More and more companies are investing in the VR space and there has been a significant amount of action that has taken place in this space, right from early 2016. Gone are the days when AR’s potential was limited to just games and it has slowly trickled into the world of e-commerce. Major VR platforms being initiated by biggies like Sony, Facebook and Google were either released or are in the process of working prototypes, adding a lot more credibility and intent to the world of augmented reality.
What is most reassuring about this industry is that it has slowly evolved from the days when tech enthusiasts were following this as a passion, to a full-fledged up and coming industry.
The best example of the potential of this industry would be the unprecedented success of Pokémon Go, to show how eager consumers are, to embrace augmented reality.
There have been examples of demonstrations in various parts of the world of how AR has been integrated into the world of e-commerce. The demonstration successfully showed how it was possible for a user to super-impose virtual models of lamps and another room décor, all on top of a “real” dresser with all the objects being shown right to scale, to give the user as real an idea as possible, about what it would like within the space.
So why is an augmented reality so popular or why does it reek of such vast potential? If we look at a customer’s shopping experience, AR can solve the problem for them completely, giving them the confidence to make informed and well-prepared purchase decisions.
More importantly than this, AR can give the shoppers an in-shopping experience, irrespective of their location. As mentioned before, it is possible for devices to super-impose objects in a 3D space, giving customers the chance to see the objects almost in real-time without moving from the comfort of their homes.
Just because AR is an attractive option, it does not imply that it should be used carelessly. AR cannot possibly be successful in isolation. Retailers who are keen on adopted AR must couple their efforts with significant marketing and sales initiatives to ensure that it remains relevant with shoppers.
There are a few things you should keep in mind while you are looking at AR as an experience for the online shopper:
If you are a large organization working towards adopting AR, it is always advisable to outsource some of your AR work onto a smaller company, relieving you from the pressure. A unique example of how organizations have adopted their own approach towards tackling AR is the Sephora App that uses a technology known as ModiFace technology that lets the user take a selfie and then apply a deluge of cosmetic products on their faces. This serves the benefit of allowing the user to narrow down their choices from home and still give them a proper shopping experience.
There have been retailers that have differentiated themselves from the ones that have not embraced this technology. An example of this would be an organization that offers a personalized shopping experience, guided by a knowledgeable professional who understands an individual’s shopping styles based on their prior experience. As a consequence of this, the organization in question became known for their effective customer service.