Immersive experiences and customization are the two main trends driving modern e-commerce: product pages with 3D models and AR technology generate a +250% conversion rate and by 2026 over 60% of consumers will require a 3D shopping experience.
For this reason, eCommerce businesses have to consider introducing solutions that can build a unique and interactive shopping experience, which can best present their products. This is where tools like eCommerce Product Configurators come in!
Product Configuration for e-commerce provides many benefits, allowing customers to customize and configure products according to their needs and preferences, improving product visualization and increasing customer engagement and satisfaction.
Now the most common question: how to implement product configuration in your store? Is it expensive? No, there is a very simple way! If you manage a Shopify store, you’re in the right place! Let’s discover together what are the best product configurations for Shopify and how to choose the best one.
Intrigued? Launch into product configuration in < 10 minutes with Zakeke! Let customers create made-to-order products in seconds. Simple, fast, effective. Try Zakeke FREE now!.
What Is A Product Configurator?
Regarding product configuration in e-commerce, refers to the process that allows customers to create made-to-order products. That’s right, the customer can customize their products by choosing material, design, features, and much more.
Why integrate a 3D configurator software? What are the benefits of 3D Configuration?
- Better Customer Experience: Customers love personalizing their products, and the shopping experience is more fun and interactive;
- More sales & conversions: Customers are willing to spend more for products created by themselves;
- Fewer samples & photoshoots: By using a 3D Configurator for Shopify, you can avoid producing lots of samples and spending money and time on lengthy photoshoots for all your variants. Customers can see all the product variants on their screens simply by selecting different options;
- Less returns: By visualizing their dream product in 3D and creating them in real-time, you can increase buyer confidence and reduce the risk of product returns for unmatched expectations.
Difference Between Product Configurators & Customizers
When we talk about Shopify Customizer & Shopify 3D Configurator, what is the difference?
When we talk about product customization, we generally refer to visual customization. The possibility to add texts, images, change colors.
The world of configuration includes an additional step: configuring products means also choosing materials, components, and finishings, creating 360° made-to-order products.
Depending on the type of business in question, one can opt for a Visual Product Customizer or a 3D Configurator, considering which tool is the best to achieve their business goals.
How To Choose The Best Shopify Product Configurator?
Before getting into detail about the best Shopify Product Configurators, let’s talk about the main factors to consider during selection:
- Easy integration with Shopify (or any other e-commerce platform): The product configurator software should integrate seamlessly with the platform and your back-office. Go for a code-free tool; which allows a fast and hassle-free implementation;
- Ease of use: The tool should be easy to install for the company and easy to use for customers to ensure a seamless Shopping Experience;
- 5-star Customer Support: The best Shopify Product Configurator should guarantee constant support to fix any issues (especially during the onboarding stage);
- Number of features and updates: It’s better to choose a Shopify Configurator with considerable features that are constantly updated to suit your customers’ needs;
- Automation capabilities: The back office is no less important than the front. When choosing a Shopify Product Configurator, it is crucial to consider the presence of automation capabilities that can speed up and simplify the production process, avoiding the typical slowdowns of the production processes of customized products.
Top 3D Shopify Configurators in 2024: Selection Guide
Here is a comprehensive guide to the best Shopify Product Configurator. We recommend reading it to the end to choose the one that best suits your store’s needs:
#1. Zakeke
Shopify Rating: 4,6
Securing the leading position among Shopify Configurators… Zakeke! And it’s not just because this is our blog. Zakeke goes beyond being a mere Configurator: it’s a comprehensive Visual Commerce Platform. It offers instant 2D product personalization, sophisticated 3D configuration and visualization, as well as engaging Augmented Reality and Virtual Try-On experiences.
Highlights:
- Seamless integration with Shopify and other key e-commerce platforms is the primary reason for its leading status. The true benefit comes from the ease of integration with e-commerce systems, external applications, and the smooth alignment with organizational workflows and ecosystems;
- Straightforward configuration and an intuitive interface for both vendors and shoppers;
- Unlimited configuration options that enhance the Customer Experience: customers can design their product precisely to their liking, tailoring every detail (textures, components, materials, etc.);
- Production-Ready Files: Zakeke empowers the online store to minimize manual production tasks by automatically generating files ready for manufacture right in the back-office;
- Sophisticated pricing strategies: Zakeke enables the creation of pricing policies to apply additional charges to customizable items. It presents variable prices that adjust according to the selections made by the consumer;
- 3D & Augmented Reality: Customers can design their products in real-time in 3D, and visualize them in their actual environments using AR;
- Virtual Try-On with no external Apps: Following the customization process, customers can virtually try on their jewelry, glasses, hats, or shoes using the VTO feature, without the need for any app downloads;
- Get a Quote for complex configured items;
- Management of Multiple Sales Channels: Enables the management of various sales outlets through a single Zakeke account to amplify sales.
Pros:
- Plug&Play Integration with leading e-commerce platforms;
- Effortless setup, no technical expertise needed, operational in days;
- Automation of Fulfillment with files ready for production;
- Comprehensive platform: offers more than just configuration, including 3D, AR, & Virtual Try-On capabilities.
Cons:
- Although the platform is equipped with a wide array of user-friendly features, it’s advisable to go for a quick Demo to pinpoint the features that best suit your business requirements.
Pricing: Starts at €13/month. There’s a 14-day Free Trial on offer.
