In this article, you will dive into the exciting world of Spatial Commerce and how it's captivating both B2C and B2B companies today. Discover firsthand how businesses are reshaping their operations with Spatial Commerce and securing crucial competitive advantages.
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As the digital and physical worlds increasingly merge, commerce is evolving to match. Spatial commerce takes us into a new dimension of online shopping. What opportunities and challenges does this new ecommerce era bring? In this blog post, you will learn more about Spatial Commerce and the practical applications we at Elio have already implemented for B2B and B2C companies.
What exactly is Spatial Commerce?
Spatial Commerce, alongside artificial intelligence, is an emerging ecommerce technology that bridges the physical and digital worlds. It allows customers to experience products within a virtual environment before making a purchase. By using advanced technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and 3D modeling, Spatial Commerce creates a realistic shopping experience. It's as if you're in a physical store – but with the convenience of online shopping. Customers can view products in a virtual space that syncs with their actual surroundings, or receive location-based offers and information while they are physically in a store. The goal of Spatial Commerce is to personalize the shopping experience, enhance customer loyalty, and boost retail efficiency.
For example, imagine inspecting your new dream couch not just in the store, but right in your living room before buying it. Whether it's furniture, clothing, or plants, Spatial Commerce lets us "try out" and "inspect" items at home without stepping outside. This makes Spatial Commerce so interesting – not only for B2C, but also for B2C sectors.
Advantages and disadvantages of Spatial Commerce
Like any new technology, Spatial Commerce comes with its pros and cons.
Advantages:
Enhanced customer experience: Spatial Commerce allows customers to interact with products in a realistic setting. This can significantly improve the customer experience and also build a stronger connection between the customer and the brand.
Higher conversion rates: Studies indicate that Spatial Commerce can significantly boost conversion rates. For instance, one study by a shop system provider showed increases of up to 250% for products displayed with AR and VR [1].
Reduced returns: If customers know better what they are buying, they are less likely to return products. Initial data from Shopware indicates that the return rate can fall by up to 50% [2].
Disadvantages:
Technical requirements: Spatial commerce requires high bandwidth and advanced technology that may not be accessible to all customers. This can lead to limited availability and less satisfactory user experience.
Implementation costs: Implementing Spatial Commerce requires specific expertise and resources, which can be costly and complex depending on the solution.
Data protection and security: To fully leverage Spatial Commerce, customers must agree to the use of their data. However, there are still unresolved issues regarding data protection and security that need addressing.
Now that you are aware of the advantages and disadvantages, you might wonder how this looks in practice – and not just for B2C. B2B companies, take note!
Practice Case: Spatial Commerce in the furniture industry
Let's revisit the initial example. Remember the couch in a furniture store? A long-standing customer of elio GmbH, from this industry, decided to integrate Spatial Commerce into their online shop.
The challenge
The customer offered an impressive selection of high-quality furniture online, but shoppers struggled to visualize how these pieces would look in their homes, leading to high dropout rates at checkout and increased returns. After identifying the problem with the customer, it became clear that we could address it with Spatial Commerce, enhancing sales figures in the process. With the implementation, customers could now "see" the furniture in a virtual environment, place items in different rooms, experiment with lighting scenarios, and even alter the colors and textures of the furniture.
The result
The outcomes were outstanding. Post-implementation, the shop's conversion rate soared by an impressive 32%, and the return rate dropped by 27%. Most customers were thrilled by the ability to see all the products in a realistic environment, as one customer review highlighted:
"I love this new feature! I was able to visualize my new favorite couch right in my living room and see how it fits into my space. That’s why I went ahead and made the purchase, and I'm very satisfied!"
Spatial Commerce in B2B: An example from the machine engineering sector
Think immersive shopping is just for B2C? Think again! B2B enterprises also stand to gain from the varied features offered by Spatial Commerce, as you'll learn in this example.
Imagine you work at a machine engineering company that sells complex, specialized technologies. Here are several potential applications for Spatial Commerce:
1. Visualization of spare parts:
Technicians could scan their machines with a smartphone or tablet to immediately get a virtual representation and a list of all spare parts, making identification and ordering much simpler, especially in maintenance and repair scenarios.
2. Remote assistance:
Combine efficiency with personalized customer service through targeted remote support. Virtual visualizations of information and instructions can be shared between customers and technicians.
3. Digital training:
Another exciting application for Spatial Commerce lies in interactive employee training. Technicians could learn how to maintain or repair machines by performing tasks in a virtual environment.
4. Building a supplier portal:
Spatial Commerce also advances the digitization of machine engineering across the entire value-added chain. For example, you could set up a user-friendly supplier portal where wear part information and relevant data on spare parts and service times are digitally stored, automating several processes. Even ordering replacement parts based on exploded-view drawings is possible – an integrated spare part finder.
5. Establishing a service portal:
Additionally, you could implement a service portal for maintenance and service contracts. This would allow for scheduling maintenance intervals, automatically notifying staff to plan and book maintenance work. Moreover, relevant information about asset management could be stored here. This is particularly important for large companies needing to manage their machinery inventory and site management – essentially a digital fleet.
elio – your expert for Spatial Commerce integration
Are you convinced by the diverse use cases but still looking for the right partner to implement Spatial Commerce in your company? As a Platinum Partner of Shopware and an ecommerce expert, elio is here to assist you.
With our comprehensive technical know-how and extensive experience, we can not only ensure a smooth integration of Spatial Commerce but also develop customized solutions tailored to your company's needs. Our more than 150 certified Shopware experts are ready to lead your project to success and create a compelling Spatial Commerce experience for your customers.
Conclusion and outlook
At elio, we firmly believe that new technologies like artificial intelligence and Spatial Commerce are more than just passing trends, they are the future of ecommerce. These technologies have already fundamentally changed the way people do shopping. They offer businesses new opportunities to enhance the customer experience and strengthen customer loyalty. Introducing Spatial Commerce is not just an investment in the present but also in a future where personalized and immersive shopping experiences become the norm. We are excited about the possibilities and look forward to embarking on this journey with other customers, shaping the path into a new era of ecommerce. What about you?
About elio
As a Shopware Platinum Partner, elio GmbH specializes in executing ecommerce projects in close cooperation with Shopware. With over 120 Shopware certifications, more than 600 successful B2B and B2C projects, and over 1,000 custom Shopware extension developments, our Shopware experts at elio offer unparalleled expertise and experience.
Sources:
[1] https://www.stores-shops.de/produkt-news/augmented-reality-fuer-hoehere-konversionsrate-im-handel/
