Try Before You Buy
Virtual try-ons powered by AR allow customers to trial a product without visiting any physical stores. Warby Parker eyeglasses use an AR app that enables customers to view how their faces will appear in different frames.
Augmented Reality in Retail is revolutionizing shopping experiences expeditiously! With AR in retail, customers can interact, customize, and engage with products better, so that they make the right purchase decisions. Nike’s Virtual View is one top example of how WebAR in Retail boosts customer engagement and trust!
But of course, it’s only natural to be a little skeptical before investing in any new business technology. That is why we bring you a detailed guide on what is Augmented Reality, and how your Retail and eCommerce firms can smartly deploy and benefit from it!
Table of Contents
- What is Augmented Reality?
- Why Is Augmented Reality Important In Retail and eCommerce?
- What are the Latest AR Trends in Retail?
- Why is AR a Powerful Retail Sales Channel?
- How Does AR Increase Sales in Retail?
- Augmented Reality vs. Virtual Reality
- Benefits of Augmented Reality in Retail
- Fingent’s AR-enabled Applications for Retailers
- Most Common Q&As on AR in Retail
What is Augmented Reality?
Simply put, Augmented Reality (AR) superimposes digital content and information onto a user’s real-life scenario to enhance their virtual experience of the existing physical environment. The improved version of the physical world is attained by leveraging the capabilities of the computer-generated display, visuals, sound, text, and graphics which augments the user’s real-world experience.
AR will allow you to search things visually by simply pointing out mobile cameras toward objects in real-life surroundings. The Live View feature in Google Maps is a leading example of how AR allows users to visualize their destinations in the real world. Nintendo’s Pokémon Go App and the photo filters on Facebook and Snapchat are some of the popular examples of AR today.
However, AR is not just a gaming or navigational application. Several industries today, including consumer products and retail, are implementing AR to improve their operational and marketing abilities. Leading ecommerce brands, as well as in-store retailers, are highly investing in AR to build and deliver top-notch brand experiences.
By 2024, the number of mobile AR users will reach 1.73 billion.
Why Is Augmented Reality Important In Retail and eCommerce?
Millennials are the core shoppers today, and they need services at their fingertips! Standing in long queues to grab that limited offer is off the trend! Now shoppers love to book it first online.
With Augmented Reality in Retail, online shopping experiences takes a new turn. Customers get to virtually try on items, customize and interact with the products better so that they make quick and smart purchase decisions. Getting complete satisfaction with online shopping increases brand trust immensely, giving retailers an immediate boost to expedite sales! The more reasons to implement AR in Retail!
40% of consumers say they would pay more for a product that they could customize in AR.
What are the Latest AR Trends in Retail?
Today’s customers value personalization and convenience over pricing and product. Augmented Reality allows brands to develop smart retail experiences that influence their customers’ buying decisions.
AR makes online selling easier and more comfortable by creating virtual simulations for users to interact with a product, just like how they try a fashion outfit in a physical store. Using AR, retail customers can virtually visit their favorite brand stores, try products, and make comparisons, without leaving the comfort of their homes.
Top AR Trends in Retail Today
Experiential Marketing
AR’s interactive visualization features enable retailers to entice a consumer from product consideration to product purchase through experiential marketing. ModiFace app for beauty brands allows customers to experience scientifically validated skin assessments and photo-realistic makeup simulations.
AR Product Configurators
Retailers can create interactive product catalogs that display each product in a digital format that customers can explore. Nike’s sneaker configurator employs AR technology that allows customers to personalize their sneakers extensively by browsing product catalogs. Let’s Discuss Your Project
Improved In-store Experience
Using an AR app on their mobile, customers can optimize routes to their desired products while navigating a brick-and-mortar store. LCST Lacoste AR mobile app integrates AR with in-store signage, window displays, and flyers which shoppers can scan to get more product details and make purchases instantly. Let’s Discuss Your Project
Shopping Sizeable Products
Furniture and electronics brands use AR to improve their point-of-sales decision-making by letting their customers measure their room space and wall size. Wayfair’s View in Room App leverages AR-based spatial computing to calculate how multiple pieces of furniture will look in a single room. Let’s Discuss Your Project
WebAR
Make your website content interactive! Shoppers today dislike skimming through large content to understand product features. With WebAR retailers can implement top AR features on the website so that customers can view the styles and fittings of clothes and accessories in augmented reality, without downloading any further apps. ‘Nike Virtual View’ is one such example of this brilliant feature, that made customers interact with Nike products better on the website and helped them make the right purchase decisions. Let’s Discuss Your Project
AR will enable retailers to deliver impactful, well-timed, and relevant user experiences that increase customer value, both in physical stores as well as in ecommerce!
