3D product creation tools are changing how companies display and sell their products. This article provides details about virtual product generators. Plus, find use cases, checklist, and expert advice on using them well.

In this article :

What is the component of the product?

A product blocker is software that allows people to customize an item and see how it looks. The component shows all possible variations of the product. Shoppers can use the tool on the website to customize a product.

Customers may use a configuration tool to change designs, sizes or colors. Sales agents can also use a product builder on a laptop or tablet to display options in more complex products, such as manufacturing equipment.

What is the component of a 3D product?

3D product blocker is software that allows users to view a product image from any angle. Users can customize a product by color or size, for example. The customer can then see the customized form on the screen.

The 3D product component can better engage potential customers by showing them what the different options would look like. The design can also provide enough detailed information such as pricing and how to build a product based on the customer’s choice.

Applications for 3D product configuration

Companies use 3D product configuration tools at trade fair fairs, personal visits to sales agents, and product sites. Here are examples of how companies can use this tool to attract customers and increase sales:

• Trade Show Shows: Configuration specialists can eliminate the need to transport large display products to trade shows.
• Touch screens: a tactile option for personal events.
• Online Advertising: Including configurators in ads can increase viewer engagement.
• Websites: A useful addition to e-commerce websites and products so that consumers can see multiple options. Consumers can use detailed visual configuration tools to customize complex products and then go straight to online checkout.

Industries in which 3D product creation tools are especially useful

Some industries use 3D product creation tools to help engage customers and increase sales, including:

• Real estate and construction
• Interior design and furnishings
• the cars
• luxury items
• manufacturers

Use cases

Companies using 3D product configuration tools offer their customers a way to customize and see a wide range of merchandise, showing them what a product would look like in a real space — inside a room, for example.

Here are some examples:

• Retail: Macy’s customers can use a 3D product builder to place furniture and other items in an empty room so they can visualize how it would look in their home. Watch how the Macy product component works. Bloomingdale’s offers shoppers similar functionality, allowing them to place products in a room using molds that start from scratch. Learn more about the 3D product configuration experience at Bloomingdale.
• Kitchen Components and Design : Lowe’s offers customers a virtual room designer that allows them to design the kitchen of their dreams online. See how easy it is to visualize a new kitchen from Lowe’s.
• Decks: TimberTech AZEK offers an online deck design tool so that visitors can start designing their outdoor space in their backyard. Lowe’s also provides a similar solution for visualizing a new group.
• Furniture: La-Z-Boy has 3D product builders on many of their product pages. Shoppers can change the chair upholstery in real time.
• Fireplaces: Customers in the market for a new fireplace can visit Heat & Glo to design a fireplace online.
• Office Furniture: Hon office equipment takes the guesswork out of what the empty space looks like. Shoppers can use HON Visualizer online to place desks, chairs, and booths in a virtual space.
• Shoes: Wanna Kicks lets shoppers use a mobile app to try on their shoes virtually.
• Clothing: Making custom suits couldn’t be easier, thanks to Hockerty’s suit visualizer, which allows users to customize everything from cut to material. Similarly, designers can use the Custom Ink Maker to instantly see how their logos and images will look on T-shirts.
• Handbags: Pop Bag has a configuration tool that allows customers to choose the color of each side of the bag and its straps. Atelier offers customization features similar to the convertible belt pouch.
• Wedding Rings: Kay Jewelers features a custom ring designer where shoppers can choose everything from weight, carats, cuts, composition of gems, stones, and more. Brilliant Earth offers a similar customization tool for its engagement rings.
• The Cars: Cadillac features a 3D Build and Price Component on its site to choose everything from vehicle make to engine to color and interior accents.

3D Product Component Benefits

3D product helps to make advertising, marketing and product pages more attractive. Using the tool also increases production and sales efficiencies. Here is a comprehensive list of specific benefits by business unit:

• Manage Marketing and Advertising
  • Create more attractive online ads
  • Building virtual showrooms
  • Provide customers with the ability to customize product catalogs
  • Replace old traditional photography with photo-like digital photos
  • Increase the time users spend on company websites and interact with the brand and its products
  • Presenting an overall “wonderful” factor that impresses current and potential customers

• Sales Engines
  • Provide more accurate quotes
  • View more opportunities to sell related products
  • Increase in sales
  • Reduce final selling time
  • Allow real-time interactions with potential customers
  • Improve the quality of your leads
  • Set higher prices on some custom items

