Digitizing Store Interiors
Turning Retail Spaces into Structured, Searchable, and Strategic Data
We’re in the middle of a spatial revolution. As LiDAR, photogrammetry, and 3D modeling go mainstream, the walls of retail spaces are no longer just architecture—they’re data. From luxury boutiques to big-box retailers, the next wave of retail is digitized, and it begins with high-fidelity interior scans.
Digitizing store interiors transforms physical environments into navigable, measurable, and interactive digital twins—unlocking a new layer of visibility for everyone from store planners to merchandisers to machine learning algorithms.
What Does It Mean to Digitize a Store?
Digitizing a store interior typically involves:
3D scanning using LiDAR, structured light, or photogrammetry
Mesh reconstruction to create an accurate spatial model
Semantic tagging of product zones, fixtures, lighting, and signage
Integration with inventory, planograms, and IoT systems
The result is a navigable, interactive 3D model that reflects not only layout—but also intent, experience, and logic.
Why It Matters
Digitized interiors are more than pretty reconstructions—they enable:
Spatial Intelligence at Scale
Analyze how layout affects flow, visibility, and behavior.
Generate heatmaps or visibility zones using digital overlays.
2. Remote Visual Merchandising
Plan displays and seasonal updates without visiting in person.
Ensure global consistency across retail environments of all sizes.
3. AI & ML Training Datasets
Feed structured scans into object detection models, flow prediction engines, or AR simulations.
4. E-Commerce Integration
Enable immersive shopping experiences: walk through a store virtually and click directly into product pages.
Case Study: IKEA × DroneDeploy × Polycam
Imagine IKEA’s labyrinthine layouts, DroneDeploy’s immersive 3D Walkthroughs, and the mobile scanning power of Polycam—all combined into one fluid design and retail intelligence system.
At IKEA, layout is everything. By scanning their in-store experiences, IKEA could simulate how customers interact with showroom kitchens or living rooms before making changes.
With DroneDeploy’s 3D Walkthroughs, what started as a tool for inspecting job sites became a platform for navigating interiors with annotations, collaboration tools, and timeline comparisons.
Add Polycam’s mobile photogrammetry, and now even store managers can scan and upload updates without technical gear—enabling fast, democratic spatial capture across regions.
Together, these tools enable IKEA (or any retailer) to:
Capture and compare layouts over time
Track placement consistency and campaign rollout
Collaborate between design, marketing, and operations in a shared 3D environment
Simulate customer journeys using real-world models
What used to take a crew, a visit, and a clipboard now lives in the cloud.
Challenges
Digitizing interiors is still a frontier, with considerations including:
File Size & Compression: High-fidelity meshes need to stream smoothly
Lighting Conditions: Store ambiance can impact scan clarity
Privacy: Scanning during business hours must respect customer presence
Hardware Variance: Different stores, devices, and network conditions impact fidelity
The Future of Physical Retail is Mapped
Imagine a world where store interiors are not only searchable—but strategic. Where brands can simulate changes, run A/B tests, and track attention metrics spatially. Where every physical inch has digital memory.
Digitizing store interiors allows retailers to see not just where things are, but why they matter. It’s how physical design becomes part of a smarter, more responsive retail ecosystem.