Why are 3D & 360° Configurators everywhere? (and Here to Stay)

You probably already saw numerous 3D or  360° configurators in recent months, right? But why why companies use them to interact with customers around the world?

There are a lot of possibilities to use 3D configurators, from cars to furniture to sneakers; brands are letting us explore, rotate, zoom in, and personalize products like never before.

And honestly? It’s no surprise. People don’t just want to see products anymore — they want to experience them, don’t you think?

But let’s start with the basics … what is a configurator?

Well, a 3D configurator is a digital experience that lets the user explore a given product in different variations. 

Let’s imagine you have a luxury car which can be customized specifically according to client’s preferences. But how to show its options to clients so that it can be visualized easily…. Easy answer: use a 3D configurator.

Just check out this 3D configurator of the car company Porsche.

To shortly explain the difference between a 3D configurator and a 360° configurator. Look at the Porshe example HERE and explore its possibility.

Car and its environment around is a 3D model created in differens variation which switch on click, you can zoom, rotate and explore every detail form any angle with cool animations. However if you go inside of the car it’s a 360° configurator, because you can zoom and rotate but cannot move from the given space and explore it from different angle.

People love exploring new thinks around and 3D configuraotrs, 360° configurator, virtual tour and other digital experiences gives them the possibility to explore, play with it and understand the product better.

Furthermore these interactive digital experiences support the elements of:

• Transparency – You know exactly what you’re getting. No hidden unwanted surprise.
• Personalization – You can tailor products to your taste, from car interiors to sneaker designs.
• Experience – It feels fun, memorable, and interactive.

And let’s be honest, it also just feels so cool to “play” with a product before buying it. 

Technology is catching up … 3D scanning, AR, and rendering tools are faster, more accurate, and more affordable than ever. That means configurators aren’t just for luxury car brands anymore — they’re spreading across industries like:

• Real estate (Virtual tours of apartments with home staging option – you can see how the empty space can look like in different variations)
• Furniture (testing how a sofa looks in your living room with a AR or configurator)
• Fashion (customizing sneakers, watches, or glasses)
• Automotive (designing your dream car)
• …

Life is about experiences … and shopping is no different. Whether it’s customizing a Porsche you might never buy (personally I’m guilty of it:) ….  or trying out a virtual sofa before hitting “add to cart,” these tools are changing how we interact with products.

So don’t be surprised when configurators start showing up in more ads, apps, and websites around you. They’re not just a trend. And they are not just popular in B2C context, but also B2B companies are catching up … they’re maybe the future of digital shopping. Lets see:)