The Best 3D Product Configurators for Ecommerce: Building the Next Commerce Evolution

Product visualization and 3D configuration are among the top tools being added to ecommerce in 2023. When you look at the results they are generating for brands, it is not hard to see why these immersive technologies are topping marketers’ wish lists across industries.

Visual commerce, which generally includes product visualization, 3D product configurations, virtual photography, and augmented reality for ecommerce, brings products to life in ways unmatched by standard product imagery and video and increases consumer confidence in purchase. Not only are consumers now asking for these tools (77% of buyers say they prefer to view product variations in 3D and AR, and are willing to pay up to 20% more for products they can view through interactive shopping tools), but brands implementing visual commerce as part of their ecommerce and retail strategies are seeing significant returns in some of the most important indicators of success.

  • 71% of consumers say they would shop more if they could experience products in AR

  • 4x time spent on site with products

  • Buyers are 11x more likely to make a purchase after experiencing a product in 3D/AR

  • Shoppers are 64% less likely to return a product they experienced in 3D/AR prior to purchase

  • 51% of consumers believe retailers are failing to take full advantage of 3D and augmented reality

Key Features of The Best 3D Product Configurators

Product configurators deliver a better ecommerce experience by bringing products to life online; but not all product configurators are created equal. The best 3D product configurators on the market will have several key attributes that deliver above and beyond value to the brands who implement them on a website. The key attributes for the best product configurators are:

Impeccable Image Fidelity

Product configuration is an effective tool for ecommerce because it helps buyers understand exactly how a product will appear and function in real life. 3D configurators may also have features such as animations or informational hot sports to provide information or showcase functionality, but the most important aspect of a product configurator is the quality of the 3D model. 66% of consumers say 3D product imagery and augmented reality increase their confidence they are purchasing the right product for their needs.

Performance At Scale

Did you know that 80% of consumers say the buying experience is as important as the product itself? And brands focusing on experience see 2X the average order value? Adding a product visualizer or 3D configurator to an ecommerce website delivers a more immersive and compelling product experience for buyers, but only if that experience does not have a negative impact on the website’s overall performance. The best 3D product configurators will be able to showcase high fidelity product models in an interactive experience that feels seamless as the buyer explores fro every angle and in every color.

3D Product Intelligence

The end user is often the primary focus of delivering a quality visual commerce experience, but the best product configurators offer brands in-depth and actionable insights into how their 3D configurator is being used through 3D analytics. 3D Product Intelligence from Dopple captures a full suite of data points to monitor consumer trends, identify opportunities, and create comprehensive consumer profiles. Using 3D Product Intelligence to analyze the performance and use of a 3D configurator enables brands to optimize their product offerings to fit the current and evolving needs of buyers, while gaining insights on the factors that most commonly shape a buyer’s decision process.

How to build a 3D product configurator

There are several methods for building a 3D product configurator, but the most effective and efficient method for the majority of brands is leveraging product configurator software to quickly and easily scale 3D and augmented reality capabilities across products and SKUs.

Dopple’s low-code 3D configurator software enables brands to upload, style, and launch their 3D enabled shopping experiences for their entire product portfolio, reducing time and resources needed to manage and showcase products in a high quality ecommerce setting.