What are Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)?
Augmented Reality is a technology in which the customer understands the functions of products. Augmented Reality has become a great tool for marketers to promote their brands. Many companies use AR to collect feedback and experience to innovate and develop their products.
Where else, Virtual Reality (VR) gives a 360-degree view of the real-time environment. Customers use VR goggles to enhance their shopping experience.
Which are the industries that successfully implemented AR and VR technologies?
These are the industries that which has successfully implemented AR and VR technologies:
- Retail Industry
- Gaming Industry
- Fashion Industry
- Retail Industry: With the implementation of AR and VR in the retail industry, it has assisted retail to understand customer experience and how to enhance the consumer shopping experience. VR offers a product’s features virtually via e-commerce sites or apps. AR technology is primarily used in smartphones, TV, and tablets. For example, smartphone users login into the shopping app and then the users select a costume; with the help of a smartphone’s camera, the app will display a 360-degree view of the costume worn on the user’s body. This feature boosts AR to add value to the shopping experience for customers.
- The Gaming Industry: In recent years, the gaming industry has begun using VR and AR to create engaging games. VR is revolutionizing the customer experience in gaming. Gamers are demanding video games that have VR compatibility. Video game companies are focusing on producing consoles, headphones, and VR goggles with VR compatibility. AR too is revolutionizing the customer experience in mobile gaming. AR has made many games to make it more interactive and engaging. Those games are free to play and require minimal storage which creates demand for AR games.
- Fashion Industry: Similar to the retail industry, fashion shopping apps too adopted AR technology. For example, Eyewear organizations supported by AR innovation understand the consumers’ experience wearing their product. Clients mean to try the product first prior to buying it. With the help of AR, customers experience different spectacles and goggle frames before buying them. The same concept goes for footwear, cosmetics and headwear products as well.
Role of AR and VR in the consumer shopping experience
- Improves Self-Service Support
- Provides Convenience to Consumers
- Display Products Better
- Give Customers a Sense of Ownership
- Improves Self-Service Support: In case of any faults or damage in customers’ products. Rather than going physically to shop to solve the problem. Customers can use AR to resolve problems. This self-service support saves time and energy for both customers and company employees.
- Provides Convenience to Consumers: At times, consumers are too lazy to even consider going to stores actually. So they postpone their plans to shop physically later. Now that AR, internet, and VR technologies have been introduced to consumers. They have stopped shopping physically almost completely. Now consumers shop with their smartphones while sitting at home.
- Display Products Better: Digitalization has reduced the number of customers visiting shops and buying products online. One thing that differentiates online from physical shops is that consumers can buy products conveniently but cannot touch them. Augmented Reality assists consumers to use the product virtually, without breaking it. This aids the consumer to make an informed decision during purchase.
- Give Customers a Sense of Ownership: More than showcasing your item, AR can likewise provide your clients with a feeling of owning your item — regardless of whether it is only temporarily. With augmented reality, they can “try on” an outfit and perceive how it would look on them. While buying furniture, they can likewise put an augmentation of furniture inside their home to perceive how it would squeeze into their interior design. Doing so provides your clients with the illusion of really having the item.
Future of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in growing sales and customer shopping experience
AR and VR influence and usage will grow in future. It has begun affecting consumers’ decision-making. Industries and companies have continuously adopted AR and VR technologies. These technologies have assisted companies in improving sales and reducing the cost of operation. Consumers need more information regarding using the product, its review and then take the decision of buying the product. Both ecommerce and AR have achieved to fulfill it. Lastly, we can conclude that the role of AR and VR would be beneficial to both consumers and companies.
