AR Visualization in Retail
Augmented reality has many benefits in modern-day trade, making life easier for both customers and retailers alike. AR visualization helps consumers get a better sense of the dimensions, style, and quality of a product when they are not able to see and touch it in person. Hence, the technology delivers an immersive shopping experience, driving better purchasing decisions and higher conversion rates.
What is AR for Retail?
We can think of augmented reality as an advanced version of our physical world, which integrates digital elements into a real-life environment. Customers can use the technology through their phones or tablets, headsets, and smart glasses.
Unlike virtual reality, which fully immerses you in the digital world, AR visualization allows users to see various digital assets in their own spaces. For example, a customer can overlay an image of a sofa onto their living room to decide if it matches the interior.
Augmented reality has many applications in the modern retail industry. The most common ones include:
- Virtual try-on mirrors and showrooms
- Interactive displays
- 3D product visualization
- Trying out a product in own space
- Revealing product information, user reviews, maintenance tips, etc.
Core AR Technologies Used in Retail
Technological advancements make AR more flexible, so businesses are leveraging its capabilities to enhance customer experiences while they are interacting with their products. Here are the technologies they use most often:
AR try-on and AR virtual try-on
The technology is used to let customers see how a particular outfit, accessory, or cosmetics would look on them. This removes uncertainties regarding the style and fit of an item, making purchasing decisions much easier.
AR viewer and AR view
Allow customers to see virtual 3D models of products in different environments using their phone or tablet camera. AR viewers can also be used to interact with an object directly (e.g., rotate and zoom it).
AR Visualization Software
Businesses harness the power of AR visualization software to give their consumers a chance to appreciate how their product feels in daily life, be it new furniture, clothes, or any other item they would like to purchase. Such tools come with a range of useful features to enhance customer experiences:
- Integration with different mobile devices and operating systems
- Uploading own content
- Editing 3D for AR visualization
- Real-time object positioning and scaling
- Viewing a product from multiple angles
- Dynamical adaptation to lighting and shadows
- Sharing AR try-ons on social media
- Cloud-based storage
Data Visualization in AR
Augmented reality makes a great difference in data visualization, taking the process of analyzing valuable business information to a new dimension that goes beyond regular Excel tables and charts. Consider the key benefits and use cases of data visualization AR in retail:
- Visualization of real-time sales data and statistics
- Simulation of different options for product placement to increase customer engagement
- Monitoring customer behavior in a store
- Getting deeper insights into customer interaction
- Optimizing inventory for more efficient product storage
- Using AR VR data visualization to collaborate on a project while working remotely
Web AR Technology
Web AR technology allows using augmented reality within a regular web browser, which makes it increasingly popular today. Since many AR visualization software apps require downloading and have a steep learning curve, more and more businesses turn to dedicated online platforms, like VIZBL, so that their customers can generate top-quality product visuals quickly and conveniently, even on the go.
Check out the principal advantages of the web AR technology:
- Accessibility: both retailers and their customers can use advanced AR solutions without any app installations.
- Cross-platform compatibility: WebAR websites use CSS, HTML, and JavaScript technologies, allowing them to run smoothly on different PCs, phones, tablets, and operating systems.
- Cost-effectiveness: integrating the web AR technology costs businesses less than creating and maintaining a dedicated AR application.
- Fast and enjoyable experience: WebAR allows customers to visualize AR models in a matter of seconds, which increases their engagement and satisfaction levels.
- Easy sharing: users can access the AR content immediately through a link or QR code.
Benefits of AR Visualization in Retail
According to statistics, companies embracing augmented reality are twice as likely to attract customers than brands without AR. Indeed, the technology brings a lot of benefits for retail businesses:
- Increasing brand recognition and customer engagement
- Setting a business apart from its competitors
- Enhancing purchase confidence in customers
- Driving sales and reducing returns
- Boosting business performance through insightful data analytics
Conclusion
AR visualization takes retail to a new level, helping customers make more efficient purchasing decisions. Thus, brands can establish trusted relationships with their clients, enjoy higher conversion rates, and generate more profits, regardless of their niche. As technologies continue to evolve, we expect even more immersive AR visualization solutions, so stay with VIZBL to keep up with all the latest innovations!