• Increases the customer experience
  • Improve customer experience with products and brand
  • Expand customer’s ability to customize products
  • Increase the customer’s sense of control over their shopping process
  • Provide customers with a useful way to see all product details on a product by rotating and zooming in/out
  • Help customers better understand complex products
  • Building trust in potential customers and converting them into online buyers

• Boosts Productivity
  • Allow the company to automate workflows based on configuration commands
  • Create more efficiencies when developing and using product images
  • Reduce the number of product returns
  • Provide a way for businesses to reduce inventory on hand
  • Simplify customer service by eliminating misunderstandings and errors

• Promotes product development
  • Allow companies to test product concepts before spending money on production
  • Increase the speed of product marketing
  • Enabling companies to easily customize to order for specific customers
  • Help track customer behavior with the online configuration tool, which aids in product development

How 3D Configuration Drives E-Commerce Forward

Consumers love that 3D configurators offer more detail and allow them to see more options. They love configuration tools so much that many online sellers will need to use them to succeed.

B2B Components vs. B2C

Companies focused on B2B sales can use configuration software to help customers provide details about the products they want. Conversely, companies that sell directly to consumers may have a configuration tool on their websites to show viewers the product alternatives.

Here are some details on how B2B and B2C organizations use a 3D product component differently:

• Business to Business (B2B) : In B2B sales, a component is often part of a configuration, pricing, or quotation (or CPQ) program. This software helps companies to collect customer orders for complex and detailed products. The component enables the customer to provide specific details and transactions so that he can visualize how the product will look or perform. The company then uses these details to build the desired item.

Benefits for B2B company and clients include:

• • More participation and interest from potential customers
  • Increased sales and shorter sales cycles
  • Online access to detailed product information and product updates
  • Fewer errors in orders

• Business-to-Consumer (B2C): Companies publish B2C configuration tools on their websites, especially on product pages, so customers can see alternative sizes, colors, and other attributes. Using the composition, they can see what these choices will look like. B2C components are often intended for uncomplicated product choices.

Benefits for B2C and clients include:

• • More participation and interest from potential customers
  • Increase website traffic
  • Increase in sales

Key Differences Between B2B and B2C 3D Products Components

	B2B	B2C
Who uses	Company sales representatives mainly provide quotes for certain product configurations	Consumers and any public website viewers
How is it available	Often as part of a CPQ	Separate software is often integrated into e-commerce platforms
User level of detail	Highly detailed to include all variables in complex products so that customers can accurately customize orders	Much less detail, showing only the basic color, texture and size variables of the product
Key Benefits	Shorter sales cycle Easy online access to the latest detailed product information Significantly reduce errors in the ordering process Improving the customer experience Increase efficiencies in product manufacturing	Increase the time potential customers spend on company websites dealing with their brand Increase in sales Shorter sales cycle Reduction in the number of returns Improving the customer experience

Features to look for in the 3D product component

3D product configuration tools have a wide range of features. You’ll need to consider how many items you’re selling will use the configuration tool and the level of detail that the configurations have to provide.

“The features you should look for in a 3D product component vary based on the size of your catalog, configuration requirements, and need for expansion,” says Beck Besecker with Marxent. For large product catalogs, look for a data-driven solution that has strong business bases to support complex configurations. Price integrations, cart integrations, request for quote, and order integrations are also important. Learn about the output formats you need and make sure the vendor you’re working with can present it.”

Here are some other things to consider when choosing a 3D product blocker:

• How the consumer sees the configuration factor: Most of the configuration tools are for use online. You’ll want to know how customers will experience the configuration tool on phones as well as desktop and laptop computers. Sometimes consumers may see it on the touch screens of the store. If this is your use case, see how it works in that environment.
• How a consumer can use the block : Some things affect the customer’s experience with an online 3D product blocker. These include:
  • Parametric configuration: The consumer can change the parameters of the product design. An example would be a table or cabinet that customers can make taller or wider.
  • Nested configuration: consumers can customize products within products. For example, the consumer may choose the size of the booth and then make more decisions about the desk and shelves.
  • Drag and Drop: Gives the consumer the ability to place a product within a specified space.
  • Augmented Reality: Viewers may use this feature with drag and drop. With augmented reality, consumers use a phone or tablet to visualize how a piece of furniture, for example, would fit into a space in their living room.
• Benefits that a configurator can provide to consumers: Evaluate the level of customization that a configurator offers. Does it support dynamic pricing? This feature immediately displays any price differences when the customer makes changes. Do you want customers to have the ability to share their creations via social media? If so, know which platforms you want to support.
• How a component can improve sales: Product components can increase revenue through product grouping. When customers can see what their bundled purchases can look like together, it encourages larger orders.
• How the component can improve productivity: 3D Configuration tools provide several business-focused features, including:
  • Analytics: The system provides information about how viewers use the component, which can help with product development, manufacturing, and marketing.
  • Integration: Many configuration tools integrate well with many online selling platforms.
  • Print-on-demand services: The consumer can purchase the product configured and delivered — all from the tool. An example is a T-shirt with custom words printed on it.
  • High-quality images: Allows businesses to create high-quality images of products that they can use in different ways – even outside of a configurator.
  • Image asset management: Supports a way to store all 3D images that can then be reused.
  • CAD integration: The component works with CAD software.
  • Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) integration : Companies can integrate the software with their ERP software.

