According to Statistica, as of 2020, 45 percent of consumers are interested in finding sustainable brands that are environmentally responsible. 

Considering the online market numbers, with almost 2.5 billion users, there is a lot of potential to target a wide range of clients that have an interest in green brands.

It’s not only the customers but the investors as well, who are pushing companies to be more sustainable.

Many eCommerce businesses are trying to make that step toward a sustainable brand, however, they sometimes struggle to find the best solution.

3D configuration might be what those companies are looking for. Not familiar with the concept? We got your back.

3D product configurators give customers the power to configure items, This means that shoppers, using a virtual interface integrated onto a website, can personalize or customize a product to match their own needs and desires. For example, when buying a car, it could include modifying its color, upgrading the wheels, or adding internal features such as a new stereo or touchscreen. 

The 3D configurator creates an uncanny representation of the product that the customer can inspect from every angle. Shoppers can zoom in or out using a phone, tablet, or computer, looking at every element before the item is made. The ability to interact with the product empowers customers to “feel” its texture, details, and quality, almost as if they were touching it.

But why is it important for those who are thinking about building a sustainable brand?

A sustainable brand with 3D configuration 

 

Experience fewer product returns

What is one of the main difficulties when shopping online? To know what the products really look like and if they fit our requirements. Poor product imagery and lack of information regarding it are two of the main reasons why return rates are extremely high compared to in-store purchases. 3D configurators tackle this problem. Why?

They enable shoppers to see the product as they would in real life. Through good visualization and personalization, product returns can be reduced by 35%.

Fewer returns mean less transportation and happier customers, two very important factors when building a sustainable brand.

Have a digital showroom instead of large storage units

To produce configured items means that is no need to have a large stock since everything is manufactured from scratch.

Less stock leads to less need for storage. Online businesses will no longer need massive storage units that require a lot of maintenance. No more 5 feet long electrical bills at the end of each month. Companies’ pockets and the environment are the main profiteers. It’s an important thing to consider when creating a sustainable brand.

The same applies to showrooms. With a 3D configurator integrated onto your website, there’s no need to have physical showrooms, you’ll be able to create your own digital store where shoppers can have access to all the possible solutions you provide in one single product page.

Cut down on waste

As mentioned before, 3D configuration means that companies will be producing some, or even their entire inventory, on-demand. The configured products are manufactured when they are ordered. 

For businesses, this implies that there will be no overproduction. No products sitting on shelves for months, no waste. With fewer product returns, no need to put aside products that are damaged on the way back to you, which also helps your business cut down on waste and therefore, build a sustainable brand.

The three important steps

With Expivi, there are three steps to implementing a 3D configurator onto your website. Three steps into shifting from a make-to-stock way of producing to a make-to-order, therefore beginning your journey as a sustainable brand.

1. Preparation

First, you need to have an eCommerce website (of course!) and 3D models of your products. If you don’t have those models, our talented 3D artists can create them for you. After that, you need to create an Expivi account at www.expivi.net.

2. Configuration

The second major step is to create attributes. Ask yourself:

• Do I know how many variations my product needs to have?
• What parts of your product do I want to configure?
• What options and variations is the market looking for?
• What are my competitors missing out on?

Depending on the nature of your product you might want to provide color options, different sizes, and/or accessories. This is what is known as the configuration flow. Think about the options you want to provide your customers and in what order. Our team will be with you every step of the way to make sure the process goes smoothly.

3. Integration

Finally, the 3D configurator is created and integrated onto your website. It’s a no-code configurator, so you don’t need a team of developers to maintain or update it.

Also, with Expivi, we follow you and your businesses from moment 0. No need to hire 3D renders, then developers to create the configurator, then other developers to maintain and update it, and then another team to make sure that the supply chain is running smoothly. We got your back.

And that’s it! Any questions left unanswered? Then ping us. We’d be glad to let you know how a 3D configurator can work for your business. 

Can eCommerce save the planet?

Online shopping takes the sensorial aspect out of the shopping journey. Expivi brings it back.

Shoppers are in charge and this cuts down the risk of them buying something which doesn’t match their expectations. Once they have this degree of involvement, they feel greater ownership of the product. It’s real from the get-go. No need to imagine the final result. Customers can feel it.

What does this lead to?

Greater attachment to the product and reduced return rates, which then saves on transportation costs and gas emissions.

It also means that there’s no longer the need to stock on unnecessary materials and have thousands upon thousands of unsold products. As mentioned before, companies will be creating their own digital showroom at the same time they cut on waste coming from the manufacturing process.

Expivi’s tech enables retail businesses to go from stock production to on-demand, controlling every step of the way, from order to manufacture. All in one platform. All for a more sustainable future.

So yes, we believe eCommerce can help save the planet.

Did you like this article on how you can build a sustainable brand? Then read about 5 sustainable technologies to help you elevate your business.