Virtually enabled retail fit outs in a Covid restricted world

With the impact of Covid-19 seriously affecting all aspects of retail, store development teams are having to creatively rethink the in-store experience for customers.

As a result store refresh programmes are back on the high priority list. However, design teams are having to find new ways of working effectively to adapt to the Covid restrictions and this is where VR really comes into its own.

Refurbishment projects traditionally require multiple store visits where architects, store planners, brand managers and graphic designers meet to discuss the issues, review existing layouts to assess opportunities for improvement and ultimately scope the project.

They would also normally meet onsite with shop fitting contractors to discuss the installation or relocation of M&E, signage, and equipment. 

However, since the onset of Covid such site meetings have been challenging if not impossible to host while maintaining social distancing and other health and safety measures.

And as a result, VR has found its place. A single trip to store to capture the existing reality can replace these multiple site visits saving the time and cost of travel into the bargain.

A single trip to store to capture the existing reality saves in time and cost of multiple visits to site.

Virtual walks replaces the physical store visit

StoreView can then be used as a virtual collaboration tool enabling the necessary stakeholders to discuss the detail of the project. Project teams can 'walk' around the store 'together' ensuring that project scope is right.

This enables them to scale specifications either up or, more importantly, down to fit the reality of what's on site. And the outcome is cost effective too. Savings are achieved where unnecessary work is avoided or alternatively additional works carried out while contractors are already on site.

Decisions on changing signage and branding and the potential impact on customer experience can be reviewed where options can be compared adding clarity and context. 

Maximising refresh budgets and speeding up decision making

A before and after split screen allows you to assess the impact of your investment.

As a result the necessary scope of works can be finalised without the project team stepping foot in-store. This ensures the store refresh budget is maximised while also speeding up the decision-making process.

Project managers can be confident in the knowledge that decisions are being made on a single source of accurate information that can be revisited at any point in the project for clarification. 

Demonstrating ROI for refit budgets

Then when the project has been completed, a single surveyor visit can produce a post project StoreView.

The immersive 3D environment can be used to show and compare the before and after realities for project teams to sign off as well as sharing with wider stakeholders across the retailer so the value of capital expenditure can be assessed.

All this can be achieved within the current reality of home working, as the StoreViews can be accessed on any web enabled device. 

An example of virtural StoreView in action

Your StoreView can be accessed on any web-enabled device.

Asda is an example of one retailer who has really seen the value in this new way of working.

“StoreView brings our stores to life, and with these superior visuals we can now make more informed decisions during our scheme approval meetings, saving costs on unnecessary work as well as time visiting site,” says Ian Brackenbury, Asda's Senior Manager for Store Planning.

Realising the benefits of VR is one of the technological developments that retailers are really valuing as a result of changing working practices to adapt to the Covid-restricted world.

And it is a development that will grow and evolve as restrictions are eased in the coming weeks and months.

C A Design Services is a retail consultancy offering software and services that help retailers optimise their space. If you would like to investigate how VR can improve the effectiveness of your refit programme, please visit the company’s website.