Get stunning, fast-loading 3D scans of your products that boost sales, increase buyer confidence, and reduce returns.

E-commerce is simply defined as the act of selling or buying goods and services online. The practice has been around for decades but was embraced to an unprecedented level in the last year as the pandemic forced most of the world to stay at home.

Despite the success of e-commerce, there are a few innate limitations of buying or selling anything online. It is better for everyone involved if customers can see the products before they purchase them. This reduces the chances of costly product returns and improves overall customer satisfaction. This is where 3D scanning can come in handy.

What is 3D scanning?

3D scanning is a method by which the geometry of a real-world object is measured to create a digital 3D model. Depending on the 3D scanning technique used, the digital model can also simulate the color and texture of the object.

In contrast to older methods of contour measurement, 3D scanning is a non-contact method. Through the use of media such as visible light or lasers, measurements of objects can be done without the contact of any measuring instrument. This makes 3D scanning ideal for the handling of fragile items. It’s also a very fast method, although data processing can require high-end equipment.

How 3D scanning can help your e-commerce business

Digital models have been heavily used in industrial applications as they can be analyzed and measured an infinite number of times. This is the same benefit that 3D assets offer to an e-commerce platform. With 3D models, your customers can rotate a product as if they were looking at the real thing. The mere fact that 3D models look great and are fun to play around with can already be a factor that draws customers to your website.

The use of 3D renderings of products can increase customer conversion by at least 300 percent.

Successfully integrating 3D models into your e-commerce store takes more than just scanning your products with your phone. As with any business move, this requires some savvy and significant investment. Here are some things to consider before making this transition.

Take note that you will also need to consider how long a 3D asset will take to load in your e-commerce store. According to a study done by Google, 53% of mobile website visitors tend to navigate away from an item listing if it takes more than 3 seconds for all assets to load. You may have to resort to other strategies to make sure that your potential customers stay on your page for just a few seconds longer.

As more retailers move towards the e-commerce space, the online market has also become increasingly competitive. Making customers take notice of you will take more than just having superior products. Ensuring a good customer experience can go also go a long way towards conversion and gaining customer loyalty.

Integrating 3D models of products is becoming a more common practice. Photos are old hat – 3D models can show off the detail of a product in a way that customers will really appreciate. It can take a bit of an investment, though, so it’s best to approach this move strategically.