Enriching Customer Experiences With Smart Malls Of The Future!
- Right from parking to shopping to food, AR is reimagining mall experiences.
- Notify your customers on their mobile about your top deals as they walk past your store!
- Make mall visits fun for your customers. Add in some AR games to the mix!
Watch more on how your business can leverage AR for a unique and smart mall experience!
Why is AR a Powerful Retail Sales Channel?
AR-integrated ecommerce websites and applications can run on any smartphone allowing customers to contextually experience every product at scale. Immersive product discovery experiences lead to better conversions as retailers can capture shoppers’ attention at the decision-making stage.
AR offers shoppers innumerable options to interact with consumer products in a more personalized way. Customers aren’t anymore held back by a limited number of product images and videos. With AR, every single online session can be turned into a powerful sales channel.
Capture shoppers’ attention at the decision-making stage | Allow shoppers to personally interact with products | Turn online browsings into powerful sales channels
32% of consumers use AR while shopping!
How Does AR Increase Sales in Retail?
AR use cases in retail are growing in leaps and bounds. Across the B2C, D2C, and B2B realms, AR will bridge the gap between online selling and the customer experience in the following ways.
The age of analyzing products via videos and images is gone! Customers now need more! With AR, realtors can bring their products closer to their customers, enabling them to interact with the items meanwhile establishing added brand value and customer trust! 
- Venkatesh Alagarsamy, AR, VR, MR, Metaverse Expert, Fingent.
Virtual Fitting RoomsVirtual Fitting Rooms
Virtual fitting rooms, allow your customers to try on clothing items, jewelry, and other accessories even if they don’t visit your physical store. Even without touching an item, shoppers can see the size, style, and fit of apparel before they buy it. Augmented Reality superimposes the visuals of a clothing item on a live video feed of the customer which will create a virtual dressing room. AR-powered virtual mirrors can save valuable retail space in your brick-and-mortar stores by avoiding the need for setting up separate trial rooms. According to Shopify, an omnichannel shopping experience powered by AR nudges online shoppers to spend 10% more.
Placement PreviewsPlacement Previews
IKEA Place App’s AR feature allows customers to visualize how a new piece of furniture will fit their space. After selecting an item from IKEA’s catalog, the customer can point their mobile camera anywhere in their surroundings to see the furniture’s placement, adjust it from different angles, take photos, and share it with their friends for feedback.The highly interactive preview experience keeps users motivated throughout the buying journey and guarantees conversion. The seamless and fluid experience will encourage them to come back for another purchase, thereby boosting customer loyalty and brand recognition.
Route OptimizationRoute Optimization
Not just online and shopping experiences counts to customers. When products are delivered quickly and smartly, there are much more chances for a customer to build their trust in brands. With AR enabling effective navigation capabilities, routes can be optimized for seamless delivery channels. Develop AR-powered apps that enable the delivery teams to plan their travel smarter, with the shortest route options, traffic updates, map views, and more. With AR, delivery partners can be supported with additional information and assistance leading them to the right routes just from their smart phone cameras, so that no package delivery goes missed or undelivered!
Interactive AR PackagingInteractive AR Packaging
AR-enabled interactive packaging offers consumers a highly engaging shopping experience that will boost ecommerce and in-store sales. Customers could scan a QR code on the retailer’s package to understand the latest offers and discounts, new product roll-outs, or read the brand’s story. Jack Daniel Distillery’s smart AR packaging allows users to take a closer look at their whiskey-making process and explore their growth story.Food retailers like Heinz encourage users to scan their food packaging’s QR code to get exclusive recipes and cooking videos of top chefs. With AR, product packages aren’t any more throwaway junk. Amazon uses interactive AR techniques to encourage shoppers to recycle packages and share their product experiences with others.
Interactive Business CardsInteractive Business Cards
AR takes your plain business cards to the next level by allowing you to add 3D objects, interactions, animations, and powerful virtual components on top of your physical business cards. When you point your smartphone camera toward the card, you can see an interactive display of your business profile. AR allows you to incorporate numerous features into your V-card such as videos, audio, images, 3D objects, social links, animations, and URLs, besides your contact info and designation. Interactive business cards set yourself apart from your competitors and provide prospects with instant resources. It arouses curiosity and prompts your clients to access more information about your business. Immersive virtual experience in the real-world improves your business’s credibility and doubles your lead capturing. Interactive business cards shorten the sales cycle and increase customer appointments and engagement.
