Start-ups in retail technology are growing and Retail Week is highlighting some of the best. This week DigitalBridge is in the spotlight.

DigitalBridge enables users to see prospective home decorations and furnishings in their own rooms prior to purchase.

DigitalBridge was nominated by Stephen Millard, chief executive at retail technology accelerator Eccomplished.

Key facts

Founded: 2013

Investment: Private investment from Stuart Marks, partner and investor in John Lewis’ start-up accelerator programme JLAB.

Retail partners: DigitalBridge says it is in discussion with a “major UK retailer” but cannot reveal the name because of non-disclosure agreements.

Founder: David Levine

What it does

DigitalBridge is a cloud-based visualisation tool that enables users to see prospective home decorations and furnishings in their own room and under their own lighting conditions prior to purchase.

To use the service, a customer simply takes a picture of their room with their smart phone or tablet. “DigitalBridge’s software registers the walls, floors, ceilings, objects and lighting conditions in the room,” says Levine. “It then allows the user to render wallpapers, carpets, paints, artwork and furniture in that room so they can see how a retailer’s products would fit into their own home.”

What problem does the technology solve for retailers?

DigitalBridge allows home and furniture retailers to improve customer service and engagement by giving users a convenient mobile platform to visualise prospective purchases. Their software lets a customer envisage the retailer’s products in their own home, as well as enabling a customer to bring a digital model of their room into the store, allowing staff better insight when suggesting products.

“By closing the imagination gap between store and home, Digitalbridge allows customers to visualise what new home furnishings and decorations would look like in their own room, thereby reducing friction in the buying process and ultimately increasing sales for retailers,” says Levine.

More information: www.digitalbridge.eu