Have you done anything like this?
Instead of asking a store consultant to give you more information about a product, you point your smartphone’s camera on it? And the camera recognizes the product and generates its page on the store’s website?
Exciting, right? And this could be coming to a store near you real soon.
More brick-and-mortar stores are getting into the Augmented Reality (AR) scene and for a good reason. It adds an exciting digital element to the physical shopping experience, thus creating a highly personalized and easier way to shop.
In this post, we’re looking at how AR combines with solutions Sitecore Commerce to create a better shopping experience.
The Case for Augmented Reality in Retail
Augmented Reality (AR) is the newest and the most exciting technology when it comes to engaging customers in brick-and-mortar stores. Although it started as a tool for training pilots, now retailers are racing to develop AR apps.
Why so? Let’s be honest, brick-and-mortar stores are in desperate need of something to counter the growing impact of eCommerce. And AR is emerging as the right way to go.
Here’s how AR improves customer experience:
- Product customization. Create custom products with colors, styles, and accessories.
- AR product try-on. Try on clothing, makeup, and other products virtually.
- Product preview. Preview how a product looks in a specific setting, i.e., a chair in a customer’s living room.
- Quick product research. Find product information instantly by focusing an AR app’s camera on it.
Sound like something worth pursuing, right? Besides, many customers are already on board with brands using AR.
The survey stats from Retail Perceptions show an increasing interest in the technology.
Credit: Retail Perceptions
Companies like Ikea, LEGO, Volkswagen, Sephora, Amazon, Warby Parker, and hundreds of others are already benefiting from AR apps. Surely thousands of others will follow, as quality augmented reality app development is already affordable to smaller businesses.
So, being customer-approved means AR can bring a competitive advantage to companies, along with nice revenues. Now, let’s take a closer look at how businesses are getting there.
In the next section, you’ll see how a single AR app can delight your store visitors.
Learn more: AR For e-Commerce as a New Marketing Tool.
Augmented Reality + Sitecore Commerce
Sitecore Commerce is a cloud-based software created to allow customers to personalize their shopping experience. It’s a perfect example of using AR in retail because it helps to improve the overall experience with brands.
Here are the benefits of using an AR app like Sitecore for retailers.
Engage Customers with a Virtual Product Try-On
A virtual try-on allows customers to “try on” products digitally before making a purchase. This works especially well in the fashion and beauty industry, where a lot of experiments are typically involved in product research.
Warby Parker is a great example here.
Choosing glasses is something that takes time, which the brand made interactive with a new AR app. The user browses the product range, chooses a pair of glasses, and tries them on with a single tap. It’s also possible to switch to different glasses by swiping the screen.
Warby Parker website. Author’s screenshot
The whole experience is super enjoyable and easy - exactly what customers are looking for.
Virtual try-on is something that customers can do both from home and in-store - depends on the product. But what’s clear is that it brings the element of interactivity and fun, which customers appreciate.
Make Product Info Even More Accessible
Want to get some info about a product, but sales assistants are busy? No problem. Open an AR app, point its camera at a product, and bam - you’re on the product page. Product research doesn’t get better than that.
Solutions like Sitecore commerce make it happen with a 3D scan of products. When a customer points the camera at a product, the app detects the product and identifies it by the physical shape and characteristics.
Source: https://smartsitecore.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/sitecore-commerce-arkit.gif
If a customer likes what they see on the product page, they’ll be more likely to consider buying the product. Just like that, businesses can sell by letting customers research everything themselves.
Read more: The Promise of AR/VR for E-Commerce.
Impress Customers with AR Product Personalization
Customers like eCommerce websites that offer non-interactive personalization like color change. Now, this feature is getting a major upgrade thanks to AR solutions like Sitecore Commerce. And it’ll make the shopping experience much more fun - almost like having a personal virtual assistant!
The best examples come from the beauty industry. Sephora, Target, and even Pinterest have apps for customers to try on “virtual makeup,” which allows changing lip colors, eyeshadow, eyelash, and cheek colors.
Pinterest Lens app is a great example. Instead of focusing on products from a specific brand, users can access options from a bunch. Urban Decay, Neutrogena, Sephora, NYX, and L’Oreal are among them.
Using Pinterest to search for a product to try on is easy. Special “try on” buttons will appear on eligible products, or you can search for them.
Here’s what you might get for “red lipstick.”
Credit: Pinterest
By trying different colors in real time, customers can choose better products for themselves quicker and easier. Besides, when it comes to makeup, applying and removing lipsticks, eyeshadows, etc. takes a lot of time.
Choosing an AR app instead is a better option that also gives unlimited opportunities for experimenting. This way, brands can increase product awareness and get more sales due to faster buying decisions.
Augmented Reality and Sitecore Commerce: Conclusion
AR is slowly but surely becoming a norm for both brick-and-mortar and online businesses. For both business models, using this technology means giving customers an exciting new way to shop and enjoy themselves.
We’ve seen quite a few AR apps already, and more are coming soon. They will help brands reduce returns, create more memorable and unique shopping experiences, and ultimately win more loyal customers.