Successful Integration of Augmented Reality in the Retail Sector

🇺🇦 Side-Line stands with Ukraine - Show your Support

Artificial intelligence is the winning innovation in many industries. One of its branches, augmented reality, has taken the retail world by storm. This technology has extended past esports and iGaming on the Verde Casino website. It fosters transformational change and provides a ‘try before purchasing’ experience. When used correctly, it offers retailers an omnichannel approach, enhancing customer satisfaction.

Different businesses are using AR to revolutionize the shopping experience. This technology cuts across multiple industries, from automobiles to cosmetics, focusing on product visualization and fully revolutionizing the overall shopping experience. Buyers can enjoy interactive and immersive shopping sessions. Using augmented reality, users can project digital objects onto the physical (real) world. It is the next best thing to an in-store experience, without the limitation of location.

AR-Powered Shopping Experiences

Online shopping is the new rave, with more shoppers preferred to have their goods delivered to their homes. Augmented reality has become more popular in recent years, with even smaller businesses (SMEs) incorporating the technology into their online services.

The popular e-commerce platform Shopify has introduced an AR feature. It is enabling businesses to create augmented reality experiences for their customers. The stats show over 90% conversion rates for such products. We cannot be left behind, as these technologies are here to stay. Customers are becoming more interested in retail AR as it helps support their purchase decisions. It also reduces the possibility of returns, as clients can make informed decisions at a go. Don’t take our word for it. Here are some use cases of augmented reality in retailing:

IKEA uses AR for product visualization. The technology makes it possible for customers to visualize already-built furniture in their spaces. The best part is that they appear true to size, helping buyers make informed decisions;
Volkswagen employs AR in its advertising campaigns, enhancing its digital marketing efforts;
Imagine being able to visualize your shoes before purchasing them. With Amazon’s Virtual Try-on for Shoes feature, you can. The tech allows buyers to visualize their shoes from multiple angles. They only need to point their mobile camera to their feet, and the shoes appear;
Gamification shines through AR with Tesco’s Big Night In quiz game. Players can earn rewards and trophies on the app. They must scan physical products to launch the game and can share their progress online afterward. Talk about social activity to enhance the shopping experience;
Have trouble locating products on the shelves? Not anymore! Mark & Spencer’s AR reality app, List&Go, is perfect for wayfinding. Users only need to enter their shopping list, and they’ll get quick directions. Holding the mobile device up enhances the experience with markers and exact locations;
Users have displayed their frustrations regarding finding the right accessories for their cars. How did Toyota respond? With augmented reality. Their AR application allows customers to recognize their exact car models using their smartphone cameras. No need for any markers.

Generative AI for Retail

We’ve explained that AR is a branch of artificial intelligence. However, what other technological innovations are at play in retail marketing? You see, AI and its cronies are here to stay. Don’t just experience them; learn about them too!

AI Chatbots

This is a spin-off of personalization to enhance customer experience. Modern chatbots provide customer service and support tailored to each buyer. Users will get faster responses and even product recommendations. Machine learning (ML) features strongly in this trend. ML models are designed to learn about the user and make their shopping process easier. Think of it like a personal shopper and assistant rolled into one. They’ll track your orders, process returns and exchanges, and improve satisfaction. With these features, retailers can enjoy better sales and higher customer retention and loyalty.

VR Shopping Experiences

Virtual reality is a baby compared to AR, but it is equally innovative and useful in the retail industry. Customers can enjoy immersive and interactive shopping experiences from the comfort of their homes using VR technology. They can explore virtual stores before making a purchase. It’s like window shopping on steroids! It may even be possible to try on clothes and test out products, allowing shoppers to make informed decisions. This ties perfectly into modernized shopping, bridging the gap between the physical and the digital.

Let’s Shop With Augmented Reality!

AR is transforming how we shop and, by extension, the retail experience. Retailers can now connect more easily with their customers, bringing their goods to their fronts without them leaving home. The limitations of not knowing how a piece fits into your space are now a thing of the past. We’re excited about the future and the innovations to come. Are you?

Bernard - Side-Line Staff Chief editor

Bernard Van Isacker is the Chief Editor of Side-Line Magazine. With a career spanning more than two decades, Van Isacker has established himself as a respected figure in the darkwave scene.

See Full Bio

Since you’re here …

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading Side-Line Magazine than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we can - and we refuse to add annoying advertising. So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

Side-Line’s independent journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we want to push the artists we like and who are equally fighting to survive.

If everyone who reads our reporting, who likes it, helps fund it, our future would be much more secure. For as little as 5 US$, you can support Side-Line Magazine – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.

The donations are safely powered by Paypal.