Augmented reality naturally fosters engagement as it enables buyers to explore and interact with products at all stages of the sales process. The technology reduces return rates and boosts sales.
For example, Ikea has an AR app that allows customers to visualize how furniture will fit in their homes before buying. The experience helps eliminate customer doubts about size and style, thus reducing returns.
Try-As-You-Buy
Whether online or in a store, AR can be used to provide customers with a virtual experience of products before they make a purchase. For example, eyewear retailer Warby Parker allows shoppers to digitally project a pair of frames on their faces before purchasing them, which reduces the likelihood of returns. Beauty brands like Sephora have also adopted this functionality, allowing their customers to try on makeup through their mobile devices or AR-equipped mirrors in stores.
AR can also improve customer service by reducing the need for phone calls and email requests from brand representatives. Lowe’s, for instance, uses an AR app that guides users step-by-step on how to assemble a product, eliminating the need for call center support. Additionally, AR can be used to help customers troubleshoot issues with their products by providing them with real-time visual assistance.
AR can create a powerful, memorable consumer response that increases engagement, which is especially important during the point of purchase (POP) – the moment when buyers decide to buy or return. Moreover, augmented reality can also foster loyalty by creating a seamless integration between retail experiences. Customers that have positive experiences with a retailer’s AR features will be more likely to share their encounter on social media, which can further promote the brand. This can lead to a wider audience reach, driving long-term revenue and brand awareness.
Personalized Experience
AR is a powerful tool that can help your brand to create interactive experiences that will engage and inspire customers. By creating value-driven, user-centric experiences that solve specific customer challenges or enhance their interaction with your brand, you will be able to drive customer loyalty and increase sales.
In addition, augmented reality can be used to customize the experience for each individual customer. For example, if you are a furniture retailer, you can use AR to show consumers how products will look in their homes before they buy them. This personalized experience will give customers a more informed decision-making process and reduce the number of product returns.
Personalized AR experiences can also be used to provide post-sale customer support. For example, a clothing brand may include an instructional video in the packaging that helps the customer to properly wear and care for their purchase. In the case of an eyewear retailer, AR can be used to help consumers select the best frames for their face shape and skin color.
Similarly, beauty brands can provide a customized experience for their customers by using augmented reality to display how certain makeup or lipstick colors will look on them before they make a purchase. AR can also be used to entertain customers by allowing them to interact with virtual games or activities. For example, Coca-Cola recently partnered with Snapchat to allow users to play a game to win free Coke cans.
Convenience
For brands that have online or physical stores, AR can be a powerful tool to engage consumers. It can offer them a unique experience that they wouldn’t be able to get through traditional channels alone. It can also boost brand loyalty and lead to increased sales.
For example, the fashion brand Lily’s has a display that allows people to see how they will look in their clothes without having to go into the store. This way, they can avoid the hassle of returning products that don’t fit or are not what they expected. Similarly, Warby Parker has an AR app that allows customers to try on eyeglasses before they purchase them. In addition to this, Sephora has an AR application that lets customers visualize makeup on their faces without having to rely on product samples.
Augmented reality can even be used to help with the assembly of a purchased item, which is great for brands that sell complicated items such as furniture or electronics. It can also be used to explain how the product works or give step-by-step instructions on how to use it.
Whether it’s trying on makeup without leaving home or visualizing furniture in their living room before making a purchase, AR can create unique experiences that make a lasting impression on customers. By doing so, they are more likely to remember and return to the brand for future purchases.
Creativity
Incorporating AR into your retail business is a great way to stand out from your competitors. It helps boost customer loyalty and creates a memorable experience for your clients. It also enhances the user-friendly nature of your products and increases your brand visibility.
AR is transforming the retail industry by allowing consumers to experience seamless shopping experiences without having to travel to physical stores. Retailers have adopted two fundamentally different approaches to implementing this technology: in-store and out-of-store. The former involves the use of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, wearables like AR glasses or smart interactive mirrors, and special AR hardware including shop windows, mirrors, and fitting rooms. The latter entails using e-commerce apps or smartphone-based AR features to provide customers with extensive product information and help them navigate around brand stores, eliminating the need for human sales assistants.
Moreover, AR is helping brands break language barriers by catering digital experiences to customers in their native languages. This is possible through AR apps that let users see product descriptions in their preferred language, or by beaming holograms of products to their smartphones.
Furthermore, retailers have started using AR to stimulate demand for niche or expensive products by reducing consumer fears about unfamiliar product categories. For instance, Dulux’s augmented reality app lets customers visualize how a new paint color will look on their walls before making a purchase. This type of interaction with consumers reduces buyer frustration and returns, resulting in higher sales.