Virtual store tours are not a new concept for the last couple of years virtual tours have become an important part of customer journeys. It offers an immersive experience that breaks the boundaries of the real and virtual world.
Whether you are in real estate, furniture, or home design, having an interactive virtual tour on your website improves customer experience. Because it increases engagement and boosts your sales. So having the right virtual tour software, you can highlight your products to mimic in-store experiences to attract a broad spectrum of audience.
So, if you are curious about the cost of development of a virtual showroom aka virtual tour then hop on. In this blog, we will try to cover the various components, applications, and Of course, the pricing which will help you make an informed decision.
What is a Virtual Tour?
A virtual tour is a digital simulation of the real world that allows users to navigate it digitally and interactively. Let me explain it a bit clearly, it’s a 360-degree walkthrough of your store but digitally which allows customers to explore every corner with their devices.
Through virtual tour software, this technology bridges the gap between physical and online shopping and makes it convenient for customers to visualize products in real-world settings.
Let me explain, how it works:
- It stitches high-resolution images or videos together to create a seamless panoramic view of the scene so customers can interact with it.
- Users can click, drag, rotate, or tap to navigate the space. Additionally, they can zoom in and out on products to have a better look and access their descriptions.
- Advanced features like hotspots, embedded videos, and product links further enrich the experience and connect your eCommerce website directly with the virtual showroom.
You can deliver a dynamic and engaging digital experience with innovative virtual tour development techniques.
Learn about top virtual showroom providers.
Components of a Virtual Tour
An immersive virtual tour development includes multiple elements that work together to create a polished experience. Let’s check out its key components:
Visual Content
It means all the high-quality images, videos, or both that form the backbone of any virtual showroom. These visuals have all the stunning details of the product and space to ensure a realistic and immersive experience.
The quality of your visuals directly impacts customers whether it’s 2D photography or 3D rendering.
Tour Flow
Defining tour flow is crucial as it determines how a user will navigate your virtual space. You need to connect all scenes in a way that the transition between rooms is smooth and customers can navigate forward and backward easily.
You need to thoughtfully plan the display areas, product categories, places, and more so customers can navigate effortlessly.
Connecting Visuals
It is essential to seamlessly connect various sections of the tour into one for a cohesive experience. Clickable arrows, menus, hotspots, or guided paths allow users to move effortlessly from one area to another.
Menu Development
A virtual menu helps users navigate and find what they are looking for in the virtual showroom. Whether it’s a product category, specific room, or exclusive offer, a well-structured menu improves user navigation and satisfaction.
Other Features
Apart from this, our virtual tour software has many advanced features like:
- Social Sharing –This lets users share their tour experience on social media platforms conveniently.
- Add to Cart –Our virtual showroom integrates eCommerce functionality so customers can navigate to the eCommerce website.
- Push Notifications –Notify users about exclusive deals or new product launches during the tour.
- Product Customization –It lets customers customize products according to their needs from the available options as per their needs.
Backend Development
To ensure a strong and smooth virtual showroom your backend infrastructure should be robust for a seamless virtual tour. To ensure this experience, you need good hosting, content management, and analytics to track user engagement.
Application of a Virtual Tour
Various industries have successfully implemented virtual store tours on their eCommerce websites, which have helped them conveniently interact with customers. Here is the list of industries:
- Furniture –It allows customers to visualize how the furniture piece will look in a real–world setting. Also, they can scale, rotate, and customize them based on the available options.
- Home Decor –Explore a diverse range of home decor and how they fit into a real space so customers can make a confident purchase.
- Electronics – Display of electronics has become easier and now customers can examine products in 3D in an interactive environment.
- Architecture Design –Architectural designs can be presented to clients easily thanks to the virtual tour which lets them see the design and layouts for a lifelike preview of completed projects.
- Clothing –Fashion brands can create virtual showrooms where customers can explore the collections and make purchases without stepping into a store.
- Kitchen –Helps homeowners visualize their modular kitchens, appliances, and layouts for informed decision-making.
- Bathroom –Allows users to explore bathroom setups, fixtures, and accessories. Along with an option to create their own.
Cost of Virtual Tour Development
The cost of developing a Virtual store tour varies based on several factors, such as:
Room Size and Number of Rooms
A small room with 20 products and a large room with 100 products require a different number of resources for capturing and rendering visuals, which is one of the primary considerations when assessing the cost of a virtual store tour.
Number of SKUs
If you have a wide pool of products then capturing each SKU with high-quality visuals and integrating them into the virtual showroom can raise expenses significantly.
2D vs. 3D Models
2D imagery is more affordable while 3D models provide a richer more interactive experience but have higher production costs. Models also significantly impact the experience 3D models are comparatively more impactful than 2D models.
Advanced Features
Adding functionalities such as product customization, push notifications, or eCommerce integration will increase the overall costs. These advanced features are not the only ones, there are many other features that you can embed in your virtual store tour.
Maintenance and Updates
A virtual showroom is not a one-time expense. Regular updates to visuals, product listings, and software ensure it stays relevant and functional, adding to the long-term costs.
Software Licensing and Hosting
Most of the companies that embed a virtual store tour have a website. But if you are a new player in the market and establishing a new business, you will have to spend money on hosting and various other licenses based on your region.
So, this cost will also be part of the total cost of virtual tour development.
Since you already have an eCommerce store and want to develop a virtual store tour of 1 small room with 20-30 SKUs, it will cost you between $500. This pricing can go up or down based on your requirements.
However, if you want a complete store with hundreds of 3D model SKUs, then the pricing will be different because the scope of work in 2D and 3D is quite different.
Conclusion
To conclude, a virtual store tour is more than a trend- it’s a strategic investment for businesses looking to improve customer engagement and drive sales. A well-developed virtual showroom can set your brand apart by displaying products in a realistic environment.
However, the cost of a virtual store tour depends entirely on your room size, SKUs, and features you want. However, the engagement, increased sales, and competitive advantages it brings are worth the investment.
Whether you are in furniture, electronics, or fashion, this is the time to explore the potential of virtual tour development and take your eCommerce to the next phase of engagement.
By utilizing virtual store tours, you can create a captivating digital experience that resonates with your audience and drives business growth.