How Matterport Scanning is Changing the Game for Commercial Fitouts
In the fast-paced world of commercial design and fitouts, efficiency, clarity, and accuracy are everything. Whether you’re transforming a retail space, hospitality venue, wellness centre, or office, having a clear and accurate understanding of your tenancy is essential. From initial planning through to handover, the success of a commercial fitout relies heavily on great communication and a shared vision between all stakeholders.
That’s where Matterport scanning steps in — and why it’s quickly becoming an essential tool in the commercial fitout process.
What is a Matterport Scan?
A Matterport scan is a 3D virtual tour of a real-world space, created using advanced 3D capture technology. Using a Matterport camera or compatible 3D camera, the scanner captures high-resolution imagery and depth data, which is then processed into an interactive, photorealistic 3D model. This model allows users to “walk” through a space digitally, exploring it from every angle and even taking accurate measurements within the model itself.
Imagine Google Street View — but inside your commercial tenancy, with the added bonus of precise floorplans, real-time annotations, and a seamless ability to navigate through rooms as if you were actually there. It’s not just visually impressive — it’s incredibly practical.
How Does it Work?
To take a Matterport scan, a 3D camera (like the Matterport Pro2 or Pro3) is mounted on a tripod and connected to the Matterport Capture app on a tablet. The space is prepped by turning on lights, opening doors, and clearing clutter to ensure a clean scan. The camera is placed at multiple positions throughout the space, capturing 360° images and depth data at each point.
These scans are then uploaded to the Matterport Cloud, where they’re stitched into an interactive 3D model. Once processed, the model can be shared via a link and used for virtual walkthroughs, measurements, floorplans, and design collaboration — making it a powerful tool for commercial fitouts.
What Does a Service Include?
A Matterport Scanning Service offers a complete digital capture of your tenancy, giving you an invaluable tool to support your commercial fitout from start to finish. The service begins by scanning the entire space — from the front entry and service areas to storage rooms, kitchens, and back-of-house — ensuring a full and accurate representation of the environment.
The result is a high-quality 3D model that offers crisp imagery and the ability to explore the space interactively. Viewers can walk through the space virtually, zoom in on areas of interest, and experience the layout firsthand — all without needing to be physically present.
This service also includes dimensionally accurate floorplans, which can be used during the planning and design stages. These floorplans are especially useful for commercial designers, architects, and shopfitters who need reliable data to begin layout concepts or detailed joinery planning of a commercial fitout.
Why Use Matterport for Your Commercial Fitout?
One of the biggest advantages of using Matterport scanning for commercial fitouts is its ability to enhance communication. Commercial fitouts often involve a wide range of stakeholders — business owners, interior designers, shopfitters, engineers, landlords, and sometimes council representatives. Keeping everyone aligned can be a challenge, especially when people are working remotely or managing multiple projects.
With a Matterport scan, everyone can view the same space in real time. Whether your commercial designer is based in Melbourne and your shopfit team is on-site in Brisbane, both parties can walk through the tenancy virtually and collaborate without needing to coordinate multiple site visits.
It’s a huge time-saver. Rather than scheduling visits, chasing measurements, or going back and forth with phone calls, all the information you need is right there in the model. You can confirm ceiling heights, check the placement of existing plumbing, or assess lighting — all with just a few clicks.
For commercial designers, having access to a Matterport model early in the process streamlines the concept development stage. Instead of relying on rough floorplans or photos from a phone, they’re working with exact dimensions and a detailed, visual reference. It gives them the ability to create more accurate and informed designs while reducing the risk of errors or unexpected issues during the build.
The benefits extend to clients as well. For many business owners, especially those undergoing their first commercial fitout, the process can feel overwhelming. A Matterport scan gives them the ability to explore their space from any device and understand it in a tangible, visual way. It removes the mystery and brings them into the design conversation — helping to build trust and confidence in the process.
Supporting Documentation and Streamlined Approvals
In many commercial fitout projects, especially those in shopping centres or managed properties, there are strict requirements for design approvals. Landlords and centre management teams often want to see existing conditions before approving proposed layouts or construction work.
Matterport scans are ideal for this. They offer a professional, polished presentation of the tenancy and can be shared as a link — giving stakeholders immediate access to a detailed view of the space. With tagging features, important elements can be highlighted directly within the tour, helping to clarify key information and support faster decision-making.
The precise floorplans that come with a Matterport scan also streamline council submissions and compliance documentation, helping to speed up the red tape so projects can move forward sooner.
Long-Term Value Beyond the Fitout
What’s great about a Matterport scan is that it continues to provide value even after the commercial fitout is complete. The digital model becomes a lasting asset for the business. It can be used for staff onboarding, future renovations, and even marketing purposes.
If the business ever relocates or changes hands, the Matterport scan acts as a record of the tenancy at the time of commercial fitout — useful for lease negotiations or insurance documentation. For landlords or developers, it can be a powerful tool for showcasing a vacant tenancy to future tenants, allowing them to explore the space virtually before committing to a site visit.
Real-Life Applications
At Total Fitouts, we’ve used Matterport scanning across a range of commercial fitout projects. In a recent hospitality fitout, the scan allowed the design team to plan a complex counter installation down to the millimetre — without needing multiple site visits. In a retail fashion store, the scan was used to experiment with different layout options and create a virtual “mock-up” of the final design before committing to joinery. In an allied health and wellness clinic, it helped to ensure accessibility and flow between treatment rooms, waiting areas, and reception.
Each time, it has delivered clearer communication, quicker project turnaround, and a more seamless commercial fitout journey. As a result, it’s becoming an increasingly integral part of the commercial design and fitout process at Total Fitouts.
Final Thoughts
Incorporating Matterport scanning into your commercial fitout process is more than just a nice-to-have — it’s a smart, strategic move that adds value from concept to completion. It brings your space to life in a way that’s immersive, interactive, and incredibly practical. From helping commercial designers plan more accurately, to allowing clients to visualise the space to streamlining approvals and eliminating unnecessary site visits — it’s a win for everyone involved.
If you’re preparing for a commercial fitout and want to take the guesswork out of the process, consider adding Matterport scanning to your fitout process. It’s the next best thing to being on-site — and in many cases, it’s even better.
Want to learn more or book a Matterport scan for your commercial tenancy? Get in touch with us — we’d love to show you how we incorporate it to elevate your next project.