Augmented Reality is transforming the Online shopping experience with its ability to help shoppers understand what they’re purchasing. From virtual try-ons to placing furniture/household items in their living spaces, AR provides a more realistic, immersive shopping experience that reduces return rates and customer dissatisfaction.
High return rates have long plagued ecommerce, especially for product categories like clothing and makeup where customers can’t try things on before they purchase. With AR, customers can see what they would look like in a dress or shade of lipstick before they decide to buy, so there’s less chance that a purchased item won’t work out for them.
User Experience: Making Augmented Reality Intuitive and Accessible
Fashion retailers, cosmetics companies, and furniture brands are using AR in eCommerce to empower customers to make confident purchases from the comfort of their homes. For example, many cosmetics brands have launched augmented reality lenses on social media platforms to allow consumers to digitally try different shades of lipstick, eyewear, or accessories before making a purchase. Furniture and home goods companies are also allowing customers to visualize what pieces of furniture or appliances will look like in their homes with an AR app.
Regardless of the industry, businesses need to be smart about how they implement AR in their business models. The best way to start is with small-scale AR trials that can be linked to a few SKUs or digital campaigns. It’s also important to remember that not all mobile devices are designed with the depth sensing capabilities required for effective AR. As device processing power and network capabilities improve, so will the AR experiences that can be created on them.