RackBuddy
Crafting Custom Shelving with Real-Time 3D Technology for RackBuddy
RackBuddy, a top retailer in customizable shelving solutions, faced the challenge of translating the intricate process of configuring and purchasing shelving units into a seamless online experience.
We helped RackBuddy bring their vision to life by creating a 3D configurator for their “Original” and “Frame” series, allowing customers to easily build and customize shelving units online.
Creating a Virtual Shopping Experience
RackBuddy needed a solution that would allow their customers to interact with and customize their shelving units as if they were physically present in a store. Our 3D configurator enabled this by providing a user-friendly interface where customers are able to select materials, adjust dimensions and add or remove shelves in real-time from any device. This digital experience was designed to be just as satisfying as shopping in a physical store.
Previously, customers often needed the assistance of a sales representative via video call to create their custom configurations. The new configurator streamlines this process, allowing customers to design their shelving units without speaking to a salesperson, making the experience more efficient and empowering for the user.
Selecting the Ideal Setup
The configurator for RackBuddy was built as a generator, letting users work in what RackBuddy is calling ‘racks’, or columns. It’s easy for customers to add, edit, or delete components, select materials and colors across the entire configuration, and adjust the width and content of each rack, while the height is already predefined.
This simple solution not only provides a highly customizable and intuitive user experience but also ensures that RackBuddy offers a consistent and efficient platform.
Key Configurator Features
The configurator offers several key features, including the ability to save and share configurations, add them to the cart directly from the configurator, and view the dimensions and AR representations of the customers’ designs. These features enhance the overall user experience and facilitate a seamless transition from configuration to purchase. Additionally, customers can choose from various materials, colors, widths, and shelf configurations, including options for hanging elements like rods for hangers. This extensive customization ensures that each shelving unit meets the specific needs and preferences of the customers.
Building Real-Time generated 3D models
Unlike traditional methods that rely on a single 3D model with various parts, the configurator we made for RackBuddy uses a more dynamic approach. Imagine configuring a table where you choose the tabletop and legs separately. Similarly, RackBuddy’s system lets customers choose and put together the parts of their shelving units in real-time.
The Planner Studio implemented a system where each small component is loaded individually, and a complete 3D model is put together on the fly. This method not only enhances customization but also avoids the performance issues associated with loading numerous pre-configured models, ensuring a smooth and responsive user experience.
Real-Time Assembly
Each small part of the shelving unit is loaded individually and assembled into a complete 3D model as the user makes selections. This process involves complex logic to seamlessly manage the layout and integration of all these parts. For example, if a shelf unit requires different components, the system calculates and displays only the parts that need to be updated, rather than reloading the entire model. This ensures that the customization process remains smooth and efficient, with minimal delays.
Optimizing for Performance
Traditionally, each variation of a product, such as a sofa with various options like colors, sizes, and materials, would require its own 3D model. When handling multiple choices, this can result in millions of possible combinations. Managing all these variants individually can significantly slow down performance. Instead, RackBuddy’s system slices each component into segments that can be reused. For instance, once a shelf or a connector is loaded, it can be reused many times within a configuration without loading it again, which will significantly improve the performance.
Integration with Shopify
RackBuddy needed to integrate multiple of their Shopify shops, including those on their Shopify Markets, to effectively manage their growing international presence. Starting in Denmark, RackBuddy expanded to operate in over eight shops worldwide.
The integration with Shopify Markets allowed them to manage all their markets from a central location, streamline operations, and ensure consistency across different regions.
This setup makes it easy for RackBuddy to handle multiple languages and currencies, which gives customers around the world a smooth and seamless shopping experience.
Transforming Online Shopping
The introduction of RackBuddy’s 3D configurator has greatly improved the online shopping experience, boosting customer engagement and satisfaction. By making it easy for customers to customize and visualize their shelving units in real-time, we’ve brought the in-store experience online, helping RackBuddy connect with customers on a whole new level.