ROI of 3D Product Rendering in eCommerce – A Data-Driven Look
Images on most eCommerce platforms, online stores and company websites today are made using traditional photography, 3D product rendering or both. So far, traditional photography has been more popular than 3D product rendering (which is similar to computer-generated imagery or CGI), but preference for CGI is quickly growing because it is faster, cost-effective and, overall, more convenient.
From 360-degree product views to AR product modeling, 3D configurators and more, 3D visualization is making product views more engaging, immersive and interactive. They help shoppers make informed purchases, thereby increasing conversions and lowering returns,therefore a better eCommerce ROI. But let the numbers do the talking from this point as we dive into a data-driven look of the ROI of 3D product rendering in eCommerce.
What is 3D Product Rendering in eCommerce?
3D product rendering is a process in which we create lifelike digital visuals of products with the help of computer software. Unlike flat 2D images, 3D visuals can be in the form of:
- Static renderings- high-quality images of 3D product models from multiple angles
- 360° spin videos- interactive visuals where users can rotate products for a better understanding of the product.
- AR-ready models- allowing customers to “place” products in their real environment.
Key Metrics to Measure ROI
The following are some of the metrics businesses use to track the ROI of 3D product rendering:
Conversion Rate: percentage of visitors/online shoppers who complete a purchase after interacting with the 3D content. Higher conversion rates after including 3D content means online shoppers are responding to the more immersive and detail-oriented product visuals.
Add-to-Cart Rate: percentage of visitors who add at least one item to their cart after interact after engaging with the 3D visuals. Increase in add-to-cart rates after using three-D rendered images can also indicate that the customers are convinced about the product.
Product Return Rate: percentage of products that get returned by customers after sales. A decrease in returns can show that the 3D visuals gave customers a clearer understanding of the product, enabling more informed purchases.
Time to Market: time taken to develop a product from conception till it is released in the market and available for sale. 3D product rendering speeds up product development, which means it’s possible to bring the product to the market faster.
Sales Revenue: the total revenue raised by product sales. You can compare the revenue generated by products that have 3D visuals and those without to check for effectiveness.
If you were to compare 3D product rendering to traditional photography, 3D visuals (on average) helps businesses save about 25–40% in costs and slash production times by up to 70%, while also boosting conversions.
Here’s a tabular look at how you can compare the ROI metrics of traditional photography and 3D product rendering:
| Metric | Traditional Photography | 3D Product Rendering | % Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conversion Rate | 2-3% | 5-8% | +60-150% |
| Add-to-Cart Rate | 5-7% | 10-15% | +100% and more |
| Product Return Rate | 8-12% | 3-6% | -50% |
| Time to Market | 7-14 days | 1-3 days | -70% |
| Sales Revenue | Consistent | Increased | Varies, but substantial |
Note: The values you see in the ROI table above are based on eCommerce industry benchmarks, market research and data from brands that have successfully implemented 3D product rendering. Exact numbers can vary from industry to industry, but these values represent a realistic and well-documented range of improvements seen in the market.
How 3D Rendering Reduces Costs and Time
For traditional photography, you require studios, lighting, physical prototypes and reshoots, which all drive up expenses. In contrast, virtual product photography (which is basically 3D rendering) is faster, cheaper and scalable, because it replaces expensive physical prototypes and photoshoots with virtual models.
Here’s a tables to show how 3D rendering can save you on cost and time compared to traditional photography:
| Workflow | Time (Days on Avg.) | Cost per Visual | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical photoshoot | 10-14 | $250 | Requires expensive setup, models, reshoots |
| 3D rendering | 1-3 | $150 | 3D product models can be easily updated, no need for reshoots |
| AR/360-degree spin | 2-4 | $180 | Boosts interactivity and engagement |
The reason for moving from physical to virtual photography is not simply about cost reduction, but about agility. Why is it so? It’s simply because with just a single 3D model, you can generate hundreds of visuals, saving you both time and money. Which is really the main point here; why go for the cumbersome traditional photography when you can a simpler, cheaper and faster method that can give you the same (if not better) results.
Real World Examples Showing ROI from 3D Product Rendering
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Jerome’s Furniture – WebAR Integration
- Industry: Furniture
- Technology: 3D Configurators and WebAR
Note: WebAR is a technology that lets online shoppers interact with AR directly from their web browser. - Results:
- 5x increase in AR sessions
- 80% reduction in time to market was (within) 6 to 8 weeks
- 30% increase in add-to-cart rate
Jerome’s Furniture is a chain of discount furniture stores in Southern California. They have been investing in 3D and Augmented Reality (AR) from as early as 2016 and are the first US-based furniture company to invest in AR. In 2021, they deployed WebAR for their retail store, after which their eCommerce apps have seen thousands of sessions and conversions.
