ThoughtWorks
  • Contact
  • Español
  • Português
  • Deutsch
  • 中文
Go to overview
  • Engineering Culture, Delivery Mindset

    Embrace a modern approach to software development and deliver value faster

    Intelligence-Driven Decision Making

    Leverage your data assets to unlock new sources of value

  • Frictionless Operating Model

    Improve your organization's ability to respond to change

    Platform Strategy

    Create adaptable technology platforms that move with your business strategy

  • Experience Design and Product Capability

    Rapidly design, deliver and evolve exceptional products and experiences

    Partnerships

    Leveraging our network of trusted partners to amplify the outcomes we deliver for our clients

Go to overview
  • Automotive
  • Cleantech, Energy and Utilities
  • Financial Services and Insurance
  • Healthcare
  • Media and Publishing
  • Not-for-profit
  • Public Sector
  • Retail and E-commerce
  • Travel and Transport
Go to overview

Featured

  • Technology

    An in-depth exploration of enterprise technology and engineering excellence

  • Business

    Keep up to date with the latest business and industry insights for digital leaders

  • Culture

    The place for career-building content and tips, and our view on social justice and inclusivity

Digital Publications and Tools

  • Technology Radar

    An opinionated guide to technology frontiers

  • Perspectives

    A publication for digital leaders

  • Digital Fluency Model

    A model for prioritizing the digital capabilities needed to navigate uncertainty

  • Decoder

    The business execs' A-Z guide to technology

All Insights

  • Articles

    Expert insights to help your business grow

  • Blogs

    Personal perspectives from ThoughtWorkers around the globe

  • Books

    Explore our extensive library

  • Podcasts

    Captivating conversations on the latest in business and tech

Go to overview
  • Application process

    What to expect as you interview with us

  • Grads and career changers

    Start your tech career on the right foot

  • Search jobs

    Find open positions in your region

  • Stay connected

    Sign up for our monthly newsletter

Go to overview
  • Conferences and Events
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • News
  • Open Source
  • Our Leaders
  • Social Change
  • Español
  • Português
  • Deutsch
  • 中文
ThoughtWorksMenu
  • Close   ✕
  • What we do
  • Who we work with
  • Insights
  • Careers
  • About
  • Contact
  • Back
  • Close   ✕
  • Go to overview
  • Engineering Culture, Delivery Mindset

    Embrace a modern approach to software development and deliver value faster

  • Experience Design and Product Capability

    Rapidly design, deliver and evolve exceptional products and experiences

  • Frictionless Operating Model

    Improve your organization's ability to respond to change

  • Intelligence-Driven Decision Making

    Leverage your data assets to unlock new sources of value

  • Partnerships

    Leveraging our network of trusted partners to amplify the outcomes we deliver for our clients

  • Platform Strategy

    Create adaptable technology platforms that move with your business strategy

  • Back
  • Close   ✕
  • Go to overview
  • Automotive
  • Cleantech, Energy and Utilities
  • Financial Services and Insurance
  • Healthcare
  • Media and Publishing
  • Not-for-profit
  • Public Sector
  • Retail and E-commerce
  • Travel and Transport
  • Back
  • Close   ✕
  • Go to overview
  • Featured

  • Technology

    An in-depth exploration of enterprise technology and engineering excellence

  • Business

    Keep up to date with the latest business and industry insights for digital leaders

  • Culture

    The place for career-building content and tips, and our view on social justice and inclusivity

  • Digital Publications and Tools

  • Technology Radar

    An opinionated guide to technology frontiers

  • Perspectives

    A publication for digital leaders

  • Digital Fluency Model

    A model for prioritizing the digital capabilities needed to navigate uncertainty

  • Decoder

    The business execs' A-Z guide to technology

  • All Insights

  • Articles

    Expert insights to help your business grow

  • Blogs

    Personal perspectives from ThoughtWorkers around the globe

  • Books

    Explore our extensive library

  • Podcasts

    Captivating conversations on the latest in business and tech

  • Back
  • Close   ✕
  • Go to overview
  • Application process

    What to expect as you interview with us

  • Grads and career changers

    Start your tech career on the right foot

  • Search jobs

    Find open positions in your region

  • Stay connected

    Sign up for our monthly newsletter

  • Back
  • Close   ✕
  • Go to overview
  • Conferences and Events
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • News
  • Open Source
  • Our Leaders
  • Social Change
Blogs
Select a topic
View all topicsClose
Technology 
Agile Project Management Cloud Continuous Delivery  Data Science & Engineering Defending the Free Internet Evolutionary Architecture Experience Design IoT Languages, Tools & Frameworks Legacy Modernization Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence Microservices Platforms Security Software Testing Technology Strategy 
Business 
Financial Services Global Health Innovation Retail  Transformation 
Careers 
Career Hacks Diversity & Inclusion Social Change 
Blogs

