Indian Consumers Prefer 3D Catalogues As Digital First Trend Takes Off Because Of COVID19
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Eccentric Engine’s One 3D platform has been powering the virtual showroom and 3D catalogs for various automobile OEMs has released a survey which reveals 7.6 million Indians chose to experience cars virtually in 3D on platforms enabled by its technology in 2020.
It reports a 300 percent increase from 2019 for its visualization platform One 3D. The data is based on 100 million interactions and over 500 respondents spanning tier 1, tier 2 and tier 3 cities. Its platform enabled research for cars in a virtual 3D format.
Eccentric Engine’s 3D configurator has been in the market since 2018. Most recently, it enabled the 3D experiences for MG Motors, Citroen and Tata Motors.
“In India, we work with Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, MG, Citroen, Toyota, and Nissan. And also with the newly formed Stellantis (which is the whole PSA group plus FCA),” revealed Varun Shah, the co-founder of Eccentric Engine.
Shah reveals his platform enables users to explore granular details about vehicles, including details that can’t be explored in review videos or online activations.
“The survey revealed that 51 percent of the sessions were from the 6 top-tier cities including New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai.”
The survey revealed that 51 percent of the sessions were from the 6 top-tier cities including New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai. Even Lucknow broke into 3 percent of the digital sessions making its way into the top 10 cities in India. Interestingly, tier 3 cities accounted for 9 percent of the queries which is an impressive number.
The survey also revealed that 91 percent of the users who experienced the car online ended up buying the same car offline.
“By intuitively integrating the real and digital world with One 3D we are excited to create an unprecedented level of customer engagement for our OEM partners to understand evolving consumer needs and help them serve their customers better by offering world-class product visualization that can create surprise and delight and personalize their buying experience,” said Varun Shah.
The survey also revealed that non-resident Indians were making buying decisions for their families in India digitally. 4.6 percent sessions were from NRIs out of which 31 percent were from North America, 32 percent were from the Middle East, 10 percent were from Europe, 5 percent from the UK, 4 percent from Australia, 2 percent Africa and 1 percent from Latin America.
The survey also showed blue and white were the most popular shades by more than 40 percent. 35 percent people preferred the colour grey, brown and silver. Red, black and orange were preferred by 15 percent.
Indian automakers have seen a sharp rise in digital interaction over the past couple of years and yes, it’s been largely driven by the pandemic. Audi India, Volkswagen India saw an uptick of 70% in online interface compared to pre-covid times and with new tech, enhancing that experience for customers is going to be paramount. More manufacturers are now getting into the game and innovation is at the top of everyone’s agenda.
Questions & Answers
Q.Which car manufacturers are currently using Eccentric Engine's 3D platform for virtual experiences?
Which car manufacturers are currently using Eccentric Engine's 3D platform for virtual experiences?
The platform enables 3D experiences for MG Motors, Citroen, and Tata Motors. Eccentric Engine also works with Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, Nissan, Audi India, and Volkswagen India.
Q.How many Indian consumers used Eccentric Engine's 3D platform to experience cars virtually in 2020?
How many Indian consumers used Eccentric Engine's 3D platform to experience cars virtually in 2020?
7.6 million Indians chose to experience cars virtually in 3D on platforms enabled by Eccentric Engine’s technology in 2020. This represents a 300 percent increase from 2019.
Q.Did online 3D car experiences influence actual purchase decisions according to the survey?
Did online 3D car experiences influence actual purchase decisions according to the survey?
Yes, the survey revealed that 91 percent of users who experienced a car online subsequently bought the same car offline. This indicates a strong link between virtual and physical sales.
Q.What proportion of the 3D platform's sessions came from non-resident Indians?
What proportion of the 3D platform's sessions came from non-resident Indians?
Non-resident Indians accounted for 4.6 percent of the total sessions. A significant portion of these were from North America (31 percent) and the Middle East (32 percent).