(Source: 3D Cloud)
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Nike – 3D Product Configurators
- Industry: Apparel and Footwear
- Technology: 3D Product Configurators
- Results:
- With the Nike By You configurator, customers can customize shoe designs in a 3D view, from colors and materials to personalized text. This highly interactive shopping experience has helped Nike boost sales and customer loyalty.
- o3D configurators made the Nike website more engaging, helping them maintain an average visitor time on the page of 7 minutes and over 60 million monthly visits.
- Integrating 3D visuals with the in-app sizing tool (Nike Fit) has helped the company reduce their online returns by 28%.
Nike By You is a prime example of how 3D rendering can be used for creating interactive product personalization experiences and an overall fun shopping journey. Apart from enabling a creative experience, it also fosters a strong emotional connection between the customer and the product.
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- Industry: Furniture
- Technology: Augmented Reality (AR) App
- Results:
- AR models helped customers feel more confident about their choices, increasing conversion rates.
- Customers could virtually place furniture in their own homes, leading to increased user engagement and buyer confidence.
- AR visuals reduced return rates for large items by up to 22% since customers could accurately visualize products before purchase.
IKEA's app (now integrated with the IKEA Place functionalities) allows customers to design their rooms and place true-to-scale, photorealistic 3D models of furniture in their own rooms, just with the smartphones. The main pain point it addresses is the inability to see how an item will look and fit in a physical space. Allowing customers to visualize their furniture purchases beforehand has helped IKEA boost sales and considerably cut down on costly returns.
AI and Automation in 3D Product Rendering
The recent inclusion of AI in 3D rendering workflows has made the technology more accessible and efficient. It results in faster turnaround times and higher visual consistency.
AI, for example, can automate tedious tasks like texture mapping, lighting setup, background removal and more. Thus it is possible to bulk render entire product catalogs with minimal effort. Scaling according to requirements is also possible for businesses of all sizes.
Predictive ROI Modeling for eCommerce
If you want a full understanding of the value of 3D product rendering for your business, you can calculate the potential ROI using the following simple formula:
ROI= ((Increase in Sales + Cost Savings - Rendering Cost) ÷ Rendering Cost) ×100
Below is an example of how to calculate your likely return on investment:
- Increase in sales: You have a 5% conversion lift on $100,000 in monthly sales, which amounts to $5,000.
- Cost Savings: You see a 50% reduction in returns on $10,000 in monthly returns, amounting to $5,000.
- Rendering Cost: We’ll assume that your monthly rendering costs come up to $1,000.
So,
ROI = (($5,000 + $5,000 - $1,000) / $1,000) x 100 = 900%
What the formula shows is that money you have invested in 3D rendering can generate a massive return that exceed the initial cost.
Best Practices to Maximize Your ROI
To get the most out of investing in 3D rendering, follow these best practices:
- Use high-quality visuals (higher resolution) and offer AR functionality where it makes sense to provide as much detail as possible.
- Ensure all your 3D assets are optimized so they load quickly and work flawlessly on mobile devices (or any device for that matter). It is important to note that in 2025, close to 80% of retail website visits were from smartphones (Statista).
- Run tests comparing 3D visuals to traditional photos to prove the uplift in your own data. A popular comparison test to use is the A/B test.
- Use 3D rendering to maintain a consistent look and feel across all your product visuals.
The Data and Benefits are Clear…
3D product rendering might seem expensive at first, but all the costs are quickly offset by increased conversions, boosted sales revenues, faster time to market and fewer returns. Right now, 3D product rendering might still be a bit niche compared to traditional photography, but it gaining ground because of its capacity to deliver greater ROI.
Adopting this technology means you can create a more engaging and confident shopping experience for your customers.
At Professional3DServices, we specialize in turning your product (even concept products) into immersive visuals that will help you create a more engaging and effective online storefront (or a virtual showroom even).
Ready to see the ROI of 3D rendering for your business? Touch base with our experts to explore our customized solutions and start your transformation today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on 3D Product Rendering
3D visualization can benefit almost any kind of product, including furniture, fashion, jewelry, electronics and home décor.
Most modern eCommerce platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, Amazon and Magento support 3D models and AR content. You can also embed them directly on product pages.
A 3D model is the digital file (like a blueprint) of the object. You can’t view a 3D model without the right software. A 3D render, meanwhile, is the final, photorealistic image or animation generated from that model. Think of it as a picture of the 3D model. It is usually the render that the customer sees on the product page.
