Everything you should know about 3D Virtual Sampling and Digital Product Sampling in the E-commerce industry

Product sampling has been an age-old exercise in the fashion industry, it allows retailers or designers to test the physical product before it goes into manufacturing. But in recent times, with the growth of the e-commerce industry, brands are now starting to seek new methods to simplify this process. Digital transformation in the apparel industry has quickly become a trending topic among leading brands and retailers. Technology is changing the way we conduct business every day, and one innovation that has created a giant hype among companies is 3D Virtual Sampling. This technology has completely transformed the traditional operations of retail business and allows designers or retailers to digitally virtualize a style in the early stage before moving on to the actual manufacturing. 3D Virtual Sampling Software has made it possible for retailers to not only save time and effort but also, test the product in the consumer market before manufacturing the product on a large scale.

When it comes to retail production and distribution the conventional supply-chain time can range anywhere from 30-40 weeks, but with the adoption of 3D modeling technology, this time frame has been cut in half.  Needless to say, this technology has transformed the traditional methods of product development and increased efficiency by saving both time and money. Here are some things Virtual Sampling can do for you.

Saves time and effort

3D Virtual Sampling holds the potential to completely transform the conventional manufacturing process in the fashion industry. When we talk about the traditional process of product sampling, it takes days if not weeks to create a physical sample piece for the initial testing and having it shipped from the manufacturer. But with Digital Product Sampling, retailers are now capable of visualizing the garment and analyzing any styling errors even before the product goes into manufacturing or on e-commerce websites. This not only saves time and money for the retailer but also allows for quick alterations on style or rectification of any production mistakes. In fact, Hugo Boss has already been using this technology since 2018. And according to an article published by Fashion United UK, Hugo Boss develops about 40% of its collections using 3D technology. 

Helps reach a wider range of consumers

When we talk about the traditional sampling process, the biggest hurdle faced by retail brands is not being able to test their product in the consumer market before it goes into large-scale manufacturing. Testing the product through 3D virtual sampling software allows the brand to not only get customer feedback but also personalize the customer’s experience which ultimately results in wider profit potential. Not to mention, putting out a virtual sample of the product on the internet rather than a showroom would result in a much wider outreach.  

Solves the Supply-chain complexities for faster TAT

Fashion is an ever-changing, fast-paced industry, with the rise of e-commerce business, companies are now looking for new and innovative ways to solve the gap between demand and supply. Traditionally, the average supply-chain time in the fashion industry can range anywhere from 30 to 40 weeks, which means it takes about 40 weeks for the product to go from design or manufacturing to the market. According to Marc Companion of Li & Fung, “speed is critical in staying competitive in today’s digital economy”, this has cultivated a need to depend on technology to come up with a solution. Now, with the rise of technologies like Digital product sampling, this gap between supply and demand has been cut in half. More and more companies have now started adopting this technology to not only meet the market demands at a more efficient pace but to also accumulate higher profits by saving on production costs. 

Increases Sustainability

In the last couple of decades, the fashion industry has experienced an increased need to move towards a “cleaner” production cycle. Major retail brands like Adidas and Nike are now shifting their focus towards a more environmentally sustainable technology for product development. In order to reduce material waste, production waste, or the need to dye the sample product, companies are now using 3D virtual sampling which enables them to eliminate any potential material wastage. Not to mention, it allows designers a great deal of creative independence, they can now switch the design or make as many errors as they like without having to worry about time or material wastage. 

Keeps the users ahead of time 

The fashion industry has been running on the wheels of age-old conventions for a long time but with the rise of the e-commerce business, retailers are being forced to look for new and innovative technologies to accelerate the process of garment manufacturing and meeting the market demands. According to Steven Kolb, the president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, “More so than ever, you must be nimble and easily and quickly adapt to changes.” Now more than ever, we need technologies like e-commerce sampling that not only benefit the retailers but also the consumers. These digital solutions have completely transformed the way we experience fashion every-day, making it faster, easier, more profitable, and advanced.  

In-a-nutshell, we can say that technologies like 3D virtual sampling and Digital product sampling have become absolutely crucial for companies to rise in the highly competitive market of the e-commerce business. In recent times, COVID-19 has certainly had a deep impact on the industry as a whole, saturating it to the point where we need to come up with new and innovative solutions to the current situation. In order to rise above the loss faced during the pandemic, digital transformation solutions like 3D virtual sampling software have become the key to damage recovery.