What is AR, or Augmented Reality?
A computer-generated image is superimposed on a user’s vision of the actual world using augmented reality technology. Although augmented reality has been used in video games and movies for years, consumers may now access it via smartphones and other mobile devices easily. Augmented reality (AR) can be applied to a wide range of applications, from entertaining ones like Pokémon Go or Snapchat Lenses to more useful ones like guiding drivers in unfamiliar areas or assisting physicians with remote operations.
The Advantages of AR for Online Shopping
After seeing how augmented reality is altering the shopping experience, it’s time to examine some of its advantages.
Compared to conventional e-commerce strategies, AR offers a number of benefits. To begin with, it can enhance your customers’ buying experience by giving them more knowledge about your goods and services before they decide to make a purchase. By enabling them to see exactly what they’re getting before making a purchase, this can raise engagement levels, improve sales, and foster customer loyalty.
How Brands are Using AR for Online Shopping
As we’ve seen, augmented reality has the power to drastically alter how we purchase. Brands are utilizing this technology in novel ways to increase the accessibility and appeal of their products, from virtual try-ons to augmented reality advertisements and virtual showrooms like on Carvana.
In addition to giving customers an immersive experience that enables them to test out furniture in their homes before purchasing it or see how clothing fits different body types, augmented reality (AR) can also be used as a marketing tool for companies looking for fresh approaches to connect with consumers on social media platforms like Instagram or Snapchat.
Future of AR in Online Shopping
AR is being utilized to make virtual reality shopping experiences that give you new ways to shop. Without leaving your home, you may, for instance, try to see if that new Ikea bookshelf will fit your room.
The usage of AR in automated purchasing enables consumers to make purchases with just a few taps on their phone. Machine learning and computer vision, the technology that powers this kind of experience, are still in their infancy but have enormous promise to improve the effectiveness and convenience of online (or offline) shopping for customers who don’t want or require human involvement.
Finally, by presenting customers with pertinent information about products as soon as they enter an online store, such as reviews from other customers who have purchased comparable items before them or suggestions based on their prior purchases at other stores, using data gathered from those sites’ databases over time, AR will help improve personalization.
How to Begin Using AR in E-Commerce
You must select the appropriate technology to begin using augmented reality for e-commerce. Marker-based AR and image recognition AR are the two basic subtypes of AR. While image recognition enables users to place things anywhere they desire by simply aiming their camera at an object or location in the real world, marker-based solutions use an image or object (such as a QR code) as a reference point for positioning virtual objects in real space.
Solutions Based on Markers:
When using marker-based solutions, consumers must first download an app or open a web browser in order to engage with any content on your website or mobile application. This strategy works well if you want to make something that is highly interactive but doesn’t need much customization, such as when you want customers who visit your store in person to be able to scan QR codes printed on product packaging so they can learn more about those products online later on. Additionally, it functions effectively when there are few moving elements (i.e., when there is no requirement for several cameras).
AR’s challenges for e-commerce
Many of us are excited about what AI can bring to our lives, in it’s infancy, it doesn’t come without it’s pitfalls. The biggest of them being security of sensitive info. Until the tech becomes more mature, security and data leaks are a standard we should be on the lookout for. That goes double on the human-error side of things. User acceptance is another issue; as many people are still unsure of how augmented reality works and how it may improve their daily lives, they could be reluctant to use it for shopping until more research has been done on the subject (or until someone else does). Last but not least, cost is a problem. Although some retailers have started experimenting with AR technology to improve customer experience and engagement levels at their stores and thus boost sales, it is expensive for most businesses to implement these kinds of upgrades because they require new equipment like cameras and computers that aren’t already installed in every location where customers shop online.
Ready to “Go Virtual”?
If you would like to discuss specifics about an AR project you’re interested in jumpstarting, reach out to us! Trifox Creative is always here to make your business dreams a reality… if not an augmented one lol.
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