Over the past decade, the eCommerce sector has experienced explosive growth driven by the increased availability of the internet and increased accessibility of shipping. Online shoppers have become accustomed to the ease of browsing inventory from their favorite retailer or brand from the comfort of their homes. In fact, as more and more brick-and-mortar retailers migrate to the eCommerce space, one could say the novelty of online shopping has become the norm. So, in a highly saturated market of online retailers, how does one business stand out from the next?
Today’s online retailers are faced with the challenge of providing an immersive online shopping experience for their customers. 3D product visualization has become a prominent sales tool for online marketers looking to increase conversions, reduce return rates, and provide a superior customer experience. Keep reading to learn what 3D product visualization is, its benefits, and how different industries are using it to drive sales. We’ll also cover the process of adding a visual product configurator to your eCommerce toolkit and how you can start putting 3D product visualization to work, generating sales for your business.
What is 3D Product Visualization?
3D product visualization is a digital display method that involves the creation of three-dimensional product models as a representation of a physical product. 3D product models enable shoppers to view and interact with online merchandise— in effect, creating the experience of in-person shopping. 3D visualization can be used to provide 360-degree product views, color & pattern personalization, and Augmented Reality (AR) experiences that allow consumers to interact with the product in a real-world environment. In short, 3D product visualization creates a highly satisfying shopping experience that blows standard flat 2D product images or text-based product descriptions out of the water. 3D product visualization can be achieved through two primary methods:
3D Modeling
3D modeling requires images and dimensions of a product which are then transformed into a 3D file using computer-aided design (CAD) software. CAD software uses a 3D coordinate system to build solid shapes and then adds visual effects such as lighting and color. This results in high-quality photorealistic product renderings, which are difficult to distinguish from photographs of physical objects.
3D Scanning & Photogrammetry
3D scanning & photogrammetry requires the presence of the physical product to be captured by a 3D scanner. The scanner uses laser triangulation to capture information about an object’s surface shape and the information is then used to construct a 3D model.Either of the methods above can be performed by an in-house design team or by enlisting the help of professional 3D model creation services. Once you’ve used one of these methods to create a 3D model, you can partner with a 3D commerce platform to upload and embed your 3D files for use on your website, e-commerce store, social media, advertising, game engines, NFTs, and more.
What Are the Benefits of 3D Visualization?
Customers Can Test Product Size & Fit
Reduce your customers’ pre-purchase anxiety with 3D & AR experiences. 3D product visualization paired with AR unlocks the ability for customers to test a product’s size and fit in their natural environments. Whether a customer is virtually trying on a pair of shoes or staging their home furniture, 3D models create an immersive experience that gives customers a more realistic preview of your products and their true-to-life size. VNTANA’s 3D web viewers have AR built-in so that customers can experience AR right from their laptop, smartphone, or tablet with no app installation required.
Increase Your Sales & Reduce Your Return Rate
For most customers, the biggest deciding factor when purchasing a product is their ability to visualize themselves wearing or using that product. With 3D product visualization, you can remove any hesitation by providing photorealistic, true-to-size product previews to help customers understand if your product meets their expectations. In effect, you are letting your product speak for itself. Adding 3D to your eCommerce toolkit is proven to double online sales and increase cart size by 61%. The greater product understanding buyers gain from 3D product visualization helps buyers make an informed purchasing decision which yields a 40% drop in returns. This saves you money on storage and shipping while reducing your carbon footprint.
Create a Satisfying Customer Experience
3D product visualization creates realistic shopping experiences that generate more satisfaction from your customers. Online 3D product configurators allow customers to select specs to modify product appearances, such as colors, patterns, and sizes. 3D visual configurators can also be leveraged to allow customers to design customizable products to be manufactured on demand. These immersive experiences create an overall enjoyable experience that will keep your customers coming back for more.
What Industries Benefit from 3D Visualization?
3D visualization particularly suits the needs of industries where customers would benefit from being able to view AR previews of product fits. These include:
- Fashion, clothing, and apparel: Shoppers can use AR to see how they’d look wearing clothing and fashion items. For example, luxury bridal designer Stefania Everenn uses AR to let customers try on bridal dresses.
- Footwear: Footwear providers can let customers try on AR fits for size and style. For example, fashion label Staud lets customers use 3D to try on boots
- Sports and outdoor equipment: Customers can browse 3D previews of outdoor and sporting gear. For instance, camping equipment provider CORE lets customers explore 3D previews of tents.
These are just a few examples of industries adopting 3D visualization. Any company that wants to provide customers with a realistic product preview can benefit from this technology.
What Is the Best 3D Software for Product Visualization?
In order to deliver premium 3D product visualization to your customers, you need to utilize content management software that can optimize heavy 3D files without compromising the integrity or quality of the 3D rendering. VNTANA’s fully-automated, patented 3D optimization reduces file size by up to 99% without any human effort involved so you instantly have the file types and size you need for the web, social media, and virtual worlds. Built atop the industry’s first purpose-built 3D CMS, VNTANA provides infinite, automated scale that allows brands to deploy 3D assets for commerce through the highest-quality, fastest-loading 3D web viewer with built-in AR.Our content management platform is designed to provide everything you need to get up and running at scale and to create immersive online experiences for e-commerce, B2B sales, social media, and the metaverse.
Start Using 3D Product Visualization to Increase Your eCommerce Sales
3D product visualization lets customers see products from multiple angles, including interior angles which don’t lend themselves to conventional viewing. This powerful tool for presenting products provides customers with more information to make well-informed buying decisions, increasing confidence in purchases and reducing returns. Industries from fashion and footwear to furniture and outdoor equipment are enjoying the benefits of this valuable innovation.
Making the transition to 3D product visualization requires a 3D Commerce Platform to upload, optimize, and share 3D images. The VNTANA 3D Commerce Platform has everything you need to deploy immersive online experiences for e-commerce, B2B sales, social media, and the metaverse. Built atop the industry’s first purpose-built 3D CMS, VNTANA provides infinite, automated scale that allows brands to deploy 3D assets for commerce through the highest-quality, fastest-loading 3D web viewer with built-in AR. Schedule a demo to talk to our qualified specialists about how 3D product visualization can help you start selling more merchandise.
