AR vs. 3D Configurators: Which Tool is Right for Your Retail Business?

Our retail landscape is more competitive than ever, with businesses battling for customer attention in both online and physical spaces. That’s also when immersive technologies like augmented reality (AR) and 3D configurators are used to enhance shopping journeys. 80% of users reported positive experiences with AR in the retail environment, and 60% of online customers admit they are more likely to buy a product if it is shown in 3D and AR. 

While both aim to engage shoppers and boost sales, they might serve distinct purposes. This article will compare two eCommerce tools, helping you understand their unique benefits and use cases so you can make an informed decision for your brand demands.

Without further delay, let's get right into the details with us! 

AR vs. 3D Product Configurators: 6 Key Factors to Decide

1. Provider reliability and expertise

The technology you choose is only as good as the provider behind it. Augmented Reality and 3D configurators require different technical skill sets to ensure the best performance. 

A provider for AR specializes in developing technologies that overlay specific objects onto the real world, with expertise in spatial computing and mobile device optimization. On the other hand, a 3D configuration provider excels at setting up pre-built logic and dynamic pricing (e.g., Visual CPQ) that handle combinations and price display accurately. This minimizes mistakes in design and manufacturing, rework costs, and product returns. 

When choosing a vendor, the following fundamental aspects should be considered first: 

• The industry track record and their past projects
• The ability to provide robust functions for unique demands
• The ongoing support for pre-launch, launch, maintenance, and updates
• AR and 3D standard compliance
• Proper, apparent pricing plans. 

2. Level of visualization detail

This factor makes the difference between augmented reality for eCommerce and 3D retail configurators clearer. Shoppers can use 3D product configurators to customize, combine, zoom in, and rotate every aspect of a product, from materials to specific components, from all angles, which is key for highly modular or complex items where detail matters. 

AR in retail, on the other hand, allows users to place their desired design in their own space to clarify how it will look and fit in reality—all of which involves spatial context. While many customers admit that its visual quality seems more immersive, the adoption of AR separately is tailored to specific sectors, such as furniture, home decor, and beauty. 

3. Scalability and flexibility

3D configurators are implemented to address the immense complexity of products like furniture, storage solutions, retail fixtures, and modular items. A well-built configurator can support made-to-order and mass customization at scale without technical mistakes. Leading providers like VividWorks can even take these complex designs and instantly transform them into an AR-ready format, allowing users to use a QR code to experience. 

AR's scalability level is diverse. Besides AR shopping apps and web AR, a virtual try-on tool for makeup or clothing is also a typical use case of AR, where users can test how an item looks on them in real time before ordering. You will have both a no-app-download experience and AR apps built for iOS and Android. However, whether your discovery is with the former or latter, you need to have smartphones or tablets in your hand to begin. 

4. Impact on Management Process

While augmented reality and 3D product configurators are considered eCommerce tools for optimized design and visualizations, their roles in business operations are significant. 

Thanks to the automated updates on displays, pricing, and quoting, eCommerce 3D configurators can eliminate the need for manual asset creation (no more photoshoots for every new customization and combination), drastically reduce mistakes, and save efforts. Furthermore, they can contribute to streamlining collaboration between sales, design, and production teams by ensuring that every order comes with accurate specifications. 

With AR applications, you don’t need showroom space and physical samples with detailed dimensions to showcase to buyers. Instead, customers can try before they buy and precisely know how the final product matches their demands when shopping online. Consequently, brands can speed up their sales cycles and reduce costly product returns. 

5. Seamless integration with other platforms

Most 3D configurators are designed to work well with popular eCommerce platforms like Shopify, Magento, and WooCommerce through a flexible API or pre-built extensions. Besides that, you can require the provider to offer integration with backend systems, such as ERPs, CRMs, and PIMs, to ensure a cohesive workflow from design to fulfillment.

Integration of AR apps often involves different considerations, especially around mobile responsiveness and performance. Don’t forget to consider rendering and visualization performance to deliver your shoppers a seamless, accurate, and immersive experience. 

6. Hybrid capabilities (AR + 3D) 

Many retailers don’t solely rely on augmented reality or 3D configurators; they’re more likely to choose both as a hybrid approach to offering deeper visualization of products. As a result, 3D product configurators with built-in AR can benefit retailers and shoppers: 

• Allow users to configure a product in 3D and then preview it in reality
• Reduce errors when working with complex, highly modular designs
• Enhance customer buying confidence thanks to the highest level of clarity
• Reduce product return rates and costly reworks
• Make customers feel in control without back-and-forth communications
• Optimize the sales process, resources, and time for internal teams. 

This aspect drives a smarter decision, taking full advantage of AR and 3D configuration. Ultimately, you lead the innovation in 3D eCommerce trends to stand out in the market. 

VividWorks 3D Product Configurator with Built-In AR: Leverage Retail Sales Results 

VividWorks is one of the top-rated 3D configuration platforms for B2B and B2C, offering interactive, error-free, and personal shopping experiences for made-to-order products. With nearly 20 years of building 3D configurators, VividWorks has become a trusted partner of many global brands like Montana, BoConcept, Grand + Benedicts, and Lundia, especially in highly modular, complex sectors like furniture, kitchen & baths, and building. 

With VividWorks configurators, users can experience real-time 3D customization and visualization, Visual Configure, Price, Quote (Visual CPQ), rule-based configuration, augmented reality, and 3D room planning. VividWorks can also offer seamless integration with eCommerce platforms, CRM, ERP, and CMS systems with custom APIs. From that, retailers can use VividWorks to boost conversions and sales results effectively.

Grand + Benedicts is a typical example of retail and eCommerce successfully adopting VividWorks 3D product configurator to sell its custom, highly configurable shelving units. “What impressed me most about VividWorks was their real-time visualization” — Camilla, Director of Marketing of Grand + Benedicts. Their customers can see exactly what they are configuring in the design with every adjustment and accurate prices in real-time. They can even get interactive AR experiences with a QR code at the end of the design. 

Consequently, the brand significantly enhances customer satisfaction and boosts orders, which indicates the critical role of this solution for Grand+Benedicts' online sales strategy. Book a demo today to see how VividWorks embraces your product page conversion! 

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