Things move fast in retail, and today the integration of digital technology is no longer a nice-to-have – it’s essential, especially in the furniture industry.
To keep up with consumers’ increasing expectations for highly personalized, seamless shopping experiences, furniture retailers must adapt. Not doing so risks a drop in traffic both to the website and to stores.
Nowadays, harmonized retail is the key to staying competitive.
What is successful digital transformation?
Digital transformation is an overused term – we’ve all heard it countless times – so not everyone is clear on what it really means.
For the furniture sector, digital transformation leaves its mark on three levels:
- Customer Experience: Digital tools leverage customer data to personalize and enhance marketing communications and shopping experiences, online and in-store.
- Product Innovation: Digitalization enables quicker responses to changing customer demands by precisely sharing product data. This accelerates the creation of customized furniture in cutting-edge manufacturing sites.
- Business Innovation: Advanced solutions allow furniture companies to optimize order management, reduce errors, and improve the customer experience.
In short, it’s the insights derived from data collected by digital solutions that are the basis for success in today’s market.
Digital transformation initiatives set retailers on the path towards a truly harmonized retail offering.
Harmonized retail means a seamless and integrated shopping experience both online and offline – an omnichannel experience. The key lies in unifying the customer journey through consistent service, information, and branding, regardless of whether the customer is shopping in-store, using a laptop, or on a mobile device.
By providing a coherent and fluid interaction at every touchpoint, customers have the best possible experience, and the chances of repeat business go up considerably.
Within harmonized retail, online touchpoints and brick-and-mortar stores are equally important, and it’s the combination of both that is the key to successful customer and seller experiences.
Want to learn more about digital transformation? The answers you need to start your journey are in this ebook. Download it now.
Innovation is the essence of harmonized retail
To give your customers everything they’re after, you need to integrate digital solutions that help them research, visualize, and pay for their furniture.
The best 3D planners effectively guide consumers through every phase of the purchase process. Whether they want to create their own designs at home, get assistance in-store, or buy online, 3D planners can assist.
These innovative solutions have existed for a while, but they’re getting better and better. With accurate reproduction of furniture pieces, they have reshaped the customer and seller experience. And, in an uncertain economic context where consumer behavior is tricky to predict, these solutions have served as a guiding light for advanced retailers.
Together with furniture configurators, 3D planners do two main things:
- Offer users reliable, high-performance tools that allow them to visualize an entire project.
- Provide sellers with efficient solutions that save time, allowing a shift in focus to listening, understanding, and advising clients, rather than spending hours on each project.
3D technology is the cornerstone of home and furniture retail innovation. Cutting-edge solutions facilitate harmonized retail experiences by integrating business processes, streamlining customer interactions, and expanding the scope of what is possible online and in-store.
HomeByMe – cutting-edge 3D planners and configurators
In its recent HomeByMe highlighted the importance of digital transformation and explained the 3D solutions that deliver the best results in furniture retail.
With its comprehensive solutions, HomeByMe – a Dassault Systèmes brand – offers experiences that cover the entire customer and seller journey, from inspiration to post-sale management.
HomeByMe’s cloud-based tools have a unique interface, and there are different 3D Room Planners for each area of the home – Furniture and Decor, Storage, Kitchen, and Bathroom. By integrating more than 150 business-specific rules across different areas, each planner offers guided, easy-to-use experiences that ensure error-free results.
The 3D Product Configurator allows users to customize products by choosing options and finishes, and visualize products in-situ with AR functionality. They can then purchase their furniture online or continue with the project in-store with a sales expert.
By implementing these solutions, brands and retailers see two main advantages:
- A significant boost to web-to-store traffic
- A notable increase in average basket size.
Perfectly aligned with the dynamics of today’s market, these planners and configurators allow customers to build a project from start to finish, personalize each element to their liking, and generate high-quality automatic renderings.
The result? A blend of dream and reality that excites and inspires customers, and makes them want to come back for more.
For more information about transforming your retail experiences with the power of 3D, or for a personalized demo, contact the HomeByMe team!