Virtual Webstore Simulating Real-Life Showroom Experience
Client
Our Client is a large retailer in Saudi Arabia. The company has 10+ showrooms across the country and an online store. Acting under the NDA, we don’t disclose the Client’s product domain.
Challenge
The Client had an ingenious idea to create a virtual store that would be a digital twin of one of its showrooms. Shoppers would be able to move around the space, zoom in on the products and start a chat with sales assistants if they want to elicit details. This way, the Client wanted to achieve close to real shopping experience for customers who don’t want to leave the comfort of their homes or don’t have a showroom in their city.
The Client was looking for a development team experienced in designing virtual stores and well-versed in Adobe Commerce. The company found ScienceSoft meeting both requirements.
Cooperation
Virtual store design
For a virtual store, ScienceSoft offered to use Pannellum, an open-source panorama viewer. We provided the Client’s team with detailed requirements on how to take product and showroom photos. When we received a full set of photos, we designed the showroom’s panorama views and uploaded product photos.
As the Client wanted to assist its customers in the product choice just as it does in real life, we implemented a live chat with sales assistants.
At that stage, the virtual store could only be used for product discovery. To complete a buying life cycle, we integrated a virtual store with the Client’s regular web store. Shoppers would take a tour across a virtual store and when ready to buy, they would be redirected to a standard checkout procedure.
Adobe Commerce works
Our cooperation with the Client didn’t stop when the virtual store was ready. The Client came up with a number of tasks for its Adobe Commerce-based web store and asked our team to:
- Upgrade the store to Adobe Commerce 2.4.
- Install a commercial theme and customize it to Arabic realities (colors, language).
- Change from the default login via email to login via a mobile phone.
- Install a shipping extension and adjust it to the delivery area the Customer serves (by setting up permitted zip codes).
Results
In a virtual store, ScienceSoft created a unique shopping experience when visitors behave almost like in a real showroom – move, view products, chat with consultants. This can become a distinct competitive advantage for the Client and help them engage and convert more online customers.
Also, ScienceSoft took care of emerging tasks for the Client’s Adobe Commerce-based webstore.
Technologies and Tools
Adobe Commerce Enterprise 2.4, Pannellum, Intercom