Complete Product InformationComplete Product Information
AR allows superimposing additional product information that your customers may not get easily in physical or online stores. Processing product information is the most significant aspect that influences a customer’s buying decision. Customers want to know if the products they buy will fit their purpose. When the right information is delivered digitally, it will simplify the product discovery process for the consumer, boosting sales.Top automotive brands such as Mercedes Benz and Hyundai use AR-powered digital car manuals to explain automotive features in a highly interactive way. Instead of scrolling the whole user manual, customers can point their mobile camera towards a specific part of the vehicle to find more useful information that will impact their buying decisions.
Warehouse Space OptimizationWarehouse Space Optimization
AR can improve complex warehouse operations by streamlining warehousing management activities such as order allocation and picking, inventory control, material handling, and packaging. Using an interactive 3D warehouse layout, retailers can improve their warehouse planning. This helps warehouse managers and employees to locate products and process orders on time. AR smart glasses allow warehouse personnel to extract necessary information such as order number, trolley number, deposit bin information, and passage number which will expedite loading and unloading processes. Zero-delay deliveries achieved through warehouse optimization increases your sale orders and drive revenue.Real-World Cases Of Boosted Customer Experience with AR
AR Taking Cabin Manufacturing To New Heights: Case Study
The client: Lake Side Cabins are engaged in building high-quality cabins and storage sheds in Ohio and Michigan.The requirement: Modernizing approaches and streamlining functions at each stage, for better performance.
How Fingent helped?
A custom software solution featuring 3D configurators
- Customers get to build and design their own sheds using AR
- Easy configuration of buildings, floor plans, and invoices
- Reduced human errors
- Streamlined planning of cabin construction.
Other features of the software
- CRM
- Dealer Management
- Order Management
- Purchase Orders
- Work Order Management
- Route Optimized Delivery Schedule
AR Powered apps for E-Commerce: Use Case
Over 20% of customers deny online shopping because of the fear of wrong purchase decisions.
How can Fingent help?
- Interactive mobile apps enabling 3D preview of objects
- Agnostic web solution for Ecommerce
- No restrictions on a wide range of product displays
- Improved customer engagement and interaction
- Personalized shopping made possible from anywhere
61% of consumers say they prefer retailers with AR experiences.
Augmented Reality vs. Virtual Reality
Many people use Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality interchangeably thinking that both technological concepts are the same. Though both AR and VR help creates immersive and interactive experiences, both are different in their own niches.
Augmented Reality
- Augments the real-world experience of the user
- Creates virtual experience by overlaying digital content on top of what the user is already seeing
- Detects markers such as barcodes or QR codes to deliver AR animations to specific user locations
- Explored best with smartphones
- AR SDKs empower mobile apps to detect and capture real-time user environments
- Reflects true-to-life conditions and real-life scenarios
Virtual Reality
- Creates a fully-immersive virtual environment
- Total immersion is accomplished by shutting the user from the real-world
- Virtual Reality Modeling Language or VRML experiences delivered via a client-side interface to simulate virtual environments
- Explored best with a VR headset
- VR SDKs allow users to navigate pre-loaded and cloud-stored streams by using controllers and environment trackers
- Virtual representation of real-life conditions
Augmented Reality Boosts Online Shopping Sales Up To 200% - Forbes
Augmented Reality In Retail: Why Is It Picking Up Steam In Today’s Digital Age?
AR will boost your customers’ trust and drive their purchasing confidence.
Match Customer Expectations
Real-time product visualizations and virtual trials ensure that retailers are able to deliver products that match their customers’ expectations. AR reduces your marketing costs and increases your customer satisfaction.
Reduce Returns
AR retail experiences will eliminate the friction between sellers and buyers and maximize the probability of purchasing. When customers receive their orders as expected, it will decrease your product returns.
Remain Competitive
The rise in ecommerce demands delivering more successful online experiences. Retailers leveraging augmented reality can rest assured that they aren’t left behind in the competition.
Boost Customer Engagement
Interactive virtual experiences arouse your customers’ curiosity and motivate them to explore your products. AR experiences such as virtual try-on persuade customers to come back and shop for additional products.
Use Data Effectively
AR-enabled shopping experiences collect insightful data on customers’ shopping patterns, buying behavior, interests, and preferences. Retailers can use these insights to run targeted marketing campaigns and develop more personalized products.
Contactless Retail Experiences
The demand for contactless experiences triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic is here to stay. As people are more concerned about their personal hygiene and contamination risks, retailers can employ AR to connect with their customers and keep the show running.
