01732 759725 32 COVER STORY In 2023, Sharp UK successfully launched their industry-first and now award-winning, Virtual Showroom Experience. Designed to transform Sharp’s client and dealer-partner journeys, the newly launched experience has been curated to meet changing market and client needs. As Millennials and Gen Z continue to make up a larger proportion of the B2B audience, there is increasing demand for digital interaction. The Virtual Showroom enables this, providing an immersive and virtual platform to explore the Sharp portfolio. Transforming experiences with technology options for all the B2B buyers of today and the future. Post-pandemic the demand for inperson interaction has changed. With a plethora of in-person showrooms, Sharp felt that they needed to create a supplementary option for those buyers seeking an enhanced digital journey. Supporting both ends of the sales and marketing funnel, the showroom allows prospects to conduct their own research, browsing the showroom and utilising features like AR to make informed decisions. Further down the funnel, the showroom is used to host meetings and share product information during sales conversations between Sharp’s technology experts and clients and prospects. Tried and tested Prior to its launch in late 2023, the Virtual Showroom underwent thorough development to ensure that the experience was as seamless and user friendly as possible. Initially, the Sharp team soft launched the showroom to create an avenue for feedback and input on the experience. Sales teams were encouraged to trial it with clients and prospects. It was also placed on the website to allow organic traffic to explore. The insights from this, provided rich information for further development and improvements. Over a 2-month period the showroom was tweaked and tested, ready for a full launch to dealerpartners and media later in the year. Feature-rich As part of the development process the team at Sharp also considered future use and longevity, including features like AR and VR to ensure the showroom was multi-use and future-proofed. Clients and prospects can also access on-demand support and information with live chat functionality. At events, VR headsets are used, allowing prospects to visualise products, services, and solutions. QR codes let prospects scan and use AR 3D product renders on their own devices. The virtual meeting feature, available in the direct sales version, enables meetings to take place within the showroom. This provides prospects with control over navigating and exploring, supported by Sharp’s technology experts. Stuart Sykes, Managing Director, Sharp UK explains that “The aim of the experience is to provide buyers with a way to help them explore what they can achieve with technology in their workplace and organisation. Saving time and travel evaluating our portfolio more easily, to quickly reach that all-important conclusion as to which product, solutions and or service, is right for their organisation. Our Virtual Showroom will help them to make more informed decisions with features like AR, which lets them use their mobile phones to view scaled product renders, visualising solutions in their own workplace”. Holistic portfolio overview Crafted with all Sharp’s clients in mind, the platform has dedicated environments for business and education and features a wide range of products, including Audio Visual Solutions such as Interactive Displays, Meeting and Video Conferencing, AV Furniture, Interactive Tables, Digital Signage Displays and Projectors, The showroom also incorporates This innovation brings an elevated experience to organisations exploring workplace technology and transformation. At conception the Virtual Showroom Experience has been designed to provide additional information for decision makers during their buying journey. The experience now sits alongside Sharp’s physical showrooms, incorporating Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) to level-up client and prospect experiences. Whether self-guided or with the help of Sharp’s technology experts, the new showroom empowers clients and prospects alike, enabling them to take control of their own buying journey. Meeting changing market demands As an industry leading Technology Partner, Sharp listened to market needs, adapting the client journey to provide
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