March 08, 2024
Outward, Inc., an independent Williams-Sonoma, Inc. company and pioneer in visual technology solutions for the home furnishings industry, has already attracted 170 retailers and manufacturers for its Aperture Platform.
“The Aperture Platform has been gaining traction in all areas of the country since it was launched last fall,” said Gaurav Sethi, co-founder of Outward, Inc. “The fact that the queue is already this big speaks to how much Aperture is resonating and how unique this platform really is. For the first time, retailers and manufacturers are finding they can take control of their own imagery in ways that were not possible before.”
The Aperture Platform is the world’s first and only real-time automated photography system, which utilizes modern artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision to enable a self-driven, autonomous system that replaces traditional methods of product photography. Equipped with a cutting-edge, robotic camera system, sensors, LED lighting and a computer workstation, Aperture features Outward’s proprietary Capture Rig and Content Manager web application. With a 400-square-foot footprint, the comprehensive unit utilizes automatic masking, with AI-based intuitive shadow and lighting tools to help create the perfect shot, time after time, without the hassle of traditional photo shoots and time-consuming post-production workflows, and without any compromise in creative flexibility.
“This is your own 21st century automated photo studio. No more schedules to coordinate, or high-priced studio time,” said Sethi. “There is no other photography platform on the market that combines software and hardware like this to create an on-demand solution.”
Two of the West Coast retailers already utilizing the technology are Hoot Judkins Furniture, the Bay Area’s largest wood furniture store, and Giorgi Bros., a full-service furniture showroom in the Bay area—with more going live with every week that passes. The technology has also attracted the likes of furniture manufacturers like Whalen Furniture, which produces high-quality furniture for homes and offices in San Diego, Calif., as well as Sagebrook Home in Commerce, Calif., which specializes in decorative accessories, wall décor, furniture, lighting, and home textiles.
“The Aperture Platform is ideal for furniture manufacturers and retailers who are looking to showcase their products in a variety of environments,” said Sethi. “We’ve received great feedback from our current customers, which is helping us in developing additional templates to encompass all kinds of desirable environments.”
Users can immediately upload professional-quality photos to any channel – from e-commerce websites to traditional print publications.
When someone purchases the platform, Outward sends professionals from their team to install the system and train employees on usage and maintenance. There is a one-time setup and training fee, plus a monthly subscription fee. After the installation and training session is provided by Outward, its customer success team remains available around the clock to provide any support customers may need, further positioning them as a leader in innovative product photography solutions.
“A queue this large only a year after we launched Aperture speaks to how much this is resonating with furniture manufacturers and retailers,” Sethi said. “The engagement also shows how unique this first and only automated photography system is.”
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About Outward, Inc: Outward, Inc. is a visual transformation and technology company. Since 2012, the company has been reinventing the way product photography is created, presented and consumed. Inspired by its deep experience working with home furnishings lifestyle retailers and manufacturers, Outward has developed a fully automated photography solution, the Aperture Platform, which makes it easy to produce and publish high-impact product photography for a variety of visual merchandising uses. After completing an initial training session, manufacturers and retailers of all sizes and skill levels can produce a large volume of product images at the push of a button and publish them in any format — from e-commerce to traditional media. Outward is an independent Williams-Sonoma company.