Background
Dataracks, a leading manufacturer of data center solutions, serves major clients such as Microsoft, EE, and Vodafone with a wide array of products, from aisle containment systems to server racks and micro data centers. However, during the Covid-19 lockdowns, Dataracks was unable to host customers for in-person factory tours, a vital part of their sales and engagement process. In response, they approached Sky Revolutions to create a virtual solution that could keep their manufacturing space accessible to clients.Project objectives
Dataracks sought to:- Provide a virtual tour of their factory, allowing clients to view their manufacturing processes despite the restrictions.
- Create an interactive experience that went beyond static imagery, offering a sense of being physically present in the factory.
- Develop a tool that could also be used for future client interactions, providing a permanent virtual option for showcasing their facilities.
Challenges and solutions
With lockdowns in place, Dataracks needed a comprehensive way to share their factory environment remotely while still providing the depth and detail necessary for clients to fully understand their operations. Sky Revolutions implemented a Matterport-enabled 360-degree virtual tour to solve this issue. The Matterport scanner creates a digital twin of the physical environment, capturing the factory’s interior in a highly immersive and interactive format. Sky Revolutions also created a series of external 360-degree aerial images of the factory to provide a complete virtual experience.Methodology
- Internal virtual tour: Using the Matterport scanner, Sky Revolutions captured the interior of Dataracks’ factory, generating a digital twin that allowed users to explore the environment from all angles. The virtual tour included:
- Interactive features like clickable rooms, allowing clients to seamlessly navigate the factory.
- Pop-up notes, videos, and links to provide additional information about specific areas and processes.
- A measurement tool that enabled clients to measure distances and dimensions within the virtual environment for better spatial understanding.
- External aerial imagery: In addition to the internal tour, Sky Revolutions captured 360-degree aerial images of the factory, providing clients with a complete view of the facility, both inside and out.
- Enhancements and functionality: Collaboration features were added, such as comment and note sharing for client teams to engage directly with the virtual tour. Additional functionality, including animated GIFs, image files, and PDF generation, provided flexibility for Dataracks to use the content in presentations, marketing, and client proposals.
Results
- Client engagement: The virtual tour allowed Dataracks to maintain client relationships during lockdown, providing a new way to engage and showcase their factory in an interactive 3D format.
- Versatility: The Matterport tour offered a highly immersive experience, enhancing remote interactions with potential and existing clients. The measurement tool and customisable content (pop-ups, videos, etc.) allowed for a highly personalised experience.
- Time and cost savings: The digital twin provided a permanent resource for Dataracks to use for future customer tours without the need for physical visits, helping them save both time and costs.
- Increased collaboration: The interactive features allowed multiple stakeholders to view and collaborate on the factory tour, sharing insights and comments in real-time.
