AR in eCommerce: 3 Top Reasons It Is the Best Investment

Ever wondered what it would be like to teleport your customers from their bedrooms to your stores in no time?

What if they could do so, try your different products, go back to their house, test it in their home setting, and make a purchase right there?

Sound too futuristic to believe? But believe me, it is not a distant future anymore. It is happening right now.

Well, this might not be like the teleportation you see in Sci-fi movies, but in functional terms, it is no less than that.

With Augmented Reality (AR) by your side, your customers can access your product or eStore from anywhere, try on your products, place your products in their own environments, and purchase it right away—all this without moving an inch from their place. This is possible, this is happening, and this is what we are going to discuss here in this blog.

So you better get ready to delve into the transformative power of AR in eCommerce as we uncover why it matters now more than ever.

How Benefits of AR in eCommerce Go Across the Marketing Funnel

If there is any technology that can make a real difference for eCommerce, it’s AR. See, till now people have been switching online and offline shopping experiences depending upon the stage they are in the consumer funnel.

For example, when they are right at the start of the funnel and not sure about the product and want to explore it firsthand, they prefer offline shopping mode.

Or even if they shop online, they will order multiple products only to return the ones that did not match their need or expectations. While this was easy for the consumer, it added significantly to the cost of eCommerce businesses in the form of high return rates.

So, despite offering the obvious perk of convenience, eCommerce gets weighed down by such challenges and faces hampered growth and progress. Therefore, AR utilization proves a bane by offering several advantages throughout the consumer marketing funnel so that users prefer shopping online each time. Let’s see these advantages as per the different marketing stages.

Awareness Stage

Out-of-the-box Experience for High Brand Affinity

When you incorporate AR experience to market for your eCommerce platform, it captures the attention of your potential customer. They not only see the advertisement but they can even interact with the product in the ad or other 3D brand elements that make the ad experience memorable and impactful.

The out-of-the-box immersive experiences keep them engaged for longer sessions, increasing brand affinity.

More Confident Decisions, Less Uncertainty

The biggest drawback of online shopping till now has been the uncertainty about product fit, color, or style. It was difficult for online shoppers to make out how the product would actually look in a real-world setting. Moreover, they were also skeptical about falling into the trap of false-marketing claims.

However, AR changes the game here as well. Now, users can explore the 3D representation of your products from all different aspects, which makes them more comfortable and confident. They can even wear it if required or place it in their house to see if it fits nicely.

AR bridges this gap, helping consumers make faster and better decisions that mostly favor your efforts. More importantly, they go a long way in reducing the risk of returns and enhancing customer satisfaction.

Consideration Stage

In any business space, the right innovation is always rewarded by the user. Users want their brands to keep coming up with fresh offerings and novel experiences that amaze them better than before and better than others.

Brands that keep offering such innovative experiences not only gain new customers but also build long-term relationships, resulting in consolidated growth and success for many years.

eCommerce is no different. When eCommerce businesses like you deliver innovative experiences like virtual try-on experiences, it makes a difference. Your brand stands out from the competition by bringing convenience and great brand interaction better than competitors.

And mind you, the consideration stage is all about beating the competition by doing what others are not.

Decision Stage

AR brings the capability of contextual visualization, i.e., it allows users to place the 3D model of the product at the desired place in their home to visualize the same in their intended context.

For example, they can see how a particular sofa will fit in their living room. Will it go with the interior, or is there space enough to bring in a new sofa?

This not only results in better decision-making but even faster purchases. More often than not, the customer ends up buying the product impressed by the amazing experience that clears all their doubts and does away with their insecurities.

Given these benefits, brands around the world, across industries and ranging scales, are deploying AR experiences to charm their audience. In the next section, we will discuss some prominent examples.

AR eCommerce Examples - Successful Implementations by Major Brands

Brands across industries have come up with some really innovative and astonishing AR experiences. Here are some examples of AR eCommerce apps segmented on the basis of the major benefits they brought to the business and the user.

For Highly-informed Purchase Decision

Their virtual glasses try-on feature lets users see how different frames look on their faces.

Similarly, L’Oreal’s Makeup Genius is an app by the cosmetic brand that allows users to try various makeup products virtually.

The world's largest furniture brand, IKEA, launched an AR eCommerce app to let its customers place virtual furniture in their actual living spaces. The idea was replicated by an app by Wayfair, another furniture brand.

Product Customization and Personalization

Nike, an American athletic footwear and apparel corporation and the world's largest supplier of athletic shoes and apparel, deployed an AR feature.

It allowed users to customize sneakers by choosing colors, materials, and designs and brought the product much closer to their style than ever was possible.

Likewise, Coca-Cola offered personalized bottles by allowing customers to create custom labels using AR.

Interactive Product Manuals and Assembly Guides

Lowe’s Vision App used AR to guide users through DIY projects. It overlays instructions on real-world objects, thereby, simplifying assembly and repairs.

All AR eCommerce examples show how incorporating AR into e-commerce enhances user experiences and drives sales and brand loyalty.

And things have just started. As AR technology advances and marches forward with powerful Artificial Intelligence, we are sure to get more adventurous experiences in the coming time.

There will be more creative and impactful AR solutions in the eCommerce landscape that businesses have never experienced before.

Conclusion

This integration of Augmented Reality with e-commerce isn't just a trend; it's a revolution that will not leave anything the same.

From enhancing brand affinity and boosting consumer confidence to expediting purchase decisions, AR will impact every stage of the consumer journey and business aspect.

As we've seen through various successful examples across industries in the above section, AR is being used as a strategic tool by brands of all scales. They are capitalizing on its power to drive sales, foster brand loyalty, and propel eCommerce businesses into the future of growth.

With advancements like AI in AR technology continually pushing boundaries, the possibilities for creating even more immersive, personalized, and engaging experiences are well within our reach.

So, as we bid adieu, you better keep your sights set on the horizon, for in the ever-evolving landscape of eCommerce, AR has not only arrived, it has started the revolutionary process.

FAQs

What is AR in eCommerce?

AR allows e-commerce businesses to let their customers preview products either by trying them on or by placing them in users' very own real-world environment. Further, it also lets eCommerce businesses catch and captivate potential customers’ attention to enhance their brand awareness and expand the top of their funnel.

Further, customers can even experience services without leaving their homes or even their bedrooms. They can explore the product and services on their own time at their own place and choose the one that cuts through their high-quality standards.

What is the AR app used for?

AR apps are used to offer customers product and service experiences without the customer leaving their home. They just need to access the AR brand experience offered by the business and get a clear idea of their offerings. The AR applications use sophisticated software and mobile in-built equipment to recognize and track objects, and surfaces, in the real world, and overlay digital 3D content on them.

What are the benefits of AR in eCommerce?

• Lower Returns
• Higher Customer Satisfaction
• Soaring Conversion Rates
• Captivating Product Visualization
• Interactive Marketing
• Reduced Staffing Expenses
• Improved Brand Perception