If you're reading this, it's likely that you already have some idea about what a virtual tour is. Whether you've virtually walked through the Louvre Museum or tried to find your perfect home in a real-estate marketplace, 3D virtual tours are already a big part of today’s world - and they will only continue to be a bigger part of our daily lives. Thanks to advancing technology, globalization, and the fast pace of the modern world, 360 tours allow you to experience reality without ever having to set foot outside. But we can’t just be heaping any empty praises, so let’s dive in to learn more about why virtual tours are the next big thing in today’s world of technology.

What is a virtual tour?

This actually has an easier answer than you may think:

Virtual tours are simply a bunch of panoramic images connected, hence the alternating names “360 tour” or “3D tour”. By creating a 360° view of the location, they provide a life-like experience, and they can also be enriched by other types of media such as sounds, music, descriptive texts, etc.

How does my business benefit from a virtual tour?

A variety of sectors use virtual tours to offer an easier and faster display option for their customers & users. Here are some of the most common use cases:

1.Real Estate: 3D house tours are in high demand as they provide the buyer with an idea about the place without having to physically visit. In addition to the sense of convenience they bring, they give out a more prestigious and modernized experience and expedite the sales process by up to 200%. Check out our post to learn more about how virtual reality plays a role in the real estate industry.

2.Hospitality: Every day more museums offer 3D tours of their exhibitions for people all around the world to enjoy. With virtual tours, it is now easier than ever to be a global citizen and learn about various cultures and arts with a simple click of the mouse. Check out our post to learn more about how virtual reality plays a role in the hospitality industry.

3.Automotive: 3D tours offer an easy way to compare different brands and models for the potential buyer or an automotive enthusiast. You may think this doesn’t really substitute for an exciting test drive, but companies have even started to offer virtual test drives for customers to experience vehicles in a more real-life setting! Check out our post to learn more about how virtual reality plays a role in the automotive industry.

But that’s not all! Virtual tours are becoming only more common in various other industries, so don’t be surprised if you see the list growing longer and longer in the future.

How to create virtual tours?

1) 360° Shooting

There is one word to get the best results when making a 360 tour (and it is kind of an obvious one): 360° cameras. It can be hard to choose from so many alternatives in the market, but as far as our recommendation goes, it is Trisio Lite 2 for its innovative design and low-budget point. Stay tuned for our detailed review of the most popular 360 cameras in the market.

Alternatively, you can hire a professional if you don’t want to deal with any new equipment or virtual tours are more of a one-time thing for you. You can also use your phone if it supports panoramic shots, but know that 360 cameras will always give you a smoother transition and a higher resolution, hence a more quality virtual tour.

2) Virtual Tour Editor

Having panoramic images is not enough to create virtual tours, as you need virtual tour software to create the ultimate 3D virtual tour experience. The first virtual tour softwares were known as “offline editors”, and had a reputation for being a bit complex and requiring some prior know-how. However, then came the “online” softwares, such as ELTA360, which offers a much more user-friendly interface and ready templates that allow even the most novice user to complete their virtual tours in under 5 minutes. You just need to upload your panoramic images and connect them, then enter any details if you wish to enrich your tour, and voila!

3) Publish & Share

Here comes the easiest part: now that you have a virtual tour in your hands, all that’s left to do is to share it with the world! Simply publish your virtual tour and share with your customers or embed it into your website. You can even try them on a virtual reality headset such as the Oculus Quest or HTC Vive to have the ultimate experience.

Why should you start using virtual tours today?

We know that virtual tours are the technology of the future, but you don’t need to just take our word for it. Research shows that,

50% of users opt for virtual tours when they are researching to decide on a product.

Photos taken in 360 generate up to 45% more interaction with customers when compared with simple 2D photos.

For customers aged between 18-34, virtual tours are a compelling factor that makes them 130% more likely to book.

In 2020, Forbes announced that the use of virtual tours increased by 1000%!

And this is only the tip of the iceberg! You can always do your own research to learn more about the upcoming fame of virtual tours, and we think you’ll agree that being a pioneer user of virtual tour technologies will set you apart from the competition. So check out how to get started with ELTA360 to carry your business one step further into the future.