Product Visualization Versus 3D Configuration

Even if there is only one option for a product, product visualization software can deliver significant value for both the buyer and the brand. For the buyer, the increased confidence built by knowing exactly what the purchase will look like at arrival makes for a more enjoyable, less stressful shopping experience.

For the brand, happier customers are always a win, as they often will come back for repeat purchases or spread the word about your products to friends and family. Additionally, using product visualization software is often a cost savings for companies when compared to traditional photography and videography. Photoshoots are expensive in both a monetary and timing sense; they also are limited to capturing the product as it currently appears. Product updates, new features, or new styles require future shoots or a lot of time in photoshop (if possible) to accurately capture the product’s appearance. Product visualization software allows your team to quickly and easily update product visuals across the site and media channels by updating the 3D image to reflect the new product specs; no photoshoot needed.

If your products have a set configuration or if each product option is listed on its own page of your website, a product visualizer is an impactful tool for enhancing your customer experience and increasing your rate of conversion.

What Is 3D Product Configuration?

What about products that are more complex or allow buyers to make one or more selections? 3D configurators can be implemented within a brand’s existing site to create a fully immersive shopping experience that showcases each option and feature available for purchase.

Whereas product visualization is designed to display a single product configuration in an immersive environment, 3D product configuration takes the experience a step farther by allowing shoppers to choose and engage with product options such as colors, textures, and added features. There is no set number of options needed to make a visual configurator beneficial; even if the options are limited to colors, seeing the product as it will actually appear in 3D makes for a more satisfying customer experience. Customers want to be sure that the shade of red they are choosing is true to what they are looking for, or that the two colors they think they want will actually look how they think they will once added to their product.

The benefits of 3D for eCommerce are amplified for products where additional parts, features, or specializations can be added. These are elements that can greatly affect the buyer’s overall experience with the product, both from a functionality standpoint and a monetary one. Enthusiastic customers may be tempted to add every feature available on their new purchase, but without seeing those additional features on the product as a whole, they may not be happy with what arrives on their doorstep. Conversely, a buyer may opt to skip a feature that would benefit them, but whose value is not clear when offered on the site.