How Augmented Reality Improves Shopping And Sales Growth

What if you could see a couch that would look like it in your living room before you purchased it? Does that sound great? Yes, it is possible. This is not an imagination but a reality now with the arrival of Augmented Reality (AR). Shopping online is convenient for people, but they lack confidence when they purchase products.

At this time, AR steps in and bridges the gap between physical and digital shopping. This emerging technology assists your customers to make better decisions and increase satisfaction. A Google survey reveals that 60% of the customers are interested in using AR while shopping. This shows the future of this technology is promising and many companies will use it to offer excellent customer experience. 

In this article, Let’s explore how AR is transforming e-commerce. Here, let’s see how this helps various industries, various tools available in e-commerce and how it reshapes the modern marketplace. 

What Is Augmented Reality (AR)?

Augmented Reality is a technology that helps you see the real world. This is not like virtual reality which gives a virtual environment, instead, AR uses virtual objects, sounds, and graphics to feel like real-world surroundings.

For instance, imagine an app letting you point your phone’s camera at a room and see how new furniture would look in reality. This emerging technology combines physical and digital worlds, making AR practical and engaging for everyday tasks.

This technology is already in many areas, like gaming, education, and healthcare. At the latest, it has come in the form of online shopping. It’s a great invention because it allows users to interact with products or environments they previously imagined. If you implement AR, shopping online has become more effective and increase sales for your businesses.

The Role Of AR In Customer Experience (CX)

Augmented reality (AR) improves customer engagement with the help of personalized experiences. This innovative technology fills the gaps between physical and digital interactions. Here’s how AR increases engagement in your business.

• Interactive Experiences: When you offer AR services, customers can interact with products in a virtual environment. Technology like AR shopping gives a real experience without the need for physical contact. 

For example, AR shopping apps allow users to try on clothes, test makeup, or place furniture in their homes virtually. If you have this advanced technology, your clients may not need to visualize how this particular thing will be in the final.  

• Personalized Interactions: One product or service mostly does not fit all. This is where you can use AR tools to make a difference. This can be tailored to individual customer preferences. 

For instance, AR applications in e-commerce can suggest personalized products based on what the customer virtually tries.  AR in e-commerce gives all your customers a relevant and enjoyable shopping journey.

• Improve Product Visualization: Feeling or seeing how the product will be is a challenge in shopping. With AR tools, your business can solve this barrier. AR provides 3D models and real-time previews to the customers. This will help clients to visualize how products will look or fit in their environment.
• Gamification And Engagement Campaigns: AR technology adds an element of gamification to marketing campaigns. For instance, A company can use AR to create interactive games, scavenger hunts, or filters and keep customers engaged creatively.
• Real-Time Problem Solving: AR assists customers in addressing issues on the spot. For example, these tools in technical support can look at instructions or guidance on devices that need repair. This will allow users to resolve problems quickly and independently.
• Building Brand Loyalty: A business that offers an AR experience can improve its loyalty. With such innovative technology, businesses can create a lasting impression. This experience assists your company in retaining customers, and they come back for more as you provide a better experience with the assistance of AR in e-commerce.

Technology changes our lives. Learn how renewable energy is helpful to us in my previous article. 

Are you the owner looking at how this AR can give an edge in business? Let’s explore the advantages. 

How E-Commerce Businesses Benefit From AR

Augmented Reality (AR) is an effective tool that boosts e-commerce businesses. Technology like this can increase customer experiences (CX) and drive more sales. They give customers a better visual experience and help them to make decisions while reducing uncertainty. Let’s look into how e-commerce businesses can use AR:

1. Virtual Try-Ons: For fashions and accessories like clothes and shoes, AR tools give their best as they help clients see the final setting. Instead of guessing how a pair of glasses suit customers’ faces, now they can see the results in real-time.
2. Visualize Furniture And Home Decor: If people buy furniture or décor, augmented reality applications let them see furniture and decor in their own spaces. This means they can see how a sofa fits in their living room, or a painting fits on their wall. A customer can make correct decisions, avoid regret, and move to large purchases without guesswork.
3. Interactive Product Demonstrations: E-commerce platforms use AR tools to show how a product works. For example, if Mr. A is going to buy a gadget, this innovation helps him explore its features or even see a 3D model of the product from all angles. In short, it can greatly influence consumers’ purchase decisions.
4. Improve In-Store Experiences: Whether you are a business operating offline or online, augmented reality creates an easy shopping experience. In-store AR displays allow customers to scan QR codes for additional product details or reviews, adding to their shopping journey.
5. Personalized Recommendations: Using AR tools helps a business offer personalized recommendations. For example, AR in e-commerce can suggest items based on what a customer virtually tries on or views. This helps clients make decisions faster and increases sales.

