DIY retail group Kingfisher is rolling out 3D and virtual reality visualization, planning and design technology at some of its banners in the UK, Ireland and Romania.
The initiative includes a 3D kitchen, bathroom and storage planner, with virtual reality capabilities alongside a range of mobile 3D product configurators.
The all new 3D planning and design tools provide some technical partner Marxent says is “a superior hybrid scheduling experience” that flows seamlessly between in-store peer-led design systems and e-commerce.
Kingfisher’s B&Q and Brico Depot Romania have already launched the 3D room planning system in the UK, Ireland and Romania. B&Q UK has also rolled out a range of intuitive, mobile-first 3D product configurators for fireplaces and for the Kingfisher-exclusive Atomia and Alara product lines.
Using Kingfisher’s 3D planning and design tools, shoppers can explore, design, visualize and checkout in one app. Simple enough for consumers and advanced enough for experienced kitchen designers, even beginners can draw a custom room layout, drag and drop products directly into the room, and customize finishes. More advanced design features are available for experienced designers.
The result is a realistic view of any kitchen, bathroom or storage project in both 2D and 3D. Finished designs can be exported to HD views or 360 panoramas, and for those shopping from home, items from the completed 3D scene can be added directly to their e-commerce basket.
It’s easy to make a scheduling appointment at the store; Share measurements, budget, style preferences and designs with design services colleagues and collaborate on final project details. 3D space planner projects can also be exported to 360-degree panoramas for an immersive virtual reality experience.
The suite of tools also provides the retailer localized to specific banners, markets and product lines, endless personalization and customization options and sees projects exported to photo-similar HD renders or 360 panoramas. It comes with automatic room scanning and offers a drag and drop photo function, millimeter precision and an add to cart option for easy online checkout.
JJ Van Oosten, Kingfisher’s Chief Digital and Technology Officer, said: “At Kingfisher, we are focused on providing the best experience for our customers by providing greater convenience, choice and speed as part of our Powered by Kingfisher strategy.
“We chose Marxent’s 3D Cloud because they have the technology, team and experience to implement enterprise-level 3D experiences. The 3D in-store room planner tool combines leading-edge visualization and configuration technology to provide customers with a seamless and personalized shopping experience. Working with Marxent has allowed us to focus on our mobile-first approach, with tools that enable our customers to design from images and scan rooms. 3D technology is just one of the initiatives we have launched to ensure Kingfisher is at the forefront of retail innovation.”
Leigh Davidson, Managing Director of 3D Cloud by Marxent in Europe, added: “This initiative is the definition of innovation at scale. Kingfisher is a truly innovative company with some of the brightest minds in digital and home improvement, tackling the most challenging customer experience issues in the vertical across many markets. It has been an absolute honor to work with the teams at Kingfisher, B&Q and Brico Depot to support this crucial phase in their digital transformation.” Updating the digital offering is central to Kingfisher’s transformation strategy. The 3D room planner and 3D product configurators pave the way for all of Kingfisher’s room planning tools to work from the same platform, delivering a seamless customer experience to their banners in the UK, Ireland and Romania.”
Earlier this week, B&Q and Screwfix owner Kingfisher announced that it plans to advance its net-zero target to 2040, after a year in which it reduced its CO2 emissions in its own operations by almost a quarter. The use of virtual technology also plays a role here.