Evolution of e-commerce and packshots: Why invest in the new Orbitvu automated photo studios

In the ultra-competitive world of e-commerce, images are king. The product photography is much more than just an illustration: it has become one of the fundamental pillars of success of an online business. Over the years, technological change has profoundly transformed the way in which products are presented and perceived by consumers. We therefore offer you retrace this evolution of e-commerce and product photography in this article, from its humble beginnings to the advent of revolutionary new technologies. We will also see how consumer expectations have changed over time, and Why it is essential to update your automated photo studio in order to remain at the forefront of technology.

The evolution of e-commerce and product photography: a chronology

The evolution of e-commerce over the decades reflects not only technological advances in product photography and the internet, but also changes in consumer expectations and behaviors. But to fully understand all this, let's go back to the very beginning of the 2000s...

The 2000s: the beginnings of e-commerce and the growing importance of the image

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Credit: Smartinsights (licensing) [/caption] In the early 2000s, with the advent of e-commerce, businesses had to adapt to the need to present their products in an attractive way on emerging online platforms. The first CMS were adopted to effectively manage online content, including product images, thus laying the foundations for effective visual presentation.With e-commerce, we thus saw an initial evolution of product photography, which was previously intended primarily for print use.In the years that followed, the mid-2000s saw The emergence of rich media, offering a more immersive user experience. Unlike static content, Rich Media in fact allows users to interact with content in a variety of ways, such as scrolling, zooming, rotating, video playing, animations, etc. Consumers have also begun to tune in. more importance on product visuals when shopping online, thus stimulating an evolution towards professional quality photography, adapted to the increasingly competitive e-commerce market.

The end of the 2000s was marked by a growing need for transparency and authenticity on the part of companies, with a focus on image quality presented on e-commerce sites to gain the trust of consumers. Technological advances such as dimmable LED lighting have made it possible to meet these requirements, offering more customizable and energy-efficient options for product photography. With dimmable LED lighting, it thus becomes possible to Control the intensity of the light, to adjust the color temperature to match different environments, and even to modify the Direction and angle of illumination to highlight the specific characteristics of the product. Thanks to its dimmability, LED lighting offers you a total control on the final visual aspect of product photographs. This technological advance in dimmable LED lighting thus offers unparalleled flexibility and customization to obtain high-quality images adapted to the specific needs of each product.

The 2010s: the professionalization of product photography to respond to the evolution of e-commerce

During the 2010s, the Clipping of products and various retouching has become easier thanks to advances in image editing software. RAW support has also provided greater flexibility in image post-processing. CMS have also evolved, offering improved functionalities for the management and presentation of product visuals. We were then able to see The emergence of video and artificial intelligence, which also opened up new possibilities for presenting products online. Thanks to advanced algorithms, it is possible to use artificial intelligence in particular to automatically improve the quality of images, by optimizing brightness, contrast and sharpness. It can also be used to automatically crop products, thus facilitating their integration into various environments and creating flawless visuals... And more recently, we can also use AI to transform 360-degree photos of your products into 3D visuals, paving the way for new ways of presenting your products on your e-commerce site. In the 2010s, Color Rendering Index (CRI) has also become an important criterion for guaranteeing accurate and true-to-life product visuals. One The standard is now well established in product photography.

Nowadays: the generalization of automated solutions for packshots

Since 2020, we can note a widespread adoption of automated photo studios, making product photography accessible to a wider range of users, from small businesses to in-house marketing departments. The growth of social networks and the use of smartphones has also reinforced the importance of product visuals optimized for these platforms, underlining the need to evolve with the times. As you can see, visual quality has only grown in importance over the years. Today, it is absolutely essential not to repel visitors and to convince them to buy your products. In addition, consumer expectations are increasingly high in terms of user experience. To remain competitive in a constantly evolving e-commerce market, businesses must therefore invest in modern product photography solutions and adapted to new technologies and consumer expectations.

What are consumers' expectations in terms of product photography nowadays, following the evolution of e-commerce?

User experience requirements

Consumer expectations play a central role in the success or failure of an online business. And more than ever, consumers are looking for a pleasant, intuitive and convincing online shopping experience.

High-quality product visuals are an essential part of the e-commerce user experience. Consumers especially like the possibility of view products from every angle, with a sufficient level of detail to make an informed purchase decision. Of images that are clear, well-lit and highlight product features are crucial for generating interest and instill trust among consumers.

Impact of social networks and mobile

With the proliferation of smartphones and the omnipresence of social networks, the way in which consumers interact with product visuals on an e-commerce site and elsewhere has evolved considerably over the years.

So you must optimize your images so that they adapt well to mobiles and that they are quick to charge. They must also adapt to the specific formats and characteristics of the various social networks.Consumers expect to be able to discover and easily share products on their favorite social networks, a trend that is all to your advantage! Your customers can indeed help you increase the reach and visibility of your products and your e-commerce site. It is therefore up to you to facilitate this sharing process and to take care of the photography of your products so that it is effective and engaging.

Changing expectations for authenticity and transparency

Consumers want to see images true to reality, accurately reflecting the appearance and characteristics of the products offered. Misleading or overly retouched photographs can lead to a loss of trust and discourage consumers from making a purchase. Therefore, you need to provide transparent and authentic product visuals for strengthen consumer confidence and retain them. Consumer expectations in terms of product photography in e-commerce are therefore constantly evolving, fuelled by technological advances. Under these conditions, not evolving your product photography solutions internally can prove to be a costly mistake. Indeed, if your product photos are of a lower quality than those of your competitors, or if you do not offer features that Internet users are now used to, you risk losing customers.

Why switch to Orbitvu automated photo studios to better adapt to the evolution of e-commerce?

Les new Orbitvu automated photo studios represent an innovative solution that allows businesses to follow the evolution of e-commerce and product photography and to effectively meet consumer expectations. Let's take a look at some of the benefits of these automated photo studios for you.

State-of-the-art technology

Orbitvu studios are equipped with cutting-edge technology that is revolutionizing the way products are photographed and presented online. The 360-degree automated capture makes it possible to create immersive and interactive images, offering consumers an unprecedented viewing experience. In addition, the instant retouching integrated with the software Orbitvu Station simplifies and accelerates the post-production process, ensuring professional results in record time.

Time and efficiency savings

Thanks to the automation of capture and retouching processes, Orbitvu studios allow create packshots quickly and efficiently. No more long, painstaking photography and editing sessions: with Orbitvu Studios, you can produce high-quality visuals in a minimum amount of time, freeing up valuable resources to focus on other aspects of your business. With such extensive automation, you don't even need special photography experience : the studio takes care of everything for you!

Adaptability to new trends

Faced with the constant evolution of the needs of online consumers, Orbitvu studios are designed to adapt to new market trends. Whether it's the growing demand for product videos or interactive experiences, Orbitvu Studios offer the flexibility to meet these ever-changing requirements, allowing businesses to stay at the forefront of innovation and stand out from the competition.

Long-term profitability

Investing in Orbitvu studios represents a sustainable investment. By reducing the costs associated with outsourcing product photography and the repeated purchase of obsolete equipment, Orbitvu studios allow you to make significant savings in the long term In addition, by guaranteeing high-quality visuals and improving operational efficiency, they contribute to increase the overall profitability of your business.Investing in the new Orbitvu automated photo studios thus represents an invaluable opportunity for companies to meet the expectations of their customers, optimize their online presence and remain competitive in the face of the constant evolution of e-commerce and product photography. If you want to know more, we invite you to consult our complete article on The advantages of Orbitvu Studios.