Times are changing. Nearly two-thirds of shoppers now make most of their furniture purchases online instead of in-store, according to Provoke Insight’s 3D Cloud Furniture Shopping Trends 2024 study. Only 17% rely exclusively on the in-store experience. 16% never leave their home.
The way of the future is not just 2D. 3D modeling is revolutionizing online shopping. The digital landscape of the furniture market is booming, with revenues growing for the sixth consecutive year. But experts say the best approach is to combine physical and digital stores with integrated, adaptive technology and 3D tools.
The introduction of 3D tools benefits both consumers and retailers, allowing shoppers to visualize how furniture and décor will fit into their home.
Why people buy furniture online
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic forced people to stay at home, many people preferred online shopping for its convenience. It’s easier to compare prices for similar products and across multiple retailers. One in five people visit a store first, then go online to look for bargains. Men make the majority of in-store purchases, regardless of age.
But that doesn’t mean they’re unwilling to change the way they shop. In fact, the survey found that 52% of those same men are interested in a 3D planner. 28% of online purchases already use a 3D planner, including many Amazon buyers and sellers. Seamless, immersive shopping could reduce effort for shoppers and lead to increased sales for retailers.
Buying new furniture in a brick-and-mortar store has several benefits. Being able to physically touch the fabric and see the colors can give you confidence in your purchase. Devy Dar, owner of Drizzling Flavor, said this about the multi-dimensional shopping experience: “I love the 3D shopping tools. They were especially helpful when I renovated my kitchen last year.”
“It was so impressive to be able to see 3D images of all the appliances and gadgets in my new kitchen design. The technology is so advanced and user-friendly that even a non-techie like me could use it effortlessly. I love my new kitchen – it’s exactly how I designed it.”
It may seem natural to research furniture online and then visit a store to see buyers’ top choices, but accurate 3D floor plans and textile samples can take the worry out of online shopping, saving you time and resources.
Simplify online shopping for home furniture
One of the biggest reasons to buy furniture online is convenience. It used to be difficult to visualize how decorative items would fit into the spaces in your home, even with exact measurements. Modern technology, like 3D modeling, has improved shopping, making online purchases a more viable option.
More intuitive tools will help you make better decisions regarding expensive investments, reducing the chances of wasting money. Seeing a piece in your own physical space through 3D augmented reality is something that even a physical location can’t achieve.
Actual colors and textures remain unknown and typically require a hands-on shopping experience. Fully comprehensive 3D shopping tools may one day solve this issue, but touch remains an important factor for many buyers.
While companies still have to solve the need for tactile details of fabric samples, perhaps by offering mail-order systems, retailers like Wayfair are offering tools to visualize furniture in 3D space.
It’s hard for many people to imagine what a room will look like with fictional furniture they can’t see. Even those with a good understanding of a room’s layout can benefit from seeing the bigger picture. A good 3D room planner can simulate daytime and artificial lighting to help shoppers understand the color range. It can also help them see how the room will flow based on their desired layout, taking the hassle and guesswork out of imagining the final arrangement.
Extending 3D experiences to brick-and-mortar stores
Improved 3D rendering is already having a significant impact. As Beck Besecker, CEO and co-founder of 3D Cloud by Marxent, points out, “We’ve seen it firsthand. Retailers that embrace 3D visualization technology are poised to redefine the customer experience and stay ahead in a competitive landscape.”
Combining the need for tactile information with visual aids is transforming online furniture shopping, but how do we transfer that technology to the physical shopping experience? Programs like this have the potential to attract high-value customers who are looking to furnish their entire home in one stop.
If a customer walks into a store with a photo of their living room, office, or bedroom on their phone, could this be used to render the 3D space and model the furniture? It’s a tool that has yet to be implemented, but it could eventually change how consumers buy furniture. Seeing their aesthetic come to life will enhance their ability to create a space that suits their specific personality.
3D Shopping Considerations
3D technology has the potential to revolutionize how people shop for home décor, but retailers and consumers must consider the challenges and limitations. By addressing these issues and finding ways to make 3D tools more accessible and easier to use, online and brick-and-mortar retailers can create a more engaging and personalized shopping experience for their customers.
Some consumers do not use devices that support the latest 3D technology. Over-reliance on these tools limits their accessibility and impact. Poor internet connectivity may prevent some consumers from experiencing 3D shopping at home. Overly complicated tools may result in many users having difficulty learning to use them unless they offer virtually the same functionality as in a physical store. 3D environments are expanding in the home furnishing industry, but much progress is still needed to create a fully intuitive shopping experience.
This article was produced by Media Decision and distributed by Wealth of Geeks.