All right, now you may think that AR and VR are the same. No, they are not. Let’s find out how. 

Are Augmented Reality And Virtual Reality Similar?

AR and VR are emerging technologies in today’s world. They improve how we interact with digital content but differ in their work and use.

What They Do

• AR is a digital element of the real world. It comes with images, sounds, or other visual features on your physical surroundings with the help of smartphones or AR glasses. For example, AR applications let you see a product’s appearance in a real scenario, like in your room.
• VR creates a virtual environment to isolate you from the real world. By using VR headsets, you can enter a computer-generated world and play games and take virtual walks.

Interaction With Reality

• AR improves real-world scenarios and allows you to interact with physical and virtual elements simultaneously.
• VR replaces the real world, where you are in a digital world where all interactions happen within that environment.

Devices And Accessibility

• AR tools and technology are more accessible because they can be used with smartphones, tablets, and other common devices.
• VR is not accessible to all as it requires specialized equipment like headsets and controllers. It is less convenient for casual use.

Applications

• AR is used for practical and interactive purposes in e-commerce, healthcare, education, and entertainment. This emerging technology is useful in AR shopping or medical training.
• VR can offer immersive experiences such as gaming, virtual travel, and advanced training simulations

Want to know the famous apps that are in use now? Let’s see that. 

Famous AR Apps And Technology In E-Commerce

Augmented Reality (AR) is now changing e-commerce shopping experiences. Many brands are using such technology to engage customers and make faster decisions. Let’s explore some of the famous apps now:

1. Amazon: View in Your Room is an AR technology developed by Amazon. Customers can visualize furniture, appliances, and other products in their space by using this technology. With the help of a smartphone camera, a customer can check how a particular item fits in their room.
2. IKEA: The app IKEA Place is similar to one that assists clients in visualizing furniture and home decor. The smartphone app helps customers place 3D models of furniture in their rooms and ensure the size, color, and design fit perfectly when making purchases.
3. Nike: The Nike Fit app uses AR to help customers find the perfect shoe size. This augmented reality technology provides the most fit measurements and finds you better-fitting shoes. This innovation is vital to improve customer satisfaction in the footwear business.
4. ASOS: The online fashion retailer ASOS helps you do virtual try-ons for clothing. This feature helps customers see how the particular clothes look on different body types. This AR in e-commerce improves personalization and makes the online shopping experience fruitful and effective.
5. Sephora: Sephora’s Virtual Artist app allows customers to try on makeup items virtually. From lipsticks to eyeshadows, users can see how products look when they apply them. The introduction of AR in this field has revolutionized how beauty products are sold online.
6. Snapchat: Snapchat’s AR shopping lenses are a great technology that allows clients to try on clothes, shoes, or accessories virtually. This technology is fun and provides a better shopping experience for all customers.
7. Warby Parker: Warby Parker’s app uses an AR model to help customers virtually try on glasses as they like. The app scans a user’s face and chooses the style that suits them best. This eliminates the need for in-store visits and simplifies online eyewear shopping.
8. Visions Of Nature (London Museum): London Museum’s Visions of Nature is another example of real work AR experience. This program takes visitors on an unforgettable journey into the future of nature. With the help of AR tools, this technology brings extinct species back to life and shows hidden parts of ecosystems.  It can even take you to 2125 to explore how nature might look.

Visitors use AR glasses from different companies to interact with 3D models, animations, and realistic recreations of wildlife and landscapes. This exhibition educates you and gives fun and inspiration for all ages.

Click this link to watch this BBC video to get more ideas about AR.

Challenges In Augmented Reality (AR) Implementation

The AR in shopping and other areas offers a great treat with its visuals and sounds. Even though there are several benefits, it comes with several challenges. Here are three major ones:

High Costs

Creating AR applications is not a simple task. Developing this needs advanced technology, skilled developers, and investment. The high costs can be a barrier for many companies, especially for small businesses.

Device Compatibility And Accessibility

Not all devices can accommodate this technology. If you want to support these features, you need different hardware and technology. Users may also face some issues as they need better smartphones, AR glasses, or other specialized hardware. This limitation may restrict accessibility for many customers and businesses.

Privacy And Security Concerns

AR applications rely on personal data like location or camera access. This is a privacy and security concern for many companies and customers. This situation may lead to improper data handling, breaches and misuse.

Wrapping Up

The advanced technology, augmented reality (AR) will be the way customers shop in e-commerce. This technology assists you in visualizing furniture in your living room or trying on makeup or eyewear virtually. This emerging technology fills the gap between the digital and physical worlds. Companies can also use this innovation to improve the shopping experience and customer retention.