Tips for choosing a 3D product blocker

When looking for an ingredient, choose one that does the best job of highlighting your product and its benefits. And you’ll want a solution that your customers love to use.

“Before you choose a 3D product configuration platform or vendor, get a solid understanding of the scope and scale you require,” says Jeff Rudderman, Account Manager and Head of 3D Product Configuration at Marxent. “If you have a small catalog with limited customization options, it may make sense to build your own product component or commission a custom solution.

However, if you have a large catalog with large customization options and your project has requirements such as scalability, ability to apply business rules to configurations, and the need to share materials across products, you will need to look for a platform solution. “

3D Product Component Checklist

Here is a checklist of features and attributes to look for in a 3D component:

• Zoom in and Rotate
  Customers must be able to see and interact with a 3D model of the product they are customizing.
• Click Product
  People must be able to click a form to make changes. Personalization should not be a dropdown list.
• Lots of options include
  a wide range of main options (shape, materials, textures, colors, etc.)
• See Changes Immediately
  Customers should not suffer from long delays.
• Your 3D modeling software library should contain new options and support your company’s existing 3D models.
• No coding required
  You don’t need to hire programmers to support it.
• Dynamic Pricing Support Configurator displays accurate pricing and price changes, as the customer customizes products.
• Save Changes
  Customers can save details about their customized products for easy access later.

Why invest in 3D product configuration

3D product configuration tools attract customers and increase sales. They can even allow you to raise prices on some customized items and make products more efficient. Here are the advantages that the product component can provide:

• Configuration tools make designer and sales team jobs easier: designers know what customers want. With the configurator, sales agents can sell customers products that they actually want.
• Customers want it: Deloitte research shows that 36 percent of consumers are interested in purchasing a personalized product.
• Manufacturing on Demand: As a manufacturer, you can link demand directly to production, which means less waste and expenses.

How to measure the success of a 3D product component

To directly measure the effects of using a 3D product blocker, you will need to track specific key performance indicators (KPIs). These may include website visits and product sales before and after the configurator.

Here are some other KPIs to track:

• bill of materials
• Transfer to sale
• Launching products adapted in augmented reality
• Contact requests to meet with distributors, designers or sales partners
• Visits to specific product pages on your website
• The time visitors spend on your website
• Time visitors spend using the configurator
• Component’s digital “touches”
• Remember on social media and share your products and ingredients

Tips for using the 3D Product Component

The 3D product component and components should not be so complex that it would take a long time to download the configurator for consumer use. Here are some tips to help speed up download speeds:

• Decide what can be configured : Enable your configurator to automatically produce the most common and popular configurations. He can then configure more complex options on demand.
• Rendering Engine: Use a faster 3D rendering engine based on WebGL such as Babylon.js, which is smooth, fast and designed for consumer applications.
• Polygons: Specify the number of polygons that are part of the 3D images. You don’t want more than 300,000 triangles if you want it to work well on both desktop and mobile devices.
• Grids : Specify the number of 3D grids attached to these polygons.
• Materials: The number of unique materials present in a scene is probably one of the biggest factors in how the configurator works. Reduce the number of materials as much as possible while keeping what you need to make the configurator work well.
• Tissue: The number of tissues, their dimensions and file size will affect performance. Limiting the amount of large textures is always better than using a lot of smaller textures.
• Think Mobile: Consider the device someone is using to view component performance.
• Be descriptive : good practice models give descriptive names, materials , and easy to remember when updates are necessary.

How much does a 3D component cost?

Some simple configuration tools are free or very low cost, but they also have limited features. Custom or platform-based configuration tools for bespoke products are more expensive and provide a lot of functionality.

