4 ways to use Augmented Reality in eCommerce
Franziska
ECommerce is growing rapidly. Due to the pandemic consumers more than ever depended on the possibility of ordering goods online. Almost all purchases were made via the Internet. According to the report “Ecommerce in the aftermath” over the past 12 months, the market has grown at a rate that, under normal circumstances, would have taken 5 years (Ecommerce in the aftermath | MullenLowe Profero 
). This trend is predicted to continue after the end of the current pandemic. 71% of the respondents stated, that they will proceed to primarily shop for items online. Therefore, a good visual online representation of the products has never been more important.
Augmented Reality (AR) ensures that online shopping does not lose any of the benefits of in-store shopping. It provides the best possible online shopping experience and offers the perfect opportunity to stand out from the growing competition. There are numerous ways to use AR in eCommerce. We will present to you four of those, where Augmented Reality in eCommerce truly makes a difference.
1. Virtual showroom
If something larger than a normal consumer product, such as houses or industrial machinery is sold, AR can be used to present it to the customers through a virtual tour. They can freely “look around” and see the product from all sides, get closer to it or view it from a distance. The virtual showroom may contain product descriptions, presentations or guides. A virtual showroom enables customers to visit the product at anytime, anywhere – perfectly seeing everything, without actually being there. As an example, the company StubHub designed an augmented reality app for their ticket-sale of the Super Bowl. They created an augmented reality city map with explanations and signs. Furthermore, they visualized the stadium and the view fans have from various seats, to help them pick the ones most suitable for them.
2. 3D and AR Product visualizations
So far, most eCommerce apps work like this: customers see a photo or video of the product, get information about the size, material and manufacturer. However, they don’t see how the products would actually look in their homes and whether it fits in terms of size and appearance. This is where Augmented Reality becomes particularly interesting. The camera of the phone or computer is used to show how the product would look in the actual surrounding by layering the virtual 3D model and the “real world”. Costumers get the opportunity to visualize the product in their own surroundings before buying it. This simplifies the decision-making process and is not only a win for the customers. Especially vendors benefit from selling the right product to the right customer. They save transportation costs, increase profit, and gain credibility among the buyers.
A great example is MADE.COM, an online shop which sells well-designed, good quality and affordable furniture (MADE.com: Design Furniture & Accessories ).
They included AR, so the costumers can easily place the 3D model in their homes through the website. They virtually check if the cabinet is the right size or if the chair matches the rest of the interior. Due to the AR visualizations also Tchibo Online Shop benefits from increased sales rates and lower return rates. With the help of our team and platform their customers can view numerous products by placing them with AR in their preferred environment. See it yourself, with the coffee maker Basalt Grey in your kitchen (Qbo. Create your Coffee – Die Kapselmaschinen-Innovation (tchibo.de) ) or many other products on our example library.
If you want to try AR and 3D visualization in your shop – sign up at our platform for free. We love to help you create your first AR experience:
3. Virtual fitting
Virtual fitting describes the way to try on clothes, jewelry, or makeup virtually. With AR potential customers see if the shirt fits their jeans or if the lipstick suits them, before making a purchase. They can test how the clothes look on them, standing or sitting without touching them. Virtual fitting brings together the benefits of traditional shopping and online shopping. A well-known example of this use case is Kendra Scott, a famous jewelry brand. They created a virtual fitting room that uses the camera of the computer or cell phone to show customers how the jewelry would look on them. They even show how the earrings move when you wiggle your head!
4. AR in social media
AR can also be used to create amazing brand awareness. One way would be the use of it for filters on such platforms like Instagram or Snapchat. These filters are using AR effects and layer them on the actual photo or video. Instead of just sharing a photo users can add cat ears, a crown or anything else to make it look more fun. These filters can be created for advertising by bringing joy and at the same time naming the company or campaign. This paves the way for better recognition in the future. With such filters brands can spread and publicize their names in a fun and subtle way. Consumers get exposure to it and thus might choose their products over the ones of competitors.
Summary:
As you can see, AR offers a wide range of benefits to both companies and customers in a plethora of different possible use cases in eCommerce. With AR, consumers do not only see or read your message. While interacting with it, they experience it. Therefore, your business remains in their memory, leading to increased sales and business opportunities, while opening entirely new ways of communicating with your customers.
If you want to try AR and 3D visualization in your shop – sign up at our platform for free. We love to help you create your first AR experience: