In the competitive landscape of e-commerce, creating an engaging and immersive online shopping experience is key to capturing the attention of potential customers.
One innovative approach gaining popularity is the integration of a 3D product viewer into webshops, allowing your customers to explore products in a virtual space.
In this article, we will explore the steps you need to follow to create a 3D product walk-through in the Visody 3D product viewer to elevate your webshop’s user experience.
In this post:
Advantages for your webshop
A 3D product walk-through offers several advantages for both you and your customers. Here are some key advantages you should know about.
1: Interactive exploration
Unlike static images or videos, 3D product walk-throughs allow users to interact with the product in real-time.
This interactivity engages users, giving them a sense of control and a hands-on experience as they explore different aspects of the product.
This can lead to increased user engagement and time spent on the product page.
2: Removing all uncertainty
One common challenge in online shopping is the uncertainty that arises from not being able to physically touch or examine a product.
Through a guided walk-through or interactive elements, you can communicate key information about your products and their functionality, like intricate details, textures, and features of your products.
This is particularly beneficial for products with complex designs or unique selling points that may be challenging to convey through traditional media. It allows businesses to highlight what sets their products apart from the competition.
This improves customer understanding, helping them make informed decisions about whether the product aligns with their needs and preferences.
And an improved product understanding usually leads to reduced return rates too. When customers have a clear understanding of what they are purchasing, they are less likely to return the products due to unmet expectations.
3: Increased engagement and retention
The interactive and immersive nature of 3D product walk-throughs captures users’ attention and encourages them to explore the product thoroughly.
This increased engagement often leads to longer visits to the product page and higher retention rates, providing more opportunities for businesses to convey their value proposition.
4: Applicable to a variety of industries
3D product walk-throughs are versatile and applicable across various industries, from fashion and furniture to electronics and automotive.
This adaptability makes them a valuable tool for businesses in different sectors looking to enhance their online presence and customer experience.
5: Future proof
As technology advances, the integration of 3D product walk-throughs positions you at the forefront of e-commerce trends.
If you create a 3D product walk-through, it sets you apart in a crowded online marketplace. It also demonstrates your commitment to innovation and a customer-centric approach, making the shopping experience more enjoyable and memorable.
This differentiation can lead to an increased brand loyalty.
Steps to create a 3D product walk-through
After reading all the advantages, you probably want to get started right away. We will walk you through the steps involved to succesfully create and add a product walk-through on your website or webshop.
Step 1: Selecting high-quality 3D models
Before we start crafting our 3D model walk-through, it is important we have our 3D GLB or glTF models ready.
If you do not have any 3D models yet, you can start looking for free 3D models online. There are several ways to obtain 3D models:
- Download 3D models for free
- Create your own 3D models using (online) software
- Hiring a 3D model creator
The 3D model serves as the foundation for the 3D product walk-through, ensuring that customers get a realistic representation of the items they are interested in purchasing.
Step 2: Optimize your 3D models for the web
Optimize your 3D models to strike a balance between visual fidelity and performance. Consider factors such as file size, texture compression, and mesh simplification to ensure swift loading times without compromising on the overall quality of the 3D rendering.
This step is crucial for providing a smooth and responsive user experience.
Usually GLB and glTF files are quite optimized, but when crafting your own models or hiring a 3D model creator, always make sure the files are optimized.
You should look for file sizes less than 20 MB to make sure the model loads within reasonable amount of time.
Step 2: Downloading Visody 3D product viewer
Once you have your 3D models ready, we start by downloading the Visody 3D product viewer.
Creating guided walk-throughs is a PRO feature. Make sure you have the PRO version activated before you continue.
Step 3: Integration into your webshop
After downloading the zip file, go to your wordpress site and go to Plugins -> Add new -> Upload.
Select your zip file and hit install. Finally hit the activate button to enable the plugin on your site.
Step 4: Create a 3D product viewer
With the plugin activated, you will see a new menu item in your admin dashboard called “Visody”.
If you want to create a 3D product walk-through for a webshop page, go to Visody -> 3D Viewers and create a new viewer.
However, if you want to create a 3D product walk-through for one of your WooCommerce products, go to your WooCommerce product page.
In the product data meta box, you will find a new tab called “Visody viewer”. This tab contains all the necessary fields to display the 3D model.
Available fields are:
- 3D model / 3D model URL (link to your 3D model)
- 3D model poster: replaces default loader bar with a loading image
- Viewer template: template that contains settings for camera and model position
- Viewer notes: the list of annotations (interactive elements) for the 3D model
Step 5: Incorporating interactive elements to create the walk-through
With our 3D product viewer in place, it is time to add some interactive elements to the mix. Interactive features add depth to the experience, keeping users engaged and informed.
If you want to include clickable hotspots for additional information, head over to Visody -> Annotations and create a new annotations.
The annotation items contain several fields that allow you to update the camera position, play animations and display some text to explain the feature.
This allows you to craft a walk-through that highlights all the key features and functionalities of your product.
While creating the walk-through, consider the user journey and create a narrative that guides customers through the unique aspects of the product.
The walk-through should be intuitive, allowing your customers to navigate effortlessly through the 3D space.
Step 5: User testing and optimization
To make sure your customers can effortlessly navigate through the 3D viewer, you could do some user testing before launching the 3D product walk-through on your webshop.
Collect feedback on user interface design, functionality, and overall performance. You can use this feedback to make necessary optimizations, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience for every visitor.
Live demo
[vsd_viewer viewer_id=”750″]
Considerations while you create a 3D product walk-through
Creating a product walk-through for your webshop involves careful planning and consideration to ensure it effectively engages your customers and enhances their overall shopping experience.
Here are key aspects to think about when you create a 3D product walk-through.
Make your goals clear
Clearly outline the goals of your product walk-through. Whether it’s to showcase unique features, demonstrate product functionality, or provide assembly instructions, understanding your objectives will guide the entire creation process.
Know your customer
Consider the demographics, preferences, and behaviors of your customers. Tailor the walk-through to meet the needs and expectations of your customers. Understanding your audience ensures that the content resonates with them.
Use high-quality 3D models
The foundation of an effective product walk-through is high-quality 3D models of your products. Ensure that the models accurately represent the details, textures, and features of the actual products.
High-quality also means high-performing models. Make sure your 3D models are well-optimized and ready for use on the web.
You should strike a balance between visual quality and loading speed. Make sure to compress textures, reduce file sizes, and implement efficient rendering techniques to ensure a smooth experience, especially on various devices and internet connections.
Investing in quality 3D models is crucial for a realistic and immersive experience.
Create a walk-through narrative
Develop a narrative for the walk-through that tells a story about the product. Highlight key features, benefits, and use cases.
Consider the flow of information and guide users through a logical sequence that enhances their understanding of the product.
Incorporate interactive elements
Enhance user engagement by incorporating interactive elements.
Allow users to interact with the 3D model by zooming in, rotating, or clicking on hotspots for additional information.
Interactive features provide a hands-on experience, making the walk-through more engaging.
Gather feedback and keep optimizing
Gather feedback from your customers to identify potential issues and areas for improvement. Use the feedback to make necessary optimizations.
Continuous optimization based on user feedback ensures that the product walk-through evolves to meet the changing needs of your customers.
Bottom line
Implementing a 3D product walk-through with the Visody 3D product viewer is a transformative step toward elevating your webshop’s user experience.
By leveraging interactive 3D visualization, you provide customers with a virtual showroom experience that goes beyond traditional online shopping.
Stay at the forefront of e-commerce innovation, and watch as your webshop captivates customers and sets new standards for the future of online retail.
