Arts
Technology has changed the way products work and look, but what is often overlooked is the technology that puts these products in front of a buying audience. For the woodworking, cabinet, furniture, and store fixture industries, the most powerful technologies have been the ones making each aspect of the design process more efficient, straight-forward, and comprehensive. From CAD software to social media, to virtual reality, technology has simplified the communication process between designer and customer. What sort of impact does this have at each stage of a project? Beata Klecha, founding partner and vice president of marketing for Element Designs, and Colin Reyenga, owner of Alma Sales, Inc., join us on this episode of the Element Sessions podcast to break down the technology powering every niche and process in AEC, and how specialization has created software for specific markets in construction and design. Customers and designers go through several stages from beginning to end to deliver a final product. Technology has impacted every single one, including the... -Inspiration stage: Social media sites like Pinterest and Instagram are making it so much easier for clients to not only flex their creative muscles but follow influencers and leading companies to see how the greats do it and draw from that to really personalize their ideas. -Product research stage: Professionals and customers alike have a plethora of comprehensive online catalogs to help filter, specify, and eventually choose the materials and products that will make their design a reality. -Design stage: CAD software is a no-brainer, but the recent specializations of CAD software, creating design platforms for very specific end-products, has made the design stage less cumbersome. Add virtual and augmented reality to that, and you have customers and designers visualizing their designs clearly before ever touching a real piece of hardware. -Purchasing stage: Companies like Element Designs have created online accounts so customers can receive quotes 24/7. Online ordering tools also allow buyers to specify customizations as well. The digital landscape has changed the way people shop, and this does not stop once the purchase has been made. Automated shipping updates in people’s email inboxes keep customers informed and engaged with the brand, making the buying experience a better and more personalized one. Once the delivery is completed, oftentimes happy buyers will share their new product on social media, adding to the wealth of organic awareness about the brand for new prospective customers and beginning the cycle anew.