With increased affordability and a better understanding of the technology by today’s consumers, virtual reality has the potential to make a difference if chosen to be incorporated by businesses such as architects, interior designers, and more.
Despite this, many businesses and decision-makers still see VR as an expensive pursuit that they aren’t sure they will see a return on investment. Here at Yulio, we’ve created guides to show you how you can minimize that initial investment into VR and test the waters with the technology and see the potential of Virtual Reality for Business.
However, if you want to have more information before developing your VR strategy or pursuing integrating the tech further, we have put together seven ways VR can save your business time and money and ensure you will see a return on your investment in the technology.
1- A new kind of problem-solver
VR is the next best thing to being inside a space, which is what makes it stand apart from other traditional visualization methods (2D renders, floorplans, models, etc.) It incorporates things such as sightlines and obscurities that could have been missed in other methods. Because these are more noticeable, you can trust you are showing a client the most accurate version of your design.
As said earlier, the investment to get started with VR is most probably lower than what you’re expecting it to be, especially when using mobile VR tools just like Yulio. With it, you gain access to a variety of tools available to both you and your clients. You gain the opportunity to view your design in VR and tour it yourself to make sure your designs are what you envisioned. And your client gets access to tools to review and collaborate with you (more on that later).
2 - Avoid material costs for any physical mockups
By utilizing VR software, you can avoid costly and timely investments into the building and creating of single-use mock-ups and models of your designs or layouts. We know that these can eat up valuable time. However, if you were to create these virtual you would save time using virtual software that can help you with easily customizable tools.
Not to mention that using VR or other digital platforms is a more sustainable option than some of the options of how physical models are made. Which is better for your organization and the environment.
3 - Avoid surprises in the final product
We’ve heard about the struggle that can occur between designer and client when it comes to presenting a final design or product in person and something is quite how the client thought it would be. Maybe a table isn’t as wide as they thought it would be, or a bench is a little too narrow.
By using a VR platform such as Yulio to showcase your design before the final project you can showcase your design with a 1:1 likeness and leave nothing to your client’s imagination and avoid last-minute costs and time crunches.
4 - Build client trust
In that same vein of creating designs with 1:1 likeness viewable in a VR environment. You will be able to build client trust quickly and show that you can create and showcase your designs in a way that is clear and easy to understand. As well there’s a good chance that if you do decide to adopt VR in your business, you can be the first one to introduce a client to VR and create a memorable experience for them with the technology, putting you at top of mind for similar clients.
5 - Streamline collaboration
One common misconception non-VR users have is that because VR headsets can only accommodate one person at a time, virtual reality is isolating. While it’s true - current VR headset technology can only support one user at a time - the experience itself doesn’t have to be.
This was top of mind for us when we developed the Collaborate feature for Yulio. This feature allows the VR user and VR present to both see the same thing on whatever screen they are using and provide markups. We knew how important this designer-client relationship is and wanted it to extend naturally into the VR realm for the real-time feedback that we know is so important in traditional presenting formats.
It even allows you to educate your clients. Traditional visualization methods like floor plans and other mock-ups might not be instantly understandable to someone without previous design experience. We’ve heard from users that clients have struggled to understand scope and scale often as it doesn’t come to them as easily. VR reduces that learning curve as all that can be simplified and viewed from your design project without an accompanying lesson.
6 - Come to the table with multiple samples
While on the subject of streamlining, with VR you can come to the table with several variations of your project to show to your client. Have two types of desks that work with an office layout? Create layouts with both and with Yulio you can switch between both with the click of a button.
This is also where you can take clients’ feedback and come back with several options for the next walkthrough. If they are worried about the type of material or finish, take the chance to come back with a new project that shows multiple ideas and then allow them to explore.
7 - Lessen travel times
While many of us have missed face-to-face meetings over the past two years, we all have become accustomed to the hybrid work practices of today and have to work with clients and consumers to meet these new needs. But it’s a good thing as you can save your client’s precious commute time and your own as well by adopting a virtual VR collaboration tool.
You can use the previously mentioned Collaborate tool within Yulio to present remotely whenever you or the client have the need. Share a link to their project via email or phone and they can review and make changes without having to leave their homes. In the past, you maybe would have had to travel with your client from the studio to a showcase room to other retailers to see all products or pieces they wanted as a part of their layout/design in person. With VR you can share renderings of those products in your layouts cutting down on that travel time.
Many of our Yulio users have told us that they have reduced the time spent on client visits by about 50% while still allowing clients to continue to stay up to speed, included, and a part of the design process.
VR and ROI
VR is a fantastic tool to see ROI on and at Yulio we’ve seen its potential for quite some time. By effectively incorporating it into your workflow and your design process, you will start to see the effects that it will have on your business and your time.
For more information on how you can integrate VR into your business for a great ROI, download our free resource here for a full guide. If you’re ready to get started and jump in, click here to sign up for our free 30-day trial that will give you access to our full Yulio platform and its enhancement features.
