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Turn a phone photo into a real order
Hybrid AI matches the image to sourceable catalog products, so the result is something you can sell.
Matched against real catalog stock — an order, not a description.
Photo to specification
Photograph a material, get the specification
Hybrid AI identification that turns a site photo into a sourceable material.
Upload or shoot a photo of a surface and MaterialsHub identifies the material family, finish and closest matches in the catalog — so a photo from a site visit becomes a real, sourceable specification.
01 / What it does
Material Recognition, in practice
A client's photo becomes a sourceable quote in minutes instead of a week of sample chasing — turning a casual enquiry into paid work before it cools off.
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Skip the guesswork on finish and format
Get the material family, finish and likely format instantly, so you brief the right sample first time.
Family, finish and format returned — enough to start sourcing now.
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Quote with a price attached, immediately
Every match returns with price and lead time, so you can answer 'how much and when' on the spot.
Price, supplier and lead time arrive with every match.
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Works wherever the enquiry happens
Built for a phone camera on site or in a showroom, with no studio shot required.
Built for real site photos — mixed light, dust, phone cameras.
02 / How it works
01
Capture
Start from whatever's in front of you — no studio shot or sample required.
- Shoot the surface straight on, ideally with a coin, tape or hand in frame for scale.
- Multiple angles improve confidence on textured stone, wood grain and structured porcelain.
02
Identify
Know what you're looking at within seconds, with a confidence score you can trust.
- You get the material family, finish and a confidence score rather than a single unexplained guess.
- Where confidence is low, the agent says what would resolve it — a closer shot, an edge, a thickness.
03
Source
Walk away with a sourceable, priced option instead of a guess.
- Closest catalog matches come with prices, formats and lead times ready to shortlist.
- Send the shortlist to a moodboard, a comparison table or a supplier request without leaving the result.
03 / In depth
Turn a site photo into a sourceable specification
A slow response to a client's photo is a lost opportunity, not just a delay. Traditionally that starts a week of guessing, sample chasing and phone calls. Material recognition analyses the image, identifies the likely material family, finish, format and colour range, and returns the closest available matches from the catalog with their technical data and price.
Hybrid identification: vision plus catalog matching
Getting the identification wrong costs a wasted sample, a wasted site visit, or worse. Pure catalog search needs a code. MaterialsHub combines both: computer vision reads texture, veining, grout pattern, gloss and scale, then matches those attributes against structured catalog data. The result is a ranked shortlist with a stated confidence rather than a single unverifiable answer.
From renovation reference to purchase order
A shortlist is only worth something if it turns into an order, not a folder of guesses. Every match can move straight into a comparison, a moodboard, a room plan with quantities, or a priced request — so the photo that started the conversation ends as an ordered material with a delivery date.
04 / Use cases
Where Material Recognition earns its place
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Renovation matching
Identify an existing tile or stone so a repair or extension matches what is already installed.
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Client inspiration images
Take a Pinterest or magazine reference and find real, available, priced equivalents.
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Competitor and market checks
Photograph a finish in a hotel or showroom and see comparable products in your own range.
05 / Who it's for
Material Recognition is built for the people who specify, buy and sell materials.
Hybrid AI identification that turns a site photo into a sourceable material.
Contractors
Architects
Renovation clients
06 / Questions
Frequently asked
How accurate is it?+
Accuracy is highest for common families — ceramic, porcelain, natural stone, wood and concrete finishes — and every result shows candidate matches rather than a single guess.
Can I match a discontinued product?+
Often yes: recognition finds visually and technically equivalent current products.
How accurate is material recognition?+
Accuracy depends on photo quality and how distinctive the material is. Results are returned as a ranked shortlist with confidence, so a human still makes the final call — which is the correct workflow for specification.
What should a good photo look like?+
Even lighting, a straight-on angle, and something for scale such as a grout line or a hand in frame. Avoid heavy filters and strong shadows.
Can it identify materials that are not in the catalog?+
It will identify the material family and characteristics, then propose the closest available alternatives you can actually buy.
Does it work from a phone on site?+
Yes — it is designed for shooting directly on site or in a showroom.
07 / Explore Next
