Augmented Reality: Use cases in Ecommerce

Augmented reality is the talk of the town for the past few years. But, its invention ages back to 1968 when Ivan Sutherland made a head-mounted AR display system. However, anyone with a smartphone can experience it, and you might already have. If you have played Pokemon Go or used the Lenskart app to virtually try-on a frame or Google’s AR feature in the camera where you can see comic figures walking around you, you have already explored the possibilities of “Augmented Reality”.

What is Augmented Reality?

Augmented reality(AR) is digital information superimposed, constructively or destructively, on a real environment to combine the two worlds. This way, the user will have an enhanced experience; different from our usual perspective. Unlike Virtual Reality(VR) which uses a device to simulate an environment, AR is applied directly over our natural environment. AR is a rising industry and enthusiasts are finding more and more applications in different sectors, which is why we are keen on discussing how AR can transform e-commerce platforms.

What is AR’s Market? | The Opportunities

Augmented reality is storming the industries in the 21st century. And the COVID-19 situation has harnessed newer opportunities to AR in general, and specifically for augmented reality in E-Commerce. These newfound opportunities are not limited to virtual tryout or AR apps for entertainment. Moreover, AR is not just about giving a better experience to the customers; it also let’s business owners unravel business opportunities as well. Let’s see how AR is transforming different parts of e-commerce and related services.

• Data is the Proof

Let the data show you what AR is capable of in e-commerce. On a survey on how AR affected their shopping experience, the following were the key takeaways;

1. 7 out of 10 consumers wanted to shop more when AR was involved.
2. And, more than 55% felt shopping was funny with AR.
3. But for the most critical part, 72% of buyers bought things that never intended to.

These are profound insights into what AR is offering the consumer market. These factors have a direct impact on revenue generation as well. And e-commerce is the largest consumer market right now, which means more profit margin for the industry.

AR and its Applications

• Real In-Store Experience

Augmented reality technology can transform the way we perceive shopping. With the pandemic, we are concerned about going on a general store even for the essentials. With AR established stores, we can be at the comfort of our home and yet explore the store; like in real-time. AR is a piece of technology that is right out of science fiction. Think about the shopping you will experience when you don’t even have to step out of your bed. You can digitally walk to the shop, scout the products, and order them right at the counter; except that they are all digital versions of a real store. Moreover, you should have deduced how it could be an absolute blessing amid COVID-19. So, this is the kind of transformation we are looking forward to with AR.

• Virtual Measurements and Try-Ons

Try-on is one of the significant drawbacks of the e-commerce industry. And due to that, an enormous number of returns and order cancellations are posing as the source of revenue loss for the e-commerce industry. However, with AR, it will change. The ability to try out any product, virtually, and see if it fits you is a tech that everyone dreams of. Remember the scene from Ironman, where he uses his real hands to try on that brand new armour; that is the kind of tech we are talking about. Lenskart is an excellent example of how a virtual try-on feature can help the customer. You can select a frame or a dress, and the AR system will analyze your features to simulate how it would look when you actually wear it.

• AR Interactive Manual

E-commerce isn’t just about selling the product, but also about giving the customer the best experience as well. AR technology can bring out newer assistance programs. And one of them would be AR assembling of parts where you can build a product virtually before you start assembling the original product. It can deliver a great deal of satisfaction for the customers and can directly impact the brand’s reputation and conversion rates. A better support system gathers more and more fans to it. And when you deliver such an opportunity to your customers, they will be your live advertisers; there is nothing as efficient as word-of-mouth publicity even in the digital age.

Augmented Reality | The Future of Online Shopping

Among the other modern tech, Augmented Reality technology is one that can make incredible opportunities in E-Commerce. The gap in designing an AR system is about finding how AR can help your customer and delivering the right kind of service. It has extended the growth in industries like eyewear, make-up, furniture, and even more. From stories all over the world, we are sure that augmented reality technology is taking e-commerce to whole newer levels. And, you can expect this trend in the future as well. It will not take soon before you see a mirror in a textile shop where it gives you virtual try-on and even more.

In other words, if you are a retailer, augmented reality in eCommerce can give a significant boost to your brand in the market. The sooner you upgrade your game, the easier will be for your business to grow in the modern market. And to make that transition happen faster, more hardware and software counterparts have to be setup. However, this is a great chance to deliver a wonderful experience for your customers; one they will never forget.  Get in touch with us, at sales@ndz.co to learn more about E-commerce and the Emerging trends of Technology in Online Shopping.