Topics

Choose a topic
  • Technology
    Technology
  • Technology Overview
  • Agile Project Management
  • Cloud
  • Continuous Delivery
  • Data Science & Engineering
  • Defending the Free Internet
  • Evolutionary Architecture
  • Experience Design
  • IoT
  • Languages, Tools & Frameworks
  • Legacy Modernization
  • Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence
  • Microservices
  • Platforms
  • Security
  • Software Testing
  • Technology Strategy
  • Business
    Business
  • Business Overview
  • Financial Services
  • Global Health
  • Innovation
  • Retail
  • Transformation
  • Careers
    Careers
  • Careers Overview
  • Career Hacks
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Social Change
Retail Business

3D Printing: A Retail Renaissance

Daniel Pallozzi Daniel Pallozzi

Published: Oct 24, 2013

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. – Arthur C. Clarke.

“Would you like the heel of those shoes to be red, madam? No problem, let me print them out for you.”

There is no doubt about it...3D printing is set to be a game-changer. The technology lends itself to mass customization. Already the technology exists to print everyday objects from bow ties to bras, from Lego pieces to guitars. In fact, 3D printing experts are very close to printing artificial livers.  As the technology develops and becomes more accessible, the impact of 3D printing is set to be much, much bigger than this. Consumers will be able to create and customise goods to their exact liking - sounds like consumer nirvana! Manufacturing will effectively ‘go digital’. To paint a picture, Airbus plan to print a giant, fully functional aircraft by 2050.

Good or bad news for retail? It depends. Retailers who adapt and explore this technology will certainly be a step ahead. The novelty and excitement of 3D printing is perfect for retail theatre.  There are, however,  infinite implications for manufacturers, retailers and consumers alike.  

3D printing is already being explored by some of the world’s biggest entities; Airbus, GE, Siemens and Tesco to name a few. Selfridges plans to push sales of 3D printers in an Oxford Street pop-up store this Christmas season.

Above: 2009 'Fashionista' necklace by Dutch jewellery designer and conceptual artist Ted Noten. 

Whether it will become the ‘third industrial revolution’ (as dubbed by The Economist) or not remains to be seen. The major limitation right now is long printing times, but remember it once took five minutes to boot up a desktop computer or connect to the internet! One thing is certain; as 3D printing develops it is definitely worth keeping on the retail radar.

On 12 October 2013, Walmart-owned supermarket Asda launched a 3D printing trial in its York store. Shoppers can now scan themselves or any other item and bring home a ceramic ‘mini-me’ model to give as a present, put on the mantelpiece or even create a personalised chess set! This is one of the first times the technology, typically used for prototype and model creation, has been widely available in a B2C environment. The trial attracted widespread interest and customers drove from as far as London  for the experience.

Above: Objects printed by ThoughtWorkers using the Melbourne office 3D printer.

The real disruption will come if and when 3D printers are a common household item. Household 3D printers have the potential to dramatically reduce the need for traditional manufacturing and the associated overheads such as wages and transportation costs. Not to mention the huge threat to Intellectual property. Just imagine a world where you could simply print that pesky missing Lego piece or spare car part from your lounge room.

It would feel just like magic! 

Share in the comment section. Are you exploring 3D printing in your organization? If yes, how? 

Contact Us

We'd love to help you on your digital journey.

Get in touch
  • What we do
  • Who we work with
  • Insights
  • Careers
  • About
  • Contact

WeChat

×
QR code to ThoughtWorks China WeChat subscription account

Media and analyst relations | Privacy policy | Modern Slavery statement ThoughtWorks| Accessibility | © 2021 ThoughtWorks, Inc.