One of the biggest advantages of traditional shopping is the one-to-one connection we form with the products. AR commerce strives to bring back this connection with hyper-realistic immersive AR experiences. These experiences allow users to interact with digital content in a more natural and intuitive way.
In this chapter, we will examine the emerging field of AR commerce and its potential to revolutionize the way businesses engage with customers, drive sales, and enhance the overall shopping experience.
What is AR Commerce?
Augmented Reality (AR) commerce, also known as AR shopping, is a technology that allows consumers to view and interact with virtual products in a real-world environment.
AR commerce combines the physical and virtual worlds by overlaying digital information on top of real-world images, allowing users to visualize how a product would look and fit in their physical space.
The AR commerce journey starts with creating 3D models of your products in accordance with the product’s true size, color, and texture . Or you may already have your 3D design files ready. With artlabs, these digital assets can quickly be viewed in AR just by scanning a QR code on your website or mobile app.
How Both Customers and Brands Can Benefit from AR Commerce?
Despite all the technological transformations we are witnessing at the moment, one shopping problem always stays the same: Buying without trying. The concept of "trial", which has existed since the birth of commerce, is the determinant factor of customer decisions.
It is seen as indispensable in both traditional and modern shopping experiences. Reasons such as running out of stocks in physical stores or the absence of some products in stores can cause customers to have problems in traditional shopping as well.
In other words, AR commerce not only offers us the shopping practice we are used to, but also helps us achieve a deeper shopping experience by providing ✅ a wider range, ✅ more options, and ✅ availability.
AR commerce lends a helping hand to any brand that falters. Even before the pandemic, online shopping was a great option, but today it has become a necessity rather than an option.
The best thing for brands that want the best for themselves and their customers is to offer the same experience 'remote' as in most areas. More and more brands every day are starting to realize that AR Commerce could be more than a “band-aid” to their enhanced shopping experience problems.
Why should I implement AR Commerce into my business strategy?
Sometimes it's scary to experience new things for the first time and keep up with the latest trends, but surprising results can occur. Taking advantage of AR Commerce solutions in your business increases the satisfaction of your customers and reduces the returns you receive.
At the same time, it draws a business image that is more reliable (since we can access the hyper-realistic versions of the products) and more ahead of its time. Consider which one sounds better based on your own experience: a brand that goes into the smallest details like the size chart, actual texture & color of the material, etc., or a brand that settles for a short product description and a couple of visuals. We believe the answer to this question is clear.
Here are some other benefits of incorporating AR solutions into your business:
🙋♀️ Enhanced customer engagement
AR Commerce can provide a more immersive and interactive shopping experience for your customers, allowing them to visualize and experience your products in a way that traditional eCommerce cannot. It helps to bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds, providing users with a seamless and integrated experience.
📈 Increased sales
AR Commerce can help drive sales by increasing customer confidence and reducing product returns, as customers can see how products fit and look in their environment before making a purchase.
🏆 Competitive advantage
By adopting AR Commerce, you can differentiate your brand from competitors, and position your business as innovative and forward-thinking.
💸 Cost savings
AR Commerce can also help reduce costs associated with product returns, as customers are more likely to make informed purchasing decisions with AR Commerce.
👀 Increased customer attention
Augmented reality technology has been shown to be highly effective in capturing user attention. Studies have shown that AR experiences can deliver up to two times more attention compared to non-AR equivalents.
This can be especially effective for marketing campaigns and advertising, where the goal is to capture and hold the attention of the target audience.
🤸 Flexibility
AR Commerce can be used in various business settings, such as e-commerce, retail stores, and product demonstrations, making it a flexible and adaptable technology for your business strategy.
What Are Some Real-Life Examples?
Today, many big global brands benefit from the blessings of AR Commerce. By doing so, they increase their sales & conversion rates while customers enjoy a fun augmented shopping experience. At the same time, the adoption of AR by large companies sets an important example for small companies to be bold and try new things.
🛍️ HEPSIBURADA
From consumer electronics to home decoration, Hepsiburada (NASDAQ: HEPS) has been the number-one marketplace for Turkish customers for more than 20 years. Our partnership enabled Hepsiburada to list and showcase various branded products in 3D and augmented reality and enhance the overall user experience in their mobile application.
🛋️ IKEA
One of the biggest brands that come to mind when AR commerce is mentioned is perhaps IKEA. Aiming to make shopping easier for its customers, who measure down to the smallest detail with a meter and paper in hand, IKEA allows you to shop for furniture with AR from wherever you are with the help of its application. All you have to do is enter the IKEA Place app and point your camera to the room you want to decorate.
🧩 LEGO
Visuals are essential for child development. Children who grew up with technology today benefit greatly from the opportunities they were born into, one of them being smartphones. Lego wants to bring AR to toys by reviving Lego creations with the Hidden Side AR application.
💄 L’OREAL PARIS
Trying on cosmetics was already difficult before the pandemic with all the testers and sample products. The make-up industry, where details such as color matching are vital, is one of the sectors where AR applications are used most efficiently. L'Oreal Paris, one of the cosmetics giants, offers the opportunity to experience its products with virtual try-on.
Do you want to be among the leading brands that shape eCommerce today? If your answer is yes, contact our team today and learn how you can benefit from AR solutions in your business. After getting acquainted with the magical world of augmented reality, you will realize how easy and fun it can be to improve your key eCommerce metrics.
