Visualisation AI in the terrace configurator

Digitalisation has been transforming the construction industry for years, and is now reaching the next stage of development with artificial intelligence. This is opening up entirely new opportunities for businesses and customers, particularly in the area of product presentation.

With the new visualisation AI in the ProDigital Terrace Configurator, a classic configuration is transformed into a realistic representation of your own terrace within seconds. Users can simply upload a photo of their current terrace or the planned area, and the configurator then automatically integrates the configured terrace directly into the real-world environment.

The result: customers can immediately see what their planned project will actually look like – even before the terrace is built or ordered.

Imagination plays a crucial role, particularly with major investments such as a terrace. Many customers find it difficult to visualise materials, colours or sizes using a conventional configuration. This is precisely where the AI integration comes in, taking digital product presentation to a whole new level.

Anyone looking for inspiration these days usually ends up on social media or looking at AI-generated images. The results look impressive, but in practice a crucial factor is often missing: real-world feasibility.

The images may look good, but they are not based on products that are actually available or technically feasible designs. Dimensions are incorrect, materials do not exist, or key components are missing entirely. This often gives customers a false impression of what can actually be built later on.

Our new visualisation AI solves precisely this problem. This is because the visualisation is not based on imaginary products, but directly on the manufacturer’s actual products.

This means:

• Real floorboards and materials
• Technically feasible designs
• Actual dimensions and proportions
• Transparent pricing
• Automatic bills of materials

The new feature has been deliberately kept simple and is fully optimised for mobile use. This allows customers to plan their patio conveniently on a smartphone, tablet or PC, without the need for any additional software or technical knowledge.

1. Plan your patio in the configurator
2. Upload a photo of the current situation
3. AI automatically integrates the configured patio into the image
4. View and optimise the result within seconds

This creates a new form of digital patio planning. Customers can view their future terrace directly, test different options and compare various materials or colours.

Particularly exciting: The finished preview can be easily shared with friends or family. This makes decision-making much easier and significantly shortens the customer journey leading up to the final purchase decision.

The key difference compared to traditional AI tools lies in the combination of artificial intelligence and our intelligent configurator technology. Whilst many AI tools merely generate inspirational images, the ProDigital Terrace Configurator also supports the practical planning and costing of the terrace.

The configurator automatically processes relevant product and planning data and calculates, amongst other things:

• Substructures
• Slab or decking coverings
• Accessories
• Material quantities and parts lists
   

The combination of AI, the terrace configurator and automated planning thus not only creates a modern customer experience, but also optimises internal processes in sales and consultancy.

The new visualisation AI is transforming not only the planning process, but also the way products are presented and sold online. Today’s customers expect more than just simple product images or static renderings. They want to experience products digitally and get as realistic a picture as possible of the final result before making a purchase.

This is precisely where a new form of digital product presentation is emerging.

Prospective customers no longer see their future terrace merely as a product, but directly as part of their own home. Materials, colours and sizes become emotionally tangible and can be viewed directly within the real-life environment. This emotional connection plays a central role in the purchasing decision, particularly for high-priced products such as terraces or bespoke outdoor solutions.

This brings additional benefits for retailers and manufacturers:

• more modern digital customer advice
• higher conversion rates
• longer time spent in the online shop
• stronger customer loyalty
• better digital customer experience

The combination of artificial intelligence and interactive product visualisation thus ensures a modern customer journey and takes digital product presentation to a new level.

Our new tool demonstrates how digital sales processes and modern product configurators will evolve in the future. Inspiration and concrete planning are becoming increasingly intertwined.

What used to require several discussions, sketches and rounds of consultation can now be visualised in a matter of minutes.

Artificial intelligence will play an increasingly significant role in the future, particularly in the field of digital product configurators. After all, today’s customers expect not just information, but interactive and personalised product experiences.

And that is just the beginning.

Many people ask us where our configurators are heading in the coming years. Naturally, we don’t want to give too much away just yet – but the idea of being able to plan entire outdoor areas or even houses in the future based on a photo of a plot of land, with AI support, certainly sounds exciting.