What is a 360° Virtual Tour? The Ultimate Guide and All You Need to Know

360° virtual tours have evolved to become more than just a novel technology reserved for big companies. As more businesses embrace digital innovations, they have become a versatile marketing tool to enhance engagement with their audience.

Consider how websites and social media were once seen as fancy, good-to-have, but optional assets. Today, you would be shocked if any business owner were to tell you that they have absolutely no online presence. The same goes for 360° virtual tours and immersive technologies, which are seeing a rise in popularity among both businesses and consumers. 

But let's start from the basics - what exactly are 360° virtual tours? Here's everything you need to know.

What are 360° Virtual Tours? 

360° virtual tours are immersive digital experiences that simulate the experience of exploring a real environment or space. They are usually made up of 360° equirectangular images or videos that are stitched together with different softwares. 

This immersive technology allows people to feel as though they are at the location: they can look up, down, and all around, while getting a closer look at the area or specific information. 360° virtual tours usually come with interactive features called 'hotspots', which let people navigate or interact with the visual elements. They can also be multisensorial, thoughtfully incorporated with background audio, videos, narration and other kinds of media that create a richer viewing experience.

They can come in different names: panoramic virtual tours, 360° tours, 3D tours, immersive experiences, digital twins, VR-based tours or Virtual Reality experiences. Their common goal is to replicate the experience of exploring a space, even when they are not physically present on site.

Are 360° Virtual Tours Considered Virtual Reality (VR)? 

Yes, 360° virtual tours are a form of Virtual Reality! Of course, it also depends on the level of immersion they offer. While any 360° virtual tour can let you explore the digital space from your website or phone, true VR means that you can use a VR headset to see the space as though you are really there. 

What Types of Virtual Tours are there?

Let's take a look at the main types of 360° virtual tours out there: 

1. 360° Virtual Tour 

Chances are, you have already come across 360° virtual tours — they are the most popular virtual tour options in the market. They are crafted by merging multiple 360° images of a space into one sweeping digital environment. You basically get a walkthrough of the place, without even getting off your couch. According to a Google Survey, 67% of people would like to see 360° virtual tours on company websites. Businesses who have a virtual tour on their website also see a 5 to 10% increase in viewership compared to those who do not own a virtual tour. 

2. 3D Virtual Tour

3D virtual tours offer a new dimension of exploring a site: through a digitally reconstructed environment. The entire virtual experience is in 3D, commonly made by rendering detailed and realistic images through 3D software. They can also be turned into more engaging formats when combined with advanced technologies like photogrammetry and photorealistic scanning. Your first thought might be something along the lines of video games or purely fictional worlds, but for preconstructed properties or reimaginations of heritage sites, 3D virtual tours can open up the possibilities. 

3. Virtual Reality (VR) Tour

Virtual Reality Tours are fully immersive experiences that you can enjoy using VR headsets. You can use the controllers to interact with elements using the headset, which can be a great way to capture attention and connect with people during exhibitions. 

3. Augmented Reality (AR) Virtual Tour

Imagine walking through a museum or historic site, and watching the world come to life with digital elements. This is what Augmented Reality (AR) Virtual Tour can do, allowing your smartphone or AR glasses to reveal 3D models, animations or hidden info in real-time. AR tours are great for turning everyday places into interactive experiences.

What Industries Use Virtual Tours?

You'll be surprised by just how far virtual tours have come! Once limited to real estate listings, 360° virtual tours have spread across numerous industries. This has been especially prominent after the Covid-19 pandemic, as businesses see the potential of 360° virtual tours in their marketing and operations. Here are several sectors that leverage on 360° virtual tours: 

1. Real Estate 

Property developers create 360° virtual tours to highlight their show unit in a digital platform, enabling their sales team to reach out to potential customers even when they cannot physically be on site. Many have also opted to use 3D virtual tours as an alternative to scale models, show units or physical brochures. Buyers are given the tools they need to visualise the project and make informed decisions. 

See More: Hotel, Resort & Hospitality 360° Virtual Tour Services in Malaysia and Southeast Asia

2. Tourism and Hospitality

360° virtual tours are widely used in the tourism sector to promote travel destinations, hotels, restaurants, and attractions. These show tech-savvy travellers the beauty of any destination in an engaging manner, even before they book a trip. Hotels, resorts and homestays also benefit by having greater global outreach for their property, whether it is the rooms, dining venues or MICE event spaces.

See More: Real Estate, Township & Property 360° Virtual Tour in Malaysia and Southeast Asia

3. Education

Recent data shows that there is a 258% rise in 360° virtual tour usage among prospective students. Campus virtual tours provide a detailed and interactive view of the classrooms and facilities, helping to increase engagement and interest for students and parents. They can also be used for training purposes, helping universities to onboard newly recruited academic staff.

