Polycam promotional screenshot showing web app and mobile app. Credit: Polycam
Polycam, a leader in photorealistic 3D capture technology through its iPhone and iPad app, has introduced Vision 25, a major update designed to enhance 3D scanning, documentation, and collaboration capabilities across mobile and the web.
Built for professionals and enterprises working in architecture, engineering, construction, and product design, Vision 25 introduces three key innovations -- Space Mode, Scene Editor, and Spatial Report -- along with several workflow improvements that make reality capture more accessible and powerful.
According to Chris Heinrich, Polycam's co-founder and CEO, the company is evolving from a consumer-focused application into a full-scale enterprise tool.
"We're releasing a bundle of features to make Polycam a more powerful tool for businesses and enterprises," Heinrich told VentureBeat in an in-person interview conducted earlier this month. "We started as a consumer and pro-sumer app, but now we want to compete with companies like Matterport," another leading 3D scanner device and app maker.
Polycam is already widely adopted, with more than half of the Fortune 500 companies using its platform and users scanning over two billion square feet of real-world space to date. The latest release pushes the platform further into professional and commercial use cases.
Space mode: Instant, accurate 3D capture on iPhone, iPad
Space Mode allows users to scan homes, buildings, and industrial facilities using LiDAR-equipped iPhones and iPads, automatically generating multiple outputs, including a textured 3D model, a vectorized model, and a 2D floor plan.
Heinrich noted that LiDAR is a key component in achieving Polycam's high level of accuracy. "People use Polycam to make 3D scans that are dimensionally accurate. A common use case is scanning homes -- people want to measure things like the height from the floor to the ceiling or the size of a wall. To get that dimensional accuracy, you need something like a LiDAR sensor."
Despite LiDAR's potential, Elliott Spelman, Polycam's co-founder, believes that its capabilities have been under-communicated by its largest manufacturer.
"Apple has done a really strange job at marketing the LiDAR sensor," Spelman said. "When it first came out, they said it was for night photography, group photography, and some AR applications, but they basically haven't mentioned it since. Meanwhile, we've built a serious business on top of it."
Scene Editor: merging and customizing 3D scans
For large-scale projects, Scene Editor enables users to merge multiple 3D captures into a single, unified scene available on the iPhone and iPad mobile apps, and on the web.
This capability is particularly useful for visualizing multi-floor buildings, assembling construction site layouts, and designing complex interiors.
Previously, users had to rely on third-party 3D software to combine Polycam captures.
Spelman highlighted why Scene Editor is a game-changer: "The crown jewel of this release is the Scene Editor. Up until now, every Polycam capture was its own thing. If you wanted to combine them, you had to use Blender or some other 3D software. Now, we're bringing that capability in-house."
By integrating layer toggles, users can now switch between floor plans, 3D meshes, and annotations, tailoring the view for different stakeholders such as architects, engineers, and contractors.
In addition, it has multi-user support for collaborative simultaneous editing and annotating, allowing users on the same team to sign in and leave comments or proposed changes -- thinking renovation ideas, decor, construction solutions -- in specific regions of a 3D building scan that show up for all authorized users viewing the project.
AI-Powered spatial report: generate a 2D floorplan PDF from a 3D scan near instantly
Spatial Report is an AI-driven feature that generates detailed PDF reports of captured spaces, including dimensions, total volume, wall area, and window and door measurements. Reports boast a 99.3% accuracy rate, rivaling professional-grade laser measurement tools.
According to Heinrich, Polycam's LiDAR-based scans often produce results that closely match high-end professional equipment. "One of our customers did a comparison: they scanned a space with Polycam using LiDAR and then with a $50,000 laser scanner. The results were within a couple of percent. So, for most applications, a phone is totally good enough."
This level of accuracy is transforming industries like insurance claims, real estate, and structural engineering. Spelman noted, "For certain professions -- like insurance claims inspectors, real estate appraisers, and structural engineers -- 3D scanning is becoming an essential tool. It can replace old-school methods like measuring with a tape measure and writing things down on paper." .
What's next? Eyes on generative 3D assets
Polycam has already amassed the largest repository of real-world 3D data globally, with scans coming from 95% of all UN-recognized countries.
Spelman sees this as a foundation for future AI-powered enhancements. "Polycam has become the single largest repository of real-world 3D data on the planet. That means we've also built an incredibly well-trained AI model for recognizing and categorizing real-world objects."
This wealth of data is shaping Polycam's next frontier: generative AI in 3D modeling. "Our next big step is bringing generative AI into 3D. Imagine being able to say, 'I want a mid-century modern chair here,' and having Polycam generate it instantly. That's where we're headed," Spelman added .
With this AI-driven approach, Polycam is positioning itself as a bridge between complex professional 3D software and intuitive design tools. Spelman compared it to the rise of no-code design platforms: "We're trying to bridge the gap between the complexity of professional 3D software and the accessibility of tools like Canva. We want to give businesses powerful design capabilities without a steep learning curve."
Wide adoption with real-world use cases
Polycam is already widely used in industries beyond architecture and construction. Some notable applications include:
* Surgical Equipment Planning: A leading medical equipment manufacturer uses Polycam to scan hospital operating rooms and drop in 3D models of surgical machines to see how they would fit before installation.
* Forensics & Law Enforcement: Polycam is helping law enforcement document crime scenes faster and more accurately.
* Cultural Preservation: The Backup Ukraine initiative relies on Polycam to create 3D archives of cultural artifacts, safeguarding them from destruction .
3D, evolved
Polycam's rapid adoption underscores how 3D capture technology has evolved. Heinrich noted how Polycam's software now rivals hardware that once cost tens of thousands of dollars. "If you wanted to get a 3D scan of a building 10 years ago, you needed a $50,000 laser scanner. Now, you can get something nearly as good with just a smartphone app."
With Vision 25, Polycam is making professional-grade 3D capture even more accessible, and as AI-powered enhancements continue to roll out, the company is positioning itself to be the go-to platform for scanning, documenting, and designing in 3D.