Build Customer Loyalty
Customers place emphasis on the value they get when buying from you. CX is the key brand differentiator that boosts customer loyalty today. With AR, you can optimize every customer touchpoint to deliver unmatched CX.
Compensate Labor Shortage
AR ecommerce apps can serve as your shop assistants and sales agents that take you through product features and benefits. You don’t have to hire expensive labor for showing the customer around, as AR does the heavy lifting.
Fingent’s AR-enabled Applications for Retailers
Be it in-store or ecommerce, Fingent enables retailers to deliver seamless shopping experiences to their consumers by leveraging technology to the fullest. Our AR retail solutions effectively bridge the gap between consumers and sellers:
1. Advanced In-store Experiences
Leveraging AR, we build powerful retail applications that offer shoppers an enriching in-store experience. Some of our top AR solutions include AR pop-up stalls that drive more foot traffic to physical stores, AR product guidance applications, web-based AR ecommerce apps that don’t require separate downloading, virtual try-ons for jewelers and cloth retailers, and AR visual merchandising to build buzz and brand awareness.
2. AR Product Visualizer
AR offers an excellent opportunity for retail shoppers to personalize their products by adding or removing features according to their tastes. Personalized experiences lead to better and faster purchase decisions. Consumers can view their selections in real-time and on a real scale to narrow down their choices. AR helps them overcome the common retail challenges such as mismatch of color, size, fit, design, material, and quality. For instance, they can choose the right washing machine by examining its features, color, front load or top load, energy usage, and so on.
3. Interactive User Manuals
Virtual technicians and interactive user guides that display operation instructions using AR will simplify complex product installations and configurations. Using a smartphone camera, users can explore the features of an electronic device, a vehicle, or a coffee machine. By superimposing computer-generated displays on top of the user’s view of the product feature, AR will help them understand the product demonstrations and instructions quickly. Users can verify if they are executing each step correctly and follow the simple DIY troubleshooting tips to ensure that the product functions well.
Augmented Reality Reshaping eCommerce!
- Bring showroom-like experiences to your customer’s fingertips.
- No more restrictions on a wide range of product displays.
- Let your customers interact with your products and customize them right from the comforts of their homes.
What more on how you can smartly and seamlessly deploy AR for your eCommerce!
How Fingent Can Help Your Business Build Intuitive Apps With AR
With our expertise around ARKit for iOS Platforms, Spark AR, Lens Studio, Vuforia, Web AR Solutions, and AR Core for Android Platforms we help create powerful user experiences that fetch a competitive edge.
eCommerce
Bring the “Wow” factor to your eCommerce with virtual try-ons, preview placements, AR filters, and more!
Healthcare
We help you deploy AR to improve medical training, pediatric MRI evaluation, venipuncture procedures, dentistry, and more!
Equipment Maintenance
With AR connect faster with your machines to work smarter at reduced costs, and effective time management.
Most Common Q&As on AR in Retail
Augmented Reality streamlines retail operations to make shopping easier and convenient for both online and offline buyers. AR replaces physical fitting rooms with virtual try-on solutions and allows consumers to configure products based on their preferences. AR modernizes retail marketing through personalized content delivery and offers contactless purchasing options which will boost online sales.
3D product visualizations and “try-before-you-buy” digital experiences allow retailers to reduce the cost of returns that affect their ROI. Retailers can develop 3D animations and visual simulations to improve consumer awareness and influence buying decisions. AR helps retailers analyze customer behavior, test their product samples, boost brand engagement, and augment sales.
Full-fledged 3D experiences can improve product research and discovery which will result in more sales. Retailers selling automotive, home furniture, consumer electronics, and lifestyle products can drive traction and make unique selling pitches through AR. Studies prove that AR increases the average product (images and videos) viewing time from 30 seconds to eight minutes. Linking purchasing decisions with the shopper’s emotions will eliminate their doubts about the product and increase your sales volume.
According to Snapchat, 76% of consumers believe that AR will play an integral role in future shopping, with 57% of consumers planning to increase their AR usage in post-COVID times. AR improves a retail brand’s discoverability and increases a consumer’s likelihood to purchase after an immersive experience. AR experience educates and motivates customers at multiple points in the shopping journey, thereby influencing their purchasing decisions.
Today, every retailer needs to pursue an omnichannel retail strategy that revolves around customer-centricity. This requires retailers to personalize their offerings in the best way possible. AR can simplify your personalization efforts as it’s a highly user-centric technology that tremendously transforms the way you market and sell. Augmented retail strategy improves both your business’s bottom line and customer experience.