3D product configurators aren't only for retailers, there are an array of benefits that are stand alone for manufacturers. As technology progresses and online shopping popularity grows, businesses are having to do more to keep up with the ever changing digital age. Let's take a look at why 3D product configurators are crucial for manufacturers.

There has been a constant debate on who should supply the assets to sell the products, the retailer, or the manufacturer? Many retailers can’t afford to go down the route of photography, or even CGI, especially if they sell a lot of ranges. Retailers often look to the manufacturers to supply imagery of some kind. Manufacturers can now share 3D assets and visuals quicker, and more affordably than ever before through a centralised management system.

 

3D product configurators have transitions from solely B2C to also benefit B2B – they’re completely transforming sales cycles and how large purchases are bought and sold. Not only can online shoppers use these themselves, but with excellent touch points and user accessibility, sales reps can use these to show off products and to configure a customised selection specific to the customer at hand.

The key to all successful marketing and e-commerce solutions is having good assets, and 3D models are climbing to the list. Once a model is built there are endless capabilities, from rendering lifestyle imagery to showing an interactive 3D model on your website. With online shopping more popular than ever, manufacturers can’t expect sales to solely come from in-store sales. From recent reports online sales seem to be overtaking in-store sales, with John Lewis setting the narrative back in 2021 with over 75% of all sales coming from online – unfortunately the product doesn’t sell itself anymore.

 

When comparing the necessary imagery from a few years ago to now, it’s clear that customers want to see and experience a lot more than a single product shot in one fabric. If you don’t offer a visual of every possible combination of a product, you will lose sales. When shopping for clothes, if you could only see a visual of a shirt in one colour, but you wanted to see what the other options were, and couldn’t, you’d shop elsewhere wouldn’t you? It’s no different with furniture. With the ability to offer these assets to your own customers and clients, you are opening a variety of doors for them. If retailers are successfully selling your products, that means more sales and orders from you!

Big Benefits, Small Costs:

 

  • Customers have a more personalised shopping experience
  • Provide excellent assets to clients for sales collateral
  • Open doors for clients that they didn’t have access to before
  • Puts you ahead of competitors
  • Customers feel more involved in the design process
  • Increases profit margins (some may want to charge more for a personalised product)
  • User friendly and fun for customers
  • Offers an upgraded shopping experience: user friendly, fun for competitors
  • Increase in sales
  • Reduced returns
  • Increase in customer uptake as you have more to offer
  • Shortened sales and buying cycle
  • Better customer-business relationship