A virtual showroom is an innovative tool that redefines the way consumers interact with products. A memorable customer experience is synonymous with a successful sale and a conquered customer. In this article, we'll look at how the virtual showroom can be implemented to meet specific needs in a beneficial and relevant way.

Provide virtual assistance

It is entirely possible to provide consumer assistance directly at the point of sale. This assistance takes the form of a buying guide to help customers choose the product that best suits their needs.

This is the solution that WD-40 chose to implement, their need was clearly defined: Numerous studies had shown that shoppers on the shelf couldn't find the right product for their specific needs. WD-40 testified that around a third of shoppers in the maintenance lubricant department of DIY stores left without making a purchase because they couldn't find what they were looking for.

Their objective in setting up this mute salesman?

• Providing support to consumers to guide them towards the product perfectly suited to their specific needs, which would also have a positive impact on their sales.
• The intention was to modernize their approach. The physical medium, embodied by mute salespeople, lacked detail and was difficult to grasp. With this digital version, our aim was to provide a more complete, modern, accessible and engaging experience.
• Implement an omnichannel strategy to maintain WD-40's competitive edge as category leader.

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In-store POS: QR codes provide access to the experience and virtual assistance

Capitalize on visual merchandising

Companies can use the virtual showroom to create stunning virtual showcases, attractively showcasing their products. By exploiting the flexibility offered by technology, companies can experiment with different layouts, colors and visual elements to determine what works best. This enables them to optimize their product presentation and maximize their visual appeal.

The Jamini brand is an excellent case in point: as their boutique is located in Paris, the use of a virtual showroom enabled them to reach more consumers who don't have the opportunity to travel to the store. Their second objective was to provide advice on how to combine sets of patterns, colors and materials to recreate the same ambience at home as in their boutique.

In a word: enter the tunnel of the universe Jamini.

Video available in French

Digitizing your sales operations

Digitizing sales operations is an imperative for remaining competitive in today's business environment. Virtual showrooms enable companies to present their entire catalog online, automate ordering and inventory management processes, and collect valuable data on customer behavior. This digitalization improves operational efficiency, reduces costs and facilitates expansion into new markets.

For example, Jordenen decided to use a virtual showroom solution. The company was faced with increasingly intense competition in the market. Not least because of the Covid-19 pandemic, its showrooms were experiencing a drop in traffic. The brand therefore needed a solution that could offer its customers digital access to its showrooms, without them needing to travel.

In short, their aim was to use the virtual showroom to retain existing customers and attract new ones:

• Differentiation through digital innovation
• Meeting a real need: virtual tour of the showroom
• Improved customer orientation thanks to sales teams
• Pre-selection of communication objects prior to physical meetings
• To offer a unique and innovative experience

Video available in French

Improve your employer brand

A well-designed virtual showroom doesn't just attract customers, it can also strengthen an employer's brand. Companies can organize virtual tours of their facilities, showcase their corporate culture, introduce their teams and highlight their values. This attracts talent and strengthens the commitment of current employees, making them feel proud to work for an innovative, forward-looking company.

Here's how Audika, leader in the highly competitive hearing aid market, relied on innovation and technological advance to present its know-how to future employees at the hearing aid professionals' congress:

• Offer students an innovative, instructive and entertaining experience
• Strengthen your employer brand
• Highlighting the work of Audika employees
• An immersive presentation of the various hearing aid professions
• Explore the world of the new flagship through a digital replica
• A dedicated conference area with two virtual reality headsets for interactive tours of the Friedland shop.
• Use of a giant screen to broadcast the tour

Audika's full testimonial.

Extending the trade show experience and making the stand accessible

Trade shows are crucial opportunities for companies to connect with their target audience. Virtual showrooms extend this online experience, offering visitors the chance to visit a [virtual stand], take part in live presentations and network with other attendees. This makes the stand accessible to a global audience, eliminating the constraints of distance and time.

This was the solution Discac decided to implement to enable customers who couldn't make it to their stand to enjoy it all the same. This solution meant no limits for visitors, as they were able to see products in detail thanks to photo and video zooming.

What did they gain?

• Their sales staff can show customers any product in operation at any time.
• Their customers have access to their stand, via the website, and can also discover functions or furniture they didn't know existed.

To date, and after a year in operation, Discac has had over 4,700 connections: an unexpected and much-appreciated success! For more information, read their testimonials.

In conclusion, the virtual showroom is proving to be a versatile and indispensable tool for modern companies. By exploiting its functionalities to provide virtual assistance, capitalize on visual merchandising, digitize their sales operations, enhance their employer brand and extend the trade showexperience, companies can strengthen their market position and respond effectively to the changing needs of their customers.

We've only listed a few of the solutions and possibilities offered by a virtual showroom, but in the virtual world, there are no limits!