French home furnishings retailer Conforama is reshaping the kitchen buying experience by introducing a seamless omnichannel design process, combining digital planning tools with in-store expertise.
The transformation is powered by HomeByMe technology from Dassault Systèmes, enabling customers to design and visualise their kitchens online before finalising projects in-store with sales specialists.
© Conforama
From paperwork to digital planning
Previously, designing a kitchen at Conforama largely depended on in-store visits, paper forms and manual processes. Customers browsed showroom displays and catalogues before working with designers to plan layouts, often requiring multiple documents, printed quotes and spreadsheets.
"There were customer forms to fill out, quotes and order forms to print and sign, then Excel spreadsheets for salespeople to populate," said Mohamed Bounouh, a kitchen designer at Conforama. "There was a lot of administration involved."
With changing consumer expectations and the rise of multichannel shopping, the company recognised the need to modernise the experience.
"We needed to overhaul the customer journey to make it seamless and omnichannel," said Erwann Corbel, unit director for kitchens and bathrooms at Conforama.
© Conforama
Designing kitchens online and in-store
The HomeByMe Kitchen Planner allows customers to design their kitchens online within minutes, visualising layouts, materials and finishes. Projects created at home can then be accessed in-store by Conforama experts, who can refine the design and complete the purchase with the customer.
Once a design is finalised, the system automatically generates real-time quotations, which update instantly if changes are made.
The solution is complemented by Retail Operations, a management platform that enables sales teams to handle the full sales process digitally, from pricing and orders to delivery scheduling.
National rollout across 180 stores
Conforama introduced the technology through a phased rollout. The online planning tool launched first, followed by pilot deployments in 12 stores. After successful testing, both solutions were expanded nationwide to all 180 Conforama stores within eight months.
The company says the new system reduces administrative tasks for sales teams while allowing them to spend more time advising customers.
Improving the omnichannel experience
Customers can now start their kitchen project at home, explore different configurations and visualise their designs before visiting a store for expert guidance. Because sales advisors can access these designs in advance, they gain a clearer understanding of customer preferences and can provide more personalised advice.
For management teams, the system also offers improved oversight of the sales cycle, including tracking orders, margins and performance across stores.
Looking ahead, Conforama plans to further expand digital tools across other home categories, building on the omnichannel model introduced in its kitchen business.
"HomeByMe is the future," said Bounouh. "It will allow us to do very beautiful things."
More information:
HomeByMe
www.3ds.com
