Imagine a potential client in Japan wants to see your production line in Valencia. Previously, this meant weeks of planning, plane tickets, and a huge cost. However, what if I told you that this same client can take virtual tours of the factory today, regardless of where it is located, right from their own office, with a level of detail that photos and videos can’t even dream of? Keep reading and discover how technology is breaking down geographical barriers.
Nowadays, internationalizing a business is key to growth. Despite this, one of the biggest obstacles is the need for a physical presence to build trust. Clients, especially in the B2B sector, want to see with their own eyes where and how things are made. They want to see your industrial facilities, understand your capacity, and ensure that your values of quality and responsibility are real. This traditionally involved a large investment of time and money, both for you and for them. Fortunately, the digital transformation has brought a powerful and efficient solution.
What is a virtual tour?
When we talk about a virtual tour, we mean anything from a 360-degree video to virtual showrooms. We are talking about immersive and interactive experiences. That is, replicas that your clients can “walk” through freely from their computer or with virtual reality glasses.
This allows not only to see the space, but also to interact with it. For example, they can click on a machine to see a technical sheet, a video of its operation, or its quality certificates. In this way, the distance disappears completely, offering a transparency that generates immense trust.
What are the types of virtual tours?
To internationalize your business, it is crucial to choose the right tool. Therefore, it is important to distinguish between the two main types of immersive experiences we create for the industry, each with a different objective.
On the one hand, we find the 360º Virtual Tour. Through a series of interactive 360-degree images or videos, we allow your clients to explore every corner of your real factory. This way, they can understand your manufacturing process and see your Industrial plants: from their own browser, with points of interest that offer additional information as if they were on an in-person visit.
On the other hand, for a higher level of realism and freedom, we create 3D replicas of the factory. Here, we go beyond photos to build a complete and navigable three-dimensional model. This allows your clients to move with total freedom through the space, not just from point to point, being able to analyze the machinery from any angle and fully understand the scale of your operation. The result is an immersive experience of maximum impact, which conveys a deep sense of solidity and technological capability.
What can you show in a virtual tour of your factory?
The possibilities are almost limitless and adapt completely to what you want to communicate. Consequently, you can strategically show every corner of your company. Some of the most valuable points to show are:
- The manufacturing process: From the reception of raw materials to the packaging of the final product. Showing your manufacturing process demonstrates control, efficiency, and quality, as well as being a highly valued exercise in transparency.
- Logistics and storage: Show the organization of your logistics area. A well-managed warehouse and efficient loading and unloading zones convey an image of professionalism and ability to meet deadlines.
- R&D and quality control laboratories: If innovation is part of your DNA, why not show it? Allowing a visit to your laboratories demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement that sets you apart from the competition.
- Commitment to sustainability: Increasingly, international clients choose suppliers aligned with their values. As a result of virtual tours for the industry, you can highlight your environmental responsibility actions, such as waste management or the use of renewable energies. Likewise, you can show your commitment to social responsibility, highlighting workplace safety measures and the well-being of your team, aligning with the principles of the United Nations Global Compact.
Direct benefits for your internationalization strategy
Integrating virtual tours for the industry into your business strategy is not just an improvement, it’s a revolution. According to analysis from consulting firms like McKinsey, the digitalization of industrial operations is a key competitive factor.
The benefits are clear and direct:
- Cost and time reduction: You completely eliminate travel expenses for the initial negotiation phases. Your sales team can conduct guided “visits” to several clients on different continents in a single morning.
- 24/7 global access: Your factory never closes. A potential client can explore it at any time, adapting to their time zone and availability.
- Building trust and transparency: Showing everything, without filters, is the best proof that you have nothing to hide. This honesty speeds up purchasing decisions.
- Competitive differentiation: While your competition is still sending PDF catalogs, you are offering an immersive experience. This technological factor positions you as an innovative leader in your sector.
- Accelerate the sales process: As publications like Harvard Deusto point out, streamlining business processes is vital for expansion. A virtual tour can shorten the sales cycle by weeks, or even months.
Innoarea, the partner to open your factory to the world.
In short, virtual tours for the industry are much more than a marketing tool. They are a strategic asset that allows you to overcome barriers, build trust, and accelerate your global expansion. It is the smartest way to bring your industrial facilities to any part of the world without moving a single brick. Therefore, if you want to learn more about how technology is redefining business, you can explore more about business digitalization on our blog.
Ready to open the doors of your factory to the world? At Innoarea we are experts in creating virtual tours for the industry that impress and convert. Contact us and a specialist will study your case to offer you a tailor-made solution.