Get started: Test Zakeke with a 14-day free trial (you can integrate it by yourself into your e-commerce platform) or schedule a demo to explore its full range of functionalities.
Intrigued? Launch into product configuration in < 10 minutes with Zakeke! Let customers create made-to-order products in seconds. Simple, fast, effective. Try Zakeke FREE now!.
#2. Angle 3D
Shopify Rating: 5
Angle 3D is an exclusively Shopify-based 3D Product Configurator. It allows businesses to design and configure their products using an intuitive and easy-to-use interface. Angle 3D allows you to choose a product and make it fully customized.
Thanks to its advanced 3D graphics engine and 3D modeling features, Angle 3D offers a highly real-time product visualization, allowing customers to see exactly how they will receive the product at home. Angle 3D is a 3D configurator, but it isn’t a Visual Product Customization software, so it may not be suitable for printing industries seeking customization and doesn’t offer a Virtual Try-On for made-to-order products.
Highlights:
- Works with all Shopify themes;
- Lets customers customize products in 3D, adding their own touches;
- Starts with a 3D model of your product; help is available to get this model;
- Includes Augmented Reality, so customers can see products in their space;
- Supports translation.
Pricing: Starts at $39/month. 14-day Free Trial avilable.
#3. Expivi
Expivi is a cloud-based Shopify custom product builder with advanced 3D visualization and configuration features. It offers a wide range of customization options with a user-friendly interface that makes the configuration experience simple and interactive.
In addition to 3D configuration, Expivi also offers an external AR product view App, a CPQ tool, and a 3D Viewer. Unlike Angle 3D, Expivi integrates not only with Shopify but also with Magento, WooCommerce, LightSpeed, and SAP (but is not available on marketplaces).
Highlights:
- Supports 3D and AR, letting customers view products in their space;
- Offers real-time pricing as product features change;
- Enables customization of colors, materials, and components;
- Works with multiple e-commerce platforms for easy integrations;
- Provides a dynamic bill of materials and inventory management.
Pricing: On request.
#4. Vectary
Vectary is a 3D product Viewer, not really a 3D Product Configurator. It allows businesses to create interactive and highly realistic product models with a user-friendly interface. The tool can create 3D models from scratch or use pre-loaded assets from its library.
Vectary’s advanced visualization features help businesses present products in an engaging and interactive way, increasing conversion rates. It is not suitable for visual product customization.
Highlights:
- Enables 3D and AR content creation directly in the web browser;
- Offers intuitive design tools for easy customization of 3D models;
- Supports embedding of 3D and AR visuals on websites and social media;
- Provides collaboration features for teams to work together in real-time;
- Allows for easy export of designs for use in other applications or platforms.
Pricing: Free Starter version available with limitations.
#5. Threekit
Threekit is a cloud-based 3D Product Configurator that provides dynamic product visualization experiences. It offers Visual Photography solution (for visual product customization only) and Augmented Reality.
Threekit provides high-level 3D product rendering with the VRay technique and allows you to create 3D models of products directly within the platform. It integrates with Magento, Shopify, BigCommerce, and Salesforce CPQ but doesn’t offer Plug&Play integrations, so you might find it difficult to install and with a longer onboarding process.
Highlights:
- Allows creation of 3D, AR, and VR experiences for e-commerce;
- Offers a visual configurator for real-time product customization;
- Integrates with major e-commerce platforms for seamless use;
- Supports high-quality visuals for photorealistic product displays;
- Enables interactive product personalization and visualization.
Pricing: On request.
#6. LevAR
Shopify Rating: 4,5
LevAR is a Shopify Product Configurator that allows businesses to provide an interactive shopping experience to customers. Customers can configure the product as they wish and preview it using Augmented Reality before purchasing thanks to LevAR’s advanced product visualization and customization features.
The company must request the creation of the 3D model directly from their account and LevAR provides a quote proposal that can be accepted or discussed again.
Highlights:
- Easily integrates AR and 3D into e-commerce channels;
- Distributes 3D/AR models on e-commerce, email, SMS, and social media;
- Creates exact-to-scale 3D and AR models for realistic product views;
- Offers one-click integration with stores and SKUs, no manual uploads;
- Features mobile-optimized 3D landing pages for product highlights;
- Includes Virtual Try-On without needing an additional app.
Pricing: Starts at $59/month. 14-day Free Trial available.
#7. InkyBay
Shopify Rating: 4,9
InkyBay is a Shopify personalization app. It has many customization options and works exclusively on Shopify (the dashboard is integrated into the Shopify back-office).
InkyBay is a 2D customizer and the configurator is part of advanced settings, so all configuration options and attributes are managed in 2D. The interface is customizable (even through CSS) and rich in graphics features for the printing industry, but InkyBay does not integrate with POD services or Dropshipping services or even Marketplaces.
Highlights:
- Visual product customizer with configurator and advanced option features;
- Inventory management for unlimited configurable product variants;
- Quantity discounts and product options for custom products;
- Dynamic pricing based on color, size, and design choices;
- Supports various printing methods: screen printing, DTG, sublimation, embroidery.
Pricing: Starts at $19,99/month. 21-day Free Trial available.
Intrigued? Launch into product configuration in < 10 minutes with Zakeke! Let customers create made-to-order products in seconds. Simple, fast, effective. Try Zakeke FREE now!.
