TechniCon Announces New 3D Product Visualization Software for the World Wide Web

Furniture World Magazine

New Online Software Represents Next Generation of Cost-effective Sales/Design Automation: TechniCon Computer Services, a leading developer of product visualization software, announced today a new software application for the World Wide Web that will simplify and increase sales of furniture, floor/wall/window coverings, and other components of interior design. Delivered over the Internet or company intranet/extranet, TechniCon's 3D Web Visualizer enables manufacturers to create one central source of product data and graphics that is easily accessible by retailers/dealers, salespeople, interior designers, and select customers. It provides a complete online delivery mechanism, including online product selection, specification, visualization, and order fulfillment. And by using the Internet, it reduces the cost of traditional sales/design automation. "To compete in today's world of mass customization, companies require tools that continue to improve the efficiency of sales and design and reduce costs," said Anthony Mirante, President of TechniCon. "TechniCon's new World Wide Web software represents the next-generation of cost-efficient sales and design automation." Photo-realistic Images of Fully Configured Products TechniCon's new 3D Web Visualizer helps designers and customers visualize fully configured products and rooms. Using compelling, interactive 3D graphics, salespeople, designers, and their customers can change the finish or fabric of furniture or floor/wall coverings, view and change windows and draperies, and even see select products set up in rooms tailored to match customer-supplied dimensions. All of this is accomplished instantly, directly over the Internet at the point of sale. And unlike other companies, TechniCon bases 3D Web Visualizer on standard-not proprietary-software formats. New WWW Application Reduces Sales Costs and Speeds Delivery Product Data. TechniCon's new World Wide Web software provides significant advantages over many existing sales/design automation solutions. Many of the CD-ROM-based product specification systems in use today, while an improvement over preceding manual or CAD-based methods, are rapidly becoming outdated in today's world of real-time, interactive information. CD-ROM systems are typically updated only on a quarterly basis, and often require high-priced PCs and heavy notebook computers that are equipped to store and run large product databases. Salespeople and designers relying on printed sales collateral have similar burdens, working with bulky, outdated materials. 3D Web Visualizer is designed to end these problems. For the first time, companies can instantly deliver up-to-the-minute product information directly to dealers, salespeople and designers. Via TechniCon's software, these individuals quickly access that data and display it via detailed 2D/3D graphics to potential customers. All they need is a standard notebook computer or PC and a World Wide Web browser. As a result, companies eliminate the need for expensive computer add-ons or kiosks, and salespeople/designers are better informed. Increases Sales and Expands Customer Base Via Online Selling: TechniCon's new software brings the full benefits of the Internet to the home furnishings and interior design industries. With the World Wide Web as its delivery vehicle, products can be instantly viewed by anyone with a Web browser, thereby supplying a significant opportunity to reach new customers and increase sales. Using 3D Web Visualizer, dealers, salespeople and designers can begin the sales process sooner. By simply directing a customer to the appropriate company Web address, they begin the process from the very first telephone call. And TechniCon's software is easy enough to use that select customers can place orders directly, without assistance. TechniCon's Expertise in Legacy Data and Large Data Sets To create its software, TechniCon draws on nine years of experience with major furniture suppliers and 10 years of experience integrating information from legacy computers into large data sets. The company takes information such as CAD graphics and data in industry-standard formats and integrates it with today's best-of-breed computing components: relational databases, graphics servers, and product configuration software. The result is a non-proprietary, graphically rich visualization program that draws on off-the-shelf components, thereby reducing a company's cost of system ownership. For more information, visit the company's Web site: http://www.technicon.com