Applications of Augmented Reality in The World of Retail

Augmented reality is more than just a possibility. It has taken a greater relevance in the COVID-led world. Retail brands have become more creative in using the technology to increase engagement and sales.

When its physical retail stores were shut, the mega beauty brand Ulta turned to AR. Their virtual try-on tool GLAMlab allows shoppers to test out thousands of make-up products. Ulta says GLAMlab has seen a “surge in usage” since the pandemic began. Their user engagement increased seven-fold. They are also piloting an AR-based try-on service inside its physical stores.

Before the pandemic, 79% of shoppers tried on items before buying. For 55% of customers, seeing, touching, and trying on apparel is the “most important” factor when deciding to shop in-store vs. online.

With customer safety becoming a priority, more retailers are beginning to use AR. If you are looking for some inspiration to incorporate AR technology into your business, this post is for you.

Examples of AR in Retail

From beauty products to jewelry, augmented reality Android/iOS app development is changing the retail sector. Here are some popular product segments that use augmented reality.

1. AR in Furniture Industry

The furniture industry was one of the earliest adopters of AR technology. Brands like IKEA, Wayfair, Target, and Houzz became trendsetters by giving online shoppers access to visualizing products in their own space.

For starters, users first choose an item from the online database. After selection, shoppers point their devices to the desired place. A realistic 3D version of the item pops up on their mobile screens. Further, they can change its pattern or color, and move it to check the size and fit.

2 million people have used Houzz’s ‘View in My Room’ feature. The feature in the Houzz app gives customers the power to virtually place products from the Houzz Shop in their home before buying.

Ikea Place was one of the first apps to use Apple’s ARKit tech. With Ikea Place, customers can browse through 2,000 products and view 3-D renderings from different angles. The app further directs to the website to complete the purchase. According to IKEA, AR apps provide 98% accuracy.

Wayfair, the online furniture store, provides customers with the possibility to use WayfairView. The app allows customers to position 3D images of furniture in their own interiors.

Instead of mere guesswork, AR helps shoppers make an accurate purchase decision. This drastically reduces product return.

2. AR in Beauty Industry

Technology in the beauty industry is not a new thing. There were already virtual consultations and 3D visuals to imagine plastic surgery. It’s just that in the pandemic era, the pace of innovation is accelerating.

L’Oréal is set to launch their “Perso” personalized beauty device. The device provides at-home personalized formulas based on real-time data and analysis. L’Oréal Paris also has AR-powered try-ons on their webpage and mobile app. The app allows shoppers to virtually try on over 100 products, including hair color, eye shadow, and lipstick.

Last year, cosmetics giant MAC launched a Virtual Try-On feature in partnership with YouCam. The brand also offers virtual makeup within their YouTube videos. MAC was the first brand to test out the AR functionality on YouTube. Viewers can try on different shades of lip colors on the video platform. After trying on lipstick, they can click the Shop button to visit the website to purchase.

AR-based virtual try-on is a popular trend in the beauty sector. With a visual makeup try-on app, users can test lipsticks, eyelashes, and other makeup accessories to get the perfect look. These apps enable beauty businesses to increase sales, user engagement, and customer satisfaction. Moreover, it also reduces the chances of return orders.

3. AR in Apparel Industry

“Augmented reality is going to change the way that the fashion industry creates, showcases, and retails its products. The year ahead will see an explosion in opportunities for this immersive technology to totally redefine what we understand as fashion today,” said Matt Drinkwater, head of the Fashion Innovation Agency.

In the fashion industry, AR has risen as a powerful solution for both retailers and customers. For customers, AR offers a more seamless shopping experience. For brands, it drives sales on top of engagement.

The most popular example of AR in fashion is Zara’s AR app. After downloading the AR app, users hold up their phone camera at a mannequin or to the store window, and the clothing comes to life.

Gap has an augmented reality app called “DressingRoom”. The app allows users to virtually try on clothes. Users first enter information like height and weight, the app then places a 3D model in front of them.

4. AR in Jewelry Industry

Customers prefer offline stores when buying jewelry as online doesn’t give them a chance to try on products. Browsing rings, necklaces, and other jewelry doesn’t give a real idea about looks, and details. But luckily, with AR it is possible to allow customers to “try before buy”. Jewelry AR apps also allow user data collection which jewelry retailers can use to personalize sale offers or adjust the marketing strategy.

Say Yes offers a wide range of engagement and wedding rings. The app uses hand recognition to scan the hand. Using the try-on feature, users can put on a virtual ring and see how it looks on them. Another useful feature is social sharing. The app allows users to share the final look on their social media platforms.

Ways to Incorporate AR in Retail Business

1. Augmented Immersive Catalogue – Augmented catalog is an application with the ability to virtually visualize products in real-life. Using it, offline retailers can increase the capacity of their stores without having to expand the store. Shoppers can have a preview of the product irrespective of whether the item is available at that moment. Online retailers can overcome the disadvantage of not having a brick-and-mortar store. With an AR app, customers can visualize the product in real-time.
2. In-store navigation – Allows customers to find what they are looking for without wasting time. Retailers are investing heavily in technology solutions in their brick-and-mortar outlets. The Mall of America, Harrods, and Target use beacon technology for indoor navigation and proximity marketing. Another popular example of in-store navigation is Lowe’s in-Store navigation app. The brand leverages Google’s augmented reality technology Tango to guide customers through the store. By using Tango-enabled smartphones, shoppers create a list of required items in the app and access product reviews/information to make more informed decisions.
3. Try-on Feature – Virtual try-on is the way a customer can “try-on” a product using devices equipped with a camera. Businesses in the fashion, jewelry, and beauty industry can allow customers to see themselves in the latest pair of glasses, shoes, clothes, try beauty products, etc. This is a proven way to improve engagement, shopping process, and deliver a personalized experience. Virtual try-on is not just for online retailers. Virtual trial rooms or smart mirrors enable shoppers to visualize items without physically trying them.

Starting with Augmented Reality in Retail

The growing market of augmented reality Android and iOS app development services are enabling businesses to explore ways to implement the technology. For online retailers, the first step in implementing augmented reality is to decide the type of AR app. There are two main types of augmented reality:

1. Marker-Based Augmented Reality

2. Markerless Augmented Reality

• Marker-Based AR – Marker-based AR also called Image Recognition uses markers to trigger an augmented experience. It detects the object in front of the camera and provides information on the screen. You can use a marker-based AR app to provide additional information to the users. For instance, when customers scan a product, they get to see the details of the product.
• Marker-less AR – Marker-less is also known as location-based AR. This type of app places virtual 3D objects in the physical environment. The technology uses a device’s location and sensors to register 3D graphics in the real environment. These apps are useful to show physical objects in relation to other objects. IKEA Place and Pokémon Go are examples of Markerless AR.

Once you know the type of app you wish to create, next is to decide the features. During augmented reality Android/iOS app development, consider integrating features like location tracking, AR-enabled product catalog, try-on feature, search filter, payment gateway, etc.

AR is Transforming Retail – Are You Ready?

All the above-discussed examples are proof that there is no limit to how augmented reality can change the retail business. Apps like IKEA Place ease the shopping experience, while apps like Sephora Virtual Artist are an excellent way to improve engagement.

It’s time that you decide what type of app you want to create for your business because the possibilities are endless.

We are an AR app development firm that understands the need to deliver interactive experiences that drive sales. We can guide you through all the stages of development right from iteration to bug testing. Our development process typically includes – requirement analysis > initial stage design > development > quality assurance. Tell us about your app idea, and we can design and develop a fully-functional, feature-rich AR app for your retail business.

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