressed them, Salenstedt said:

The biggest ongoing challenge in tech is the sheer speed of change and disruption. Markets evolve quickly, customer expectations shift, and new technologies emerge constantly.

The way to address this is by embracing change rather than resisting it. That means investing in the right systems, enabling flexibility, and ensuring continuous learning, both at an individual and organizational level.

How The Platform Has Evolved

When asked how Configit’s platform has evolved to support greater scale, complexity and long-term resilience, Salenstedt explained:

As the industry has evolved, so has our platform. We’ve focused on making it more scalable and capable of handling increasingly complex product configurations.

At the same time, we’ve ensured that the platform supports long-term resilience by enabling consistency across the lifecycle and integrating with broader business processes.

The goal is to help customers not just manage today’s complexity but prepare for future challenges.

Along those lines, we are investing heavily in AI, combining VT and AI to allow for extreme usability and speed while at the same time making sure that you get 100% accuracy.

Key Company Milestones

When asked about some of Configit’s most significant milestones, Salenstedt highlighted:

With more than 25 years of product configuration expertise, Configit has worked with over 120 global manufacturing customers and had a hand in over 750 successful projects with our partner network.

A major milestone has been establishing Configit as a global leader in CLM. Since I joined in 2019, we’ve continued to strengthen our position by expanding our capabilities and supporting more customers with complex needs.

Another key milestone is the ongoing evolution of our technology to meet the demands of modern manufacturing and digital transformation.

That includes expanding our flagship product, Configit Ace, with a cloud offering in 2023. Now, we’ve continued to expand our offerings to address the increased adoption of AI in manufacturing, introducing Configit Ace Prompt to help product modelers move faster.

Customer Success Stories

When asked to share a specific customer success story, Salenstedt discussed Configit’s work with Premier Tech, a global organization operating across 28 countries.

A great example is our work with Premier Tech, a global organization operating across 28 countries. One of its divisions, Premier Tech Systems and Automation, selected Configit to help improve efficiency in its packaged product manufacturing facilities.

By implementing the Configit Ace SaaS platform, Premier Tech was able to better define configuration standards and significantly reduce complexity in its product offerings.

A key advantage was the platform’s ability to integrate seamlessly with existing systems like Salesforce CPQ, while still providing a flexible and customer-friendly approach.

As a result, the company is now positioned to increase sales through faster processes and lower costs, while also reducing rework by more accurately interpreting customer requirements. This has created tangible value not only internally, but also for their end customers.

Looking ahead, the partnership also supports Premier Tech’s ambition to integrate AI and decision-support capabilities, further improving speed, quality and adaptability in how they deliver solutions to the market.

Competitive Differentiation

When asked what differentiates Configit from its competition in helping manufacturers build trust and operational resilience, Salenstedt explained:

One of our key differentiators is our focus on long-term relationships and fairness. We believe in building trust with customers rather than focusing on short-term wins.

Technologically, our strength lies in simplifying complexity, making it manageable without losing depth.

Complexity is increasing at the speed of light, and we are the only provider that can solve these challenges. We’ve become the go-to company for product configuration.

That combination of trust, transparency and robust technology helps our customers operate more reliably and confidently.

Future Goals

When asked about Configit’s future goals and what manufacturers should be considering to remain competitive over the long term, Salenstedt explained:

Our focus is on continuing to innovate and support our customers as their challenges evolve. That means enhancing our platform, embracing new technologies, and helping organizations navigate ongoing disruption.

For manufacturers, the key is to stay adaptable. Invest in systems that support flexibility, prioritize continuous learning, and be ready to respond to change.

Those who can turn disruption into opportunity will be the ones who stay competitive in the long run.