Ultimately, the 3D product component is a lead generation tool that qualifies leads, reduces manufacturing errors, and leads to psychological ownership during the buying process. Investing in the right tool for your company and product catalog leads to happy customers and reduces returns.

Free and open source 3D product components

Many companies offer free trials of their 3D configuration software. Some also offer free versions. Companies that offer free versions include:

• ShapeDiver – https://www.shapediver.com/ (free version)
• MyCustomizer – http://www.mycustomizer.com (has a free version)
• DriveWorks – http://www.driveworks.co. UK (has a free version)
• Expivi – https://www.expivi.com (has a free version)

Problems with plugins for free 3D and open source products

Free versions of 3D config software usually mean limited features; Compared to paid versions of the program. It may also limit the number of times or how long viewers can use the configurator.

List of the most important factors for the formation of 3D products

Here is a list of some of the most popular and well-reviewed 3D config tools available today:

How to build a 3D product block

If you have experienced staff, you can create a 3D product blocker. You’ll need to make sure your configurator can bring out the best value for your products. Most importantly, make sure there are no download issues.

Here are some things to consider:

• Key Features: The component must be able to highlight the most important features of your product. If viewing the product from all sides is essential, then the configurator must excel in doing so. If adjusting product size and dimensions is vital to your customers and sales, a configurator should do it with ease.
• Ease of use : The component needs to work quickly and smoothly for the viewer. If it takes too long to download, the viewer will take it off — most likely from your company’s website. The digital images and other assets driving the configurator will also affect its performance. The initializer will perform poorly if these assets – including 3D grids and polygons – are numerous and too detailed.

Tips to make sure your configurator delivers the most value

Once you’ve invested in a configurator, take a few simple actions to help it deliver the most value. You will need to use any existing 3D assets first before creating new ones. Be sure to include a “call to action” for users viewing and using the configurator. This may include encouraging them to:

• Put their designed product in a cart
• Save their design to a user account they created on your website
• Email our sales team for more information

Make sure you understand how the 3D Configuration Tool integrates with existing software. This may include sales, CRM, and ERP solutions. Then, set up these integrations so you get the best out of all your systems.

The future of 3D product composition

Tools for creating 3D products and how companies use them will continue to evolve. Changes will include consumer interaction and how companies will employ them to build and sell products.

“The 3D product configuration is now fully visual,” says Beck Bisker, Marxent CEO and Co-Founder. “Web-based on-demand augmented reality is taking off. Integrating the things we want with the things we own, using inspiration and visualization to make ideas click, is already here. It will get faster, smarter, expand more quickly, and become an expected part of shopping for configurable products.”

Here are some of the possible future directions for 3D product components:

• WebAR OnDemand – Ability to show infinite variables in AR. Shoppers want to see the product they have configured in augmented reality and in their cart or bill of materials. It’s not enough to have a “backup” product anymore.
• The essential online sales tool: Customers are more likely to interact with and buy a product when companies offer ways to customize and display it in 3D. 3D product configuration tools will become more and more popular. They may become almost as popular as the basic product images on websites.
• Manufacturing on demand: A customer’s ability to customize a product will change the manufacturing of many products. Companies may manufacture a lot of products only on demand. The sales funnel will be a direct-to-consumer digital sales channel. With such a system, businesses will know they have a guaranteed sale and a happy customer. They will also have less waste and less need to store unsold products.
• Voice Configuration: People are increasingly using voice commands and assistants like Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa to interact with the Internet. Builders of 3D products will embrace this trend, and people will be able to build their perfect car or sneaker by talking into computers or a phone.
• Virtual Reality: Artificial intelligence and virtual reality technology will continue to evolve and allow people to immerse themselves in the products they are considering. It could mean that they put on goggles and get a life-like depiction of how that sofa looked in their living room.

3D product blocker that simplifies production across multiple platforms

The 3D product component can increase sales, convert shoppers, and help businesses deliver goods that customers want. The solution you use should be easy to implement and work with your existing assets. You also want a solution that is compatible with all your outlets seamlessly.

Marxent is a leading manufacturer of 3D product configuration and 3D room planning solutions for retailers and manufacturers of home improvement, home furnishings and office furniture. Marxent 3D Product Configurator with WebAR OnDemand is a responsive web application that connects customers to the way and where they work – on a desktop or mobile device. Each uniquely configured product produces a bill of materials that can be added to a major retailer’s shopping cart or to direct-to-consumer e-commerce sites.

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