See More: Educational Institution, University & School Campus 360° Virtual Tour Services in Malaysia and Southeast Asia

4. Medical 

The medical sector has started using 360° virtual tours to give people a comprehensive view of their well-equipped spaces and state-of-the-art equipment. These help familiarize patients and their families with the centre before their visit, so that they can feel more comfortable and informed. From hospitals and clinics, to dental offices and confinement centres, 360° virtual tours are quickly rising in popularity as a way to build trust and transparency.

5. Manufacturing

Companies are adopting 360° virtual tours to promote their factories and manufacturing plants. They give an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look of the factory floor, production lines and machinery, so stakeholders can see how products are made - all from their laptops or phone. Virtual tours empower businesses to conduct remote site recces, train new employees, and present their capabilities through a powerful presentation tool. 

6. Timber

For traditional businesses like the timber sector, 360° virtual tours serve as a unique digitalisation tool. Virtual tours of timber showrooms can help business owners present their furniture and timber products to potential buyers, while factory virtual tours can be used to reach out to stakeholders from around the world. 

7. Art and Culture 

Museums, art galleries and heritage sites are taking the digital route as well, with 360° virtual tours helping to reach a wider audience. Through interactive elements, visitors can explore the space, listen to immersive audio and read the information at their own pace. 

8. Automobile

When it comes to the automobile industry, 360° virtual tours allow companies to highlight the unique features and designs of the newest hot wheels. What better way to hook potential buyers to walk to your next showroom, than with an interactive tour in the vehicle itself?

9. Investment and Corporate

These days, 360° virtual tours are not just about driving sales; it is about building up a brand through innovative storytelling. With a virtual tour to serve as an eye-catching visual presentation, potential investors can enjoy a virtual walkthrough of beautiful office buildings, business hubs, and industrial parks, anytime and from anywhere. Essentally, this can help you attract investors faster and with more impact!
 

What Are the Benefits of Virtual Tours? 

Virtual tours offer many advantages for businesses seeking to put their marketing on full throttle, while engaging clients more effectively. Here are some of the benefits: 

• Global Outreach: Virtual tours are accessible from anywhere in the world on websites, mobile phones, tablets, and VR devices, allowing you to engage with a far wider audience.
• Enhanced Engagement: Boost visitor interaction through immersive VR storytelling.
• Improved Online Visibility: Virtual tours enhance SEO, driving more organic traffic to your website and increasing visibility.
• Interactive Presentation: Showcase your unique selling points with an interactive deck.
• Informed Decision-Making: Customers can easily visualize the space and facilities in a digital format, helping them make confident decisions before booking.
• Faster Sales Process: Virtual tours set clear expectations and attract more qualified leads, which in turn speeds up the sales process.
• Exhibition Showcases: Virtual tours] are a surefire way to turn heads at any exhibition, and engage with customers.

How Can I Make Full Use of My Virtual Tour? 

Virtual tours make a powerful marketing tool, that is, if you know how leverage it for your company. Here's how: 

• Optimise Virtual Tour for Search Engines: Ensure that your virtual tour includes the right meta descriptions, tags and keywords. This will improve its visibility and discoverability on search engines, driving more traffic to your site.
• Connect to Digital Assets: Embed your virtual tour on your website, social media platforms, and blogs. This keeps visitors on your site longer and boost engagement across your channels.
• Highlight in Email Marketing Campaigns: Place your virtual tour in your email or newsletter. Your subscribers get a more interactive way to explore your offerings, which can lead to higher click-through rates.
• Enhance Presentations and Pitches: Incorporate your virtual tour in presentations, proposals, or investor pitches for a more immersive and visually stunning experience. 
• Set Up for Lead Generation: Include a sign-up form in your virtual tour to capture potential leads. 
• Utilize Paid Advertising: Consider using paid advertising to promote your virtual tour, which aims to reach a broader audience. 
• Display at Exhibitions and Events: Set up your virtual tour on a touchscreen TV or VR headset for a dynamic way to showcase your space at trade shows and exhibitions.
• Cross-Promote with Partners: Collaborate with other businesses or influencers to cross-promote the virtual tour on their platforms, thus expanding your reach to new audiences.
• Refresh and Update Regularly: Ensure your virtual tour stays updated and relevant by adding new areas, visuals, features, or products as your business grows. This keeps the content fresh and continuously engaging through the changing times.
   

Find the Right 360° Virtual Tour Provider for You

Actsugi is a virtual tour and digital content creator based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We create immersive 360° virtual tours for diverse industries with user-friendly layouts, high-quality 11K photography, true-to-life 3D renders, and a variety of storytelling features. Our virtual tours are optimised for web, mobile, tablets and VR devices - so they can be viewed anywhere and anytime across the world. Our team is based in Malaysia, and is able to accept work globally.