CEO of Genius XR. Immersive Experiences that let clients stand out, build relationships, win loyalty and inspire action.
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There is no question that we are moving into a much more dynamic and interesting age, thanks to technology such as augmented reality (AR). As we’ve seen firsthand from the work we do within our own agency, the creation and fine-tuning of AR has turned into an incredibly powerful tool that has now reached the world of retail and e-commerce, and I am going to talk about the main reasons why this has become such an important tool.
Detailed Views
One of the things that has always been better about shopping offline is that people can look at the products they want to buy. They can see the product up close, and this allows them to make a decision without having to assume anything.
On the other hand, shopping online usually means that you have to base your decision on images and videos, but never on something that you can inspect in detail. Perhaps some people would argue that this is the last great thing about offline shopping that online shopping can’t match.
Now that AR has reached such impressive levels, we are now able to preview products through our phones or tablets in a way that makes it seem as if we are right there touching them.
For example, say you are considering buying a new bicycle. With AR, it would now be possible to preview it on full scale and take a look at every angle, from every perspective you want and really look close into all the details.
This is an incredibly powerful way to enhance the online shopping experience, and it takes away the one factor that has been most relevant about offline shopping. This means that the world of e-commerce is slowly but surely taking the best parts of the offline experience and making them available to a certain extent for those who are shopping online.
Product Previews
While online shopping is still quite popular in many parts of the world, there are many shoppers who are still unable to consider buying an item unless they can see how big it is, what it looks like from all angles and if it has the right look for their home.
AR now also allows you to preview how any piece of furniture would look in your home on a full scale. For example, if someone is looking to buy a lamp, they can preview what that lamp is going to look like on their desk by making use of AR. Not being able to make those calculations is a very common conversion hurdle that can lead to a loss in sales, but AR gives the online storeowner the tools to avoid losing that potential buyer. It is thanks to this level of immersion that many brands are taking their online sales to a whole new level.
Nike’s AR add-on is a great example of this as they are now able to give customers a full preview of their shoes from every possible angle. The software puts them right on your feet for a perfect preview of how they would look on you. This is known as try-on augmented reality and it has turned into a massively appealing feature for those who shop online.
Other large and popular brands are also adapting this technology to their online stores. This has created a huge increase in online conversions that boosts engagement and sales.
Adapting To AR
This technology is changing the way people shop, and e-commerce stores should consider providing an AR solution for their shoppers. Not only is this going to be crucial for optimal conversions, but it also attracts a large number of offline shoppers who feel that online shopping is too impersonal.
Now that we can see firsthand just how powerful this technology can be, there is no question that many e-commerce business owners are going to look for ways to invest in implementing this technology. This is the perfect time to get started as AR is still quite new and those who get involved now can capitalize on this technology.
It’s important to look for an experienced team that can help you make this transition. AR can be quite complex for those who don’t understand how it works, but someone with experience can help you take your entire catalog of products and turn it into an AR showcase.
The cost of setting up AR for an online shop is going to depend on the level of detail and interaction expected. This is one of the factors that will determine the cost of this implementation.
AR Shopping Will Be The Norm
I predict that AR will become a normal way to shop in every store in the next five to 10 years, without a doubt. This means that those who get involved in the next few years are the ones that will likely benefit the most.
Once this becomes a widespread service online, the appeal will no longer attract people to specific online stores because everyone will be offering the same thing. This is a pattern that happens all the time.
Final Thoughts
We have yet to see the full potential of augmented reality, but one thing we can all agree on is that it has already changed the way that people shop on the web. The coming years are going to be very important, as they will show us other layers of immersion in the world of AR. All that matters at this point is that everyone is aware of the importance of adapting to this technology.
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