The design industry constantly changes and adapts to the latest shifts in consumer needs and technologies. One of the most recent changes that touches on both of these things has been the rise in virtual showrooms and digital design centers. These are online spaces where customers can view and purchase products without ever having to leave their home or interact with the ‘pushy’ salesperson.
Digital design centers and showrooms exist in a variety of different industries including fashion, home decor, architecture, and adjacent niches like corporate design and real estate. No matter what the main focus of a company is, the ability to attract attention and showcase products and services effectively is an essential part of getting clients and increasing revenue. Technological advances have improved alongside the ecommerce explosion. It simply makes no sense to ignore virtual options that are currently available and provide so many benefits.
Shutdowns, social distancing, and economic challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic came at the same time as a natural shift toward ecommerce and virtual communication. The expectations of consumers influenced by these things have only grown in the past couple of years. Brands needed a way to make money when traditional methods of interaction with clients disappeared. Now, they cannot ignore the realization that virtual showrooms, video chat and meetings, and augmented reality tech greatly improve their opportunity to forge essential sales connections.
The same circumstances that forced a shift in retail sales and design services have led to an increased interest in making improvements and upgrading decor options at home. After all, people are spending more time in their homes these days, and it makes sense to create a beautiful oasis that reflects their personalities and lifestyles. More and more people are interested in tackling projects with the help of a professional who understands everything from efficient layouts to the trendiest paint colors.
The desire to transform a house into a more comfortable, stylish, and functional space, combined with the designers’ need for improved business options, has caused virtual communication, digital design centers, and online showrooms to grow drastically in popularity. These options provide benefits to everyone on both sides of the sales process.
Designers have benefited from virtual technology for many years. However, until the recent explosion of e-commerce popularity, most of it focused on the process of creating new products instead of selling them directly to consumers. Virtual space lets the professionals visualize, test, and explore the functionality of items and layouts before recommending them to clients.
Today, the reliance on tech systems has extended to consumer-focused spaces. Digital design centers and online showrooms make it easy to showcase the best furniture, home decor, and room design services on the Internet. They are also becoming increasingly popular for consultations. Many designers use virtual platforms to provide design advice and recommendations to clients all over the world. In fact, the designer may never go to a person’s home at all anymore.
Platforms like Uptok give designers, salespeople, and customer service representatives the option to speak face-to-face with shoppers and use integrated settings to recommend products and show off finished design options in real time. Better still, this type of interaction gives clients the personal attention they want. The expectation of this level of interactivity leads to greater brand trust and satisfaction with the overall process.
One of the biggest benefits of online showrooms for shoppers is that they are accessible 24/7. Customers can browse products at their convenience, without having to worry about store hours or crowds. Additionally, many virtual showrooms offer augmented reality features which allow customers to see what a product would look like in their home before making a purchase. For example, they can upload a photo of their living room or bedroom and get a generated image of how a piece of furniture or new wall color would look in their space. This kind of personalization makes decisions easier.
Augmented reality, 3D digital models, virtual design centers, video chat and meeting platforms, and online showrooms have become an integral part of the home decor, furniture, fashion, and related industries. Both consumers and companies experience unending advantages that improve every step of the shopping, sales, and customer service experience.
