Price of a 3D tour for business: what affects the cost and how to save
The price of a 3D tour for business: what affects the cost and how to save Briefly: The cost of a 3D tour depends on many factors, including the size of the object, detail and additional options. Understanding these nuances will help you plan your budget effectively and get a product that meets your needs. For example, for a small cafe of 50 m² and a large factory of 10,000 m², the price will be radically different. Wondering how much a 3D tour costs for your business? You are not alone. Many entrepreneurs want to use this technology for promotion, but are faced with the issue of pricing. In this article, we, the 360° Space team, will tell you what the 3D tour price consists of, what factors influence it and how you can optimize your budget. Step 1: Determine the scale of the object The first thing that directly affects the cost of a 3D tour is the size and complexity of the object. The larger the area, the number of rooms, floors, the more time is required for filming and subsequent processing. For example, shooting a small studio with an area of 30 m² will take a couple of hours, but a multi-story business center may require several days of team work. We always study the layout in detail. If this is a 600 m² restaurant with several rooms and a kitchen, we allocate more shooting points and time for post-processing than for a small store. It is important to consider not only the total area, but also the number of individual areas that need to be shown on the tour. Step 2: Select details and additional options A simple 3D tour includes basic navigation through panoramas. But often clients require more. For example, interactive points (hotspots) with photos, videos, text or links to products. This could be a menu in a restaurant, a description of exhibits in a museum, or characteristics of a product in a showroom. The more such elements, the higher the labor costs and, accordingly, the price. Additional options such as voice acting, background music, virtual guide, integration with booking systems or e-commerce also increase the cost. We once did a tour for a hotel in Sochi, where the client wanted to add video reviews of guests directly to the panoramas of the rooms. This required additional installation and integration, which affected the final estimate. Step 3: Survey technology and equipment There are several approaches to creating 3D tours. We use professional panoramic cameras and technologies that provide high image quality. For some projects, especially when working with interiors, where maximum accuracy and measurement capabilities are needed, we use scanners like Matterport, which create not only panoramas, but also an accurate 3D model of the space. Using equipment like the Matterport Pro3 allows you to get a more detailed model, but also requires more time for shooting and processing, which is reflected in the price. The choice of technology always depends on the client's goals. If you just need a beautiful overview, our panoramic cameras are enough. If a client from Kazan wants his construction company to be able to conduct virtual walk-throughs of the site with measurements, then Matterport is indispensable. We always select the optimal solution. Step 4: Hosting and placement of the 3D tour After creating the tour, you need to place it somewhere. We offer several options: (1) 360° Space cloud with high-speed servers and technical support - this is the easiest and most convenient way for most clients; (2) placement on the customer’s server, if the customer has its own infrastructure and specialists for support; (3) a standalone offline version for PC or a separate assembly for a VR headset that works without the Internet. For example, we were asked to create an offline version for the exhibition so that the tour could be shown without being connected to the network. We do not use the term “unlimited hosting”, but we offer flexible hosting formats that allow you to choose the best option both in terms of cost and functionality. The cost of hosting a 360° Space cloud is usually included in the plan for a certain period or paid for as an annual subscription. Hosting on the client's server or offline version is a one-time payment for assembling and transferring files. Step 5: Deadlines and Urgency As with any service, urgency affects the price. If a project needs to be completed “yesterday,” this may require additional specialists or work outside of normal business hours, which will increase the cost. Planning ahead always helps save money. See all projects → Typical mistakes that increase the price of a 3D tour Unclear technical specifications: The lack of a clear understanding of what exactly is needed from the tour leads to modifications and alterations. Every change after work begins increases the budget. Trying to skimp on quality: Going for the cheapest deals often results in poor images, slow loading times, and lack of support. As a result, such a tour does not bring benefits, and the money is wasted. Unprepared subject: Before shooting, the room should be cleaned, arranged, and, if possible, decorated. If the team arrives at the site and it is a mess, they will either have to wait or return, which entails additional costs. Ignoring additional options: Ordering a basic tour, and then constantly adding “one button at a time” or “one more link” as the project progresses. It’s better to immediately think through all the necessary interactive elements. Frequently asked questions How long does it take to create a 3D tour? Creation time depends on the size of the object and the complexity of the tasks. A small room (up to 100 m²) can be ready in 3-5 working days from the date of shooting. For large objects (several thousand m²) the period may be 2-3 weeks. Can I make changes to the 3D tour myself? Basic changes, such as changing information in hotspots, can usually be done through our control panel, if such an option is provided in your tariff. For more complex changes (adding new panoramas, changing navigation) you will need the help of 360° Space specialists. How does a 3D tour affect SEO? A 3D tour increases visitor engagement on your site, increases dwell time, and reduces bounce rates. This has a positive effect on behavioral factors that search engines take into account when ranking. Calculate costProject catalogMatterport


