Augmented Reality (AR) in the e-commerce
Imagine your customers trying on clothes virtually or seeing furniture in their living room before they buy. This isn’t science fiction; it’s Augmented Reality (AR) changing the future for online shops.
How it works?
AR isn’t magic. In simple terms, it works just like a camera on your phone but is augmented with 3d models of products so you can place them wherever you want.
Need a new pair of sunglasses? Virtually try them on and see how they complement your face. Looking for a statement sofa? AR lets you place it virtually in your living room to ensure it matches your style and fits the space.
You can see some example 3d models with AR in my portfolio: https://www.3dexpy.me/portfolio
Needless to say, Apple Vision Pro now also supports AR product preview.
The Benefits of AR
Customer Experience: Imagine a customer struggling to visualize a throw pillow on their couch or unsure if a shirt will fit their body type. AR eliminates these uncertainties by allowing them to interact with products virtually. This fosters trust, increases engagement, and reduces purchase anxiety, ultimately leading to happier customers.
One of the biggest challenges in e-commerce is the disconnect between online images and the actual product. AR bridges this gap. Allowing customers to experience products realistically before buying, it reduces the risk of receiving something unexpected and minimizes returns and negative reviews.
Increased Sales and Conversions: Studies have shown that AR can lead to significant increases in sales and conversions.
- Shopify found a 65% increase in order placement after using AR.
- Some researchers say that there is an average 40% conversion increase, while others claim that up to 200%.
Engaged customers who can confidently make purchase decisions are more likely to buy.
The disadvantages of AR
1. AR implementation is not yet profitable for the shops selling products that are hard to 3d model. Therefore, in such cases, AR is mainly used for customer experience, refund reduction, and brand status.
2. The AR preview is rarely vital for understanding the product. Thus, AR implementation is not solving a consumer or seller problem but is just bringing benefits. I think, this is a technology that will be used everywhere as a feature, as soon as the 3d model production price is close to free.
Is AR integration expensive?
In a nutshell, It depends on the product and source data; AR implementation is pricy unless 3d model creation is fully or partially automated OR there are 3d models in the source data that just require conversion (e.g. CAD models for machine-tools or MAX models for renders)
In future posts, I will elaborate more specifically on the implementation costs.
