INDUSTRY UPDATE
WINNER DESIGN AND INNOPLUS MADE BY COMPUSOFT : the most user friendly CAD sales tools of Kitchen and Bathroom experts all over Europe
Virtual Worlds technology a quality service
irtual reality is big news in the KBB industry, with new developments making it easier than ever before for showrooms to share designs with their customers. This VR technology can be immersive, interactive and informative for customers and designers alike, but it’s not always a small investment and, to make life more difficult, there can be a massive difference in features and benefits between brands and software packages, making it tricky to work out what may work best for your business.
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At its best, this technology can fill the imagination gap, giving both designers and consumers an innovative way of stepping into a new dimension. But the level of quality can vary wildly with different speeds of render, graphic power and headset specifications all conspiring to turn the decision-making process into a minefield.
In the past year alone, virtual reality technology has moved on quickly. Packages now exist that allow customers to move around their space by walking in real life, with sensors on the headset allowing them to reach out and open doors and drawers with their own hands. The difference in features between various virtual reality packages can be stark. Did you know, for example, that software as simple as a 360- degree photograph can be badged up as virtual reality? These offerings fall some way short of fully immersive renders which let customers interact with their environment, and see more information on the objects and appliances they have chosen within.
Generally, virtual reality packages are a more effective sales tool when they are fully immersive. Headsets give sales teams an advantage in that they completely isolate their customers from the real world, helping to suspend disbelief and ultimately increasing the chance of making a sale. The top packages, such as Virtual Worlds’ 4D Theatre and 4D Showroom, can, in fact, have much the same impact as a test drive in a car – with the fast render times and high-quality, immersive environments selling the benefits of a new room by allowing the customer to go in and experience it for themselves.
And while older, clunkier headsets have been known to cause motion sickness, improved render times on newer software has combated this, making them an excellent sales tool for all ages – even those that have never used a virtual reality package before.
Nathan Maclean, managing director at Virtual Worlds, said: “As a business committed to breaking boundaries in KBB software technology, we are constantly looking to the future of CAD technology in order to further support retailers and revolutionise the industry. We are well aware that in this industry, the quality of our offering is key. “During our 20 years in the sector, we have celebrated many industry firsts with the likes of 3D, 4D Showroom and most recently 4D Theatre, which allows showrooms to create unparalleled realism for their customers.
“But our core goal is being able to deliver a market-leading platform to further equip retailers with the tools to increase footfall, shorten the buying cycle and increase revenue along with providing their customers with an unparalleled experience.
“Not only does this improve sales conversion rates, but also helps to increase the value of orders – helping to boost KBB businesses while ensuring their customers get the kitchens and bathrooms they have always dreamed of.
“To ensure you’re making the most of the opportunity presented by VR, it is important to make sure you’re paying for the right service – one that offers a truly unique experience for the consumer and delivers more than a simple panorama. These systems must offer a compelling, 4D experience which sells the products on display and provides a realistic and accurate representation of a room set, allowing the customer to move around it in real time. This will ultimately help the buyer to fall in love with their new kitchen or bathroom.
46 BKU JANUARY 2018
THE TILE ASSOCIATION COLUMN
Tiled surfaces normally the best for high hygiene areas
orrectly installed tiled surfaces are normally the best solution for all types of environment, especially in commercial kitchens and food preparation areas. Tiled surfaces are entirely safe to install and use in hygiene sensitive installations, particularly if large format porcelain tiles are used with epoxy grouts. Porcelain tiles are largely impervious, with less than 0.5 per cent porosity and epoxy grouts are also impervious, to the extent that they can have an approval for use in nuclear power stations, since they are not porous to radioactivity.
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The relevant standards are BS EN 14411:2012, which covers the specification of ceramic wall and floor tiles, including their water absorption characteristics and chemical properties. BS 5385-4:2015 includes a code of practice for the design and installation of ceramic and mosaic tiling in specific conditions. This gives recommendations on design considerations and on the installation of ceramic wall and floor tiling and mosaics in situations where there are specific environmental or functional requirements, e.g. sterile conditions, wet areas, and conditions that are potentially detrimental to either or both the installation or the background, such as the presence of chemicals.
Grouts used should conform to BS 13888, which covers the specification, conformity and evaluation of all types of tile grout. Fully vitrified tiles and epoxy resin-based grouts have been recommended in hygienic applications such as commercial kitchens for many years. Research has established that the cleanability of tiled surfaces with grouted joints is not compromised over that of tiles alone. A tiled surface will normally only amount to about 3 per cent of the total area and if epoxy grouts are used, this surface will not harbour bacteria, provided an appropriate cleaning regime is employed. Tiled surfaces can also safely be cleaned at temperatures in excess of 60°C, since they are fired to temperatures far above that during the manufacturing process. This means that tiles are a good solution in an environment where boiling liquids might get spilt on them. Furthermore waterproofing for tiled surfaces is installed behind the tiles as a tanking system. If a tile is damaged then the background, when tanked, remains fully protected and the waterproofing element is maintained.
The Tile Association, The Mount, Stone, Staffordshire, ST15 0HG. Tel: 0300 365 8453
www.tiles.org.uk
For further information or to join TTA visit
www.tiles.org.uk/join
01509 611 677
www.compusoftgroup.com
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