Redefining bathroom planning with smart technology by Villeroy & Boch

In a competitive product market where options are endless, sometimes the things that make a brand stand out are not physical. One of those things being an intuitive digital platform and smart tools that make choosing and customising products efficient, work on the go easy and collaboration straightforward. Today, using a brand with a well-thought out digital user experience can end up saving money, stress and time – all extremely valuable in the fast-paced design industry.

Knowing this, Villeroy & Boch has been working on a suite of useful tools to make the designer’s work as streamlined and simple as possible. The international lifestyle brand specialising in ceramic production for bathroom and wellness has had the mission since 1748 to enhance people’s lives – and this is true for both its products and the way it collaborates with people. With much experience working closely with architects and interior designers, Villeroy & Boch’s digital platform and app have been tailored to exactly what design professionals need today, bringing together organisational and visualisation tools to help work flow smoothly.

As well as the beauty and convenience of digital design, we have all experienced the stress of it too – the multiple file formats, log-ins, sharing accesses, optimisations and platforms, all required for that smooth ride. Some of the most frequent queries from designers to the Villeroy & Boch service team included requests for BIM files and technical drawings, so consolidating digital assets into one easily accessible platform was a central goal for their digital platform.

The free Villeroy & Boch app streamlines all of these efficient digital tools into one place, your pocket. One of these tools for example is the Sample folder, which groups together products for a project into one place: 'The Sample folder makes it significantly easier to write quotes later, and makes incorrect orders a thing of the past. In addition to various model and colour combinations, the tool also shows complementary items that can be suggested to the customer – without having to additionally trawl through price lists and catalogues,' says Constantin von Boch, Senior Sales Manager of projects for Germany, Villeroy & Boch, who worked closely on the design of the app.

It brings BIM files, 3D models, technical drawings, fact sheets, prices, brochures and installation instructions all into one place, which is optimised for smartphone, tablet and PC, with much of it available without even having to register. Though registering can unlock further services such as checking product availability, saving sample folders and downloading high resolution images.

Modern design professionals are no longer only working from a desktop computer in an office, but from a smart phone – and because of this online accessibility, are expected to be available to solve problems faster than ever before. The app comes in very useful when making quick decisions and working on the go – whether you’re on site, en route to a demanding client meeting or even in a remote location (the app works conveniently offline, too).

The Product configurator tool on the app brings bathroom plans to life with augmented reality (AR) for clients to help them make decisions quickly: 'Often customers want to see how the products from specification would look like in their bathroom before purchasing, sometimes 3D visualisation is enough, however, sometimes the designer has to change the colour of the furniture facade or washbasin colour. The app places all available colour samples in your pocket – it’s fascinatingly simple and works in real time,' says von Boch.

While digital services can make work super efficient, sometimes we all need an expert on call for more complex support. That’s why adjacent to the digital smart tools, Villeroy & Boch also run a hotline for architects with in-depth questions. 'Our goal is to help architects, interior designers and planners to design their bathroom projects as efficiently as possible. Our tools save time, prevent mistakes and make the technical part of the job easier,' says von Boch.

© Architonic