From imagination to reality: Oodles Smart redefines home experience with Microsoft Azure

Oodles is in the business of transforming Hong Kong’s interior design industry with the help of innovation. Oodles Smart, their all-in-one online showroom solution, harnesses advanced technology like AI and big data to help users better visualize design ideas and explore creative possibilities. The goal is to streamline the design process, making it easier for designers and homeowners to bring their vision to life efficiently and effectively.

True to its name, Oodles—which literally translates to “something good in large quantities''—integrates diverse technologies and platforms to redefine the home experience and support smart living, and automates tasks like space planning, material selection, and cost estimation. By simply uploading an image of their actual living space, users can effortlessly create photorealistic AI-generated imageof their desired space. Oodles taps into the power of AI and cutting-edge autoencoder technology to ignite designers' creativity and turn homeowners’ dream home visions into reality.

The limits of imagination

Before the dawn of AI, interior designers relied on a more manual and hands-on design process. Designers would consult with clients to understand their requirements, then develop initial concepts using sketches or 2D software. They would then research and select materials, finishes, fabrics, and furnishings to align with the client’s style and budget, presenting their ideas through physical mood boards or digital collages.

To help clients visualize the final design, designers would use 3D modeling software to create detailed renderings. These visualizations facilitated client feedback and revisions before the approval and implementation of the final design.

However, this process from initial client consultations to 3D modeling was time-consuming. Moreover, teams faced challenges such as communication issues, limited iteration, and difficulties in keeping up with emerging trends.

“Traditionally it could take up to several days for a designer to provide a new rendering after incorporating client feedback. This not only delays the project's overall completion but also increases the risk of communication misunderstandings between the designer and the client,” said Mr. Ringo Ng,Director of Oodles Systems Limited. “Aligning our solution architecture with business needs and customer expectations are crucial for enhancing quality of life and advancing smart living through innovative technology.”

Taking the leap

Faced with lengthy turnaround times, limited iteration opportunities, challenges in trend identification, and constraints on personalization, Oodles decided to bet on Microsoft Azure to turn imaginative concepts into visually stunning realities.At the same time, Oodles’ plan to increase the use of AI in its operations demanded a significant amount of server capacity. Transitioning to Microsoft Azure aligns with the company’s mission to provide top-tier, customized solutions using state-of-the-art in-house technology while enhancing AI readiness.

Since integrating Microsoft Azure in July 2023, Oodles has made remarkable strides in response time, customer experience, and staff productivity. It launched Oodles Smart in February 2024, with the platform quickly gaining traction among designers and suppliers. The innovative solution offers users a comprehensive online display featuring detailed 3D models with various finishes and furniture options. Users simply need tocapture orupload an image of their space, which will be processed and analyzed in real-time using an AI algorithm. They can then adjust various interior design styles according to their preferences. Oodles Smart enhances the design experience with features like removing unwanted objects and arranging furniture. Users can customize finishes and furniture to create their own unique styles. In addition, the AI-powered image generationprocess is incredibly swift, taking just a minute to complete.

Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) provide the necessary computing power to handle the resource-intensive 3D modeling and image generation tasks. “Before implementing Microsoft Azure, we faced server overload issues whenever multiple users accessed the same functions simultaneously. Azure’s flexibility and scalability enable us to adapt to varying demands and situations, effectively mitigating system overload during peak times. Leveraging Azure’s scalability, our team can focus on advancing research and development, enhancing quality and performance, and increasing sales efficiency, rather than monitoring server performance. This has made our services smoother and improved responsiveness by up to five times,” said Ng.

The integration of these AI-powered tools and technologies has significantly streamlined and enhanced various aspects of Oodles’ design workflow. These tools analyze extensive design databases to generate innovative concepts by recognizing patterns, trends, and unique combinations. They also produce photorealisticimage visualizations, enabling clients to virtually experience their spaces before any physical changes occur. This accelerates the design process, improves collaboration with clients, and supports more informed decision making. Microsoft Azure VMs can also support the process of extensive design data from sources such as social media, e-commerce platforms, and industry trends to pinpoint emerging styles and popular design elements. Interior designers can use these insights to stay ahead of trends and craft more innovative and attractive designs.

Microsoft Azure not only boosts Oodles' productivity but also offers secure cloud-based storage solutions, ensuring that design files, client data, and project assets are protected and easily accessible. Additionally, its automated backup and disaster recovery features safeguard against data loss and help keep information secure in highly protected data centers.

“Security and stability are our utmost priority. With Microsoft Azure, our clients can be confident that their data is securely stored across Azure’s global network of data centers with redundant infrastructure that ensures high availability and minimizes downtime,” said Ng.

Microsoft Azure provides an industry-leading 99.9% uptime service level agreement (SLA), guaranteeing the customers a highly reliable service. Azure’s infrastructure is anchored in a global network of state-of-the-art data centers, designed with the highest security standards and equipped with the latest hardware and networking technologies. Microsoft continuously invests in upgrading and expanding its infrastructure to maintain optimal performance and reliability. This proactive approach enables Azure to deliver cutting-edge technology and support evolving needs while safeguarding data integrity and service continuity.

Transforming the future of interior design

Looking ahead, Oodles plans to leverage Azure AI to develop transformative furniture solutions, such as convertible beds and expandable tables. This technology will allow users to mix and match components to craft unique, custom pieces that can be purchased directly. Oodles envisions a technology-driven ideation process that allows designers to explore a broader spectrum of possibilities, ultimately leading to more personalized solutions for their clients.

“The interior design industry is experiencing a profound transformation driven by advanced technologies. AI, once a concept in science fiction, is now a central force that redefines how designers conceive and execute interior spaces. This technological evolution has introduced a new era of creative potential and efficiency in design,” said Ng. “We are excited to further strengthen our synergy with Microsoft, harnessing the extensive data and analytical power of AI systems to generate innovative design concepts that push the boundaries of creativity in this new era.”

Microsoft Azure will continue to be a critical part of Oodles Smart's growth strategy as the platform expands its focus beyond interior design. The platform's capabilities will empower designers, suppliers, and homemakers to explore new opportunities in outdoor and construction projects and allow them to harness the full potential of AI in analyzing design trends and patterns.

“The impact of AI on interior design extends well beyond mere efficiency gains. It is ushering in a new era of innovation, offering unprecedented opportunities for customization and the creation of spaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and technologically advanced,” said Ms.Bess Chung, Senior Azure Go-to-Market Manager, Microsoft Hong Kong. “Through Microsoft Azure, we continue to empower organizations in creative industries such as interior design to reimagine and unlock new possibilities for innovation, creativity, and growth by providing them with a strong data foundation.”

Contact us today to discover how Microsoft Azure reimagines customer experience and empowers organizations with better personalization, streamlined back-end and front-end operations, and data-driven decision making.