Augmented reality (AR), despite its high-tech appearance, is already used by 81.3 million Americans monthly. It’s not just interactive games or social media filters; it’s a powerful toolkit for both online and offline shoppers to navigate the complex retail landscape.
How does AR work?
AR has several prospects in the retail space, especially in e-commerce. Even if e-commerce is becoming more common, there are still some purchases for which additional contextual information is necessary. That could make it difficult to sell some product categories online.
Varieties of AR Applications
1. AR based on markers
It is also known as Image Recognition or Recognition-based augmented reality, which detects and displays information about an item (the “marker”) in front of the camera on the screen. When an AR device detects that marker, the app substitutes the marker on the display with a 3D representation of the associated item. The user may then examine the thing in greater detail and from other perspectives.
2. AR with no markers
To enable markerless AR, no specific product in a real-world setting is required. Hence, the product can subsequently be rotated and moved in 360% by the user in a real world setting.
3. Augmented reality based on location
It is a form of markerless AR that displays digital content in specific areas depending on geographic location. Pokemon Go is a prime instance of location-based augmented reality.
4. AR based on projection
Projection-based AR includes projecting synthetic light on actual surfaces and enabling users to interact with it in some circumstances. Holograms are a common example.
How Are Ecommerce Companies Using AR Reality?
1. Virtual try-on options
Conversion rates can be reduced by the anxiety of trying on new apparel and discovering it does not fit. Buyers must know the products they want to buy. AR assists online buyers in understanding what they’re purchasing and how the things will operate for them, lowering return rates and increasing conversion rates.
2. Placement preview
Burrow, a DTC furniture business, uses AR to show clients how their purchases would look in their living rooms in real time. The Burrow at Home app utilises ARKit to insert 3D representations of Burrow’s sofas in images taken on customers’ iPhones and iPads, allowing them to visualise how their furniture would fit in their living spaces.
3. interactive User guidelines
An interactive user handbook is a useful tool for businesses that offer items with a learning curve. It responds to user activities and provides on-page contextual help, enabling consumers to understand the product’s capabilities. AR user manual applications frequently scan goods and display graphical arrows and animations to highlight buttons in real-world settings.
4. Filters for social media
AR filters, which were formerly used for amusement, have acquired appeal on social media sites such as Instagram and Snapchat. They provide advantages such as presenting new items, increasing audience interaction, and highlighting distinctive characteristics. AR filters’ novelty can stimulate tagging and emphasize the brand’s individuality, making it a powerful tool for marketers to stand out and communicate with their audience.
How AR Can Help Your Retail Expand
1. Boost customer engagement
AR improves customer engagement on ecommerce sites, increasing the possibility that they will make a purchase. Longer visits result in a stronger engagement with the brand and product, perhaps producing a lasting memory and increasing the likelihood that customers will recall the brand in the future.
2. Find new consumers
To catch people’s attention in a loud environment, you’ll need to generate a buzz. Building an engaging AR advertising campaign is one option.
3. Reducing your profits
AR gives complete information about products to buyers than static photographs or videos, delivering 3D views and exhibiting the product’s look in the consumer’s area, reducing the probability of disappointment.
Conclusion
Due to the difficulties in interpreting pictures of products on ecommerce sites, augmented reality apps have grown increasingly popular. With social alienation, augmented reality is getting increasingly popular. Understanding the many forms, use cases, and benefits of AR will help businesses determine whether it is the best decision for their company. If yes, follow these steps to bring your AR app to reality.
