At the first mention of augmented reality (AR), many people imagine some high-end, expensive, and out-of-this-world technology, but that’s not it. Things are changing, and the covid period saw the e-commerce sector revamp how things are done.
AR is one of the changes that took many by surprise and is making huge profits for businesses that know how to utilize it. Everything about AR, from virtual shopping to interactive user manuals, makes this technology a must-implement for e-commerce.
If you have no idea what AR is and its growing role in e-commerce, stick around, as this post will detail everything you should know about AR and e-commerce. Let’s jump right into it!
Table of Contents
Understanding Augmented Reality
Have you ever imagined how easy life would be if you could test furniture before purchasing it? We are talking about testing the size, color, style, and how it blends in with your house without the hassle of purchasing an item only to return it because it doesn’t match!
Well, AR is making that a reality. AR is a technology that lets users blend the real world with virtual elements, especially in the e-commerce space. With AR, you can check how a given outfit will look on you in the comfort of your phone or how a given painting will make your room appear without getting your hands dirty. That’s AR at its best, and we will see how e-commerce is benefitting from it.
How AR is Playing a Huge Role in E-commerce
You are probably already thinking about the different ways AR can be applied in e-commerce or its significant role in the e-commerce sector. Here are the tops ways that AR is benefitting e-commerce.
Increased Conversion and Sales
Thanks to AR, your customers can visit your brand online, check the different products you have, test them using AR to see if they meet what they are looking for, and purchase confidently.
Brands that are using AR are experiencing more sales. Customers love how shopping has simplified and how AR has eliminated disappointments when they buy something only to reach home and find it doesn’t look, fit, or match as they hoped.
With AR, e-commerce has witnessed quicker buying rates as customers don’t have to keep moving from one e-commerce site to another, estimating if a given item will work best.
Reduce Product Returns
E-commerce faced a tough time with customers returning items they had bought after trying them out. Most customers were disappointed in how an item didn’t look as it appeared on the e-commerce site or how a given item failed to blend in with other things, such as furniture.
Returning of items was lagging the sector and causing losses. However, AR simplifies things by letting a customer visualize how an item will look on the ground before purchasing it. That way, customers can make confident buying decisions and won’t be disappointed after purchasing the item as they have already tested it virtually.
Attracting New Customers
Some curious people love exploring things on different e-commerce sites. When potential customers land on your site and notice you have AR integrated, they will likely start testing things like outfits, kitchenware, interior décor, etc.
Eventually, you will have new customers, as most will be eager to convert the virtual feeling into a reality by purchasing the different products you offer.
Interactive User Manuals
We’ve been used to asking for a user manual when buying different items, especially electronics. For e-commerce dealing with products that require a manual guide, integrating AR into the business is a lifesaver.
Instead of giving manuals to customers, a simple scan of the product will give the customer a virtual walkthrough of how they should use a given item. That way, the customer will experiment with new features and quickly get comfortable with the item they bought.
For the e-commerce brand, these interactive manuals have reduced customer care inquiries, giving the team room to focus on other tasks.
Value Addition
A brand that uses AR is more likely to add to its value. Here’s the thing, most customers are willing to spend more on a brand that allows them to virtually test an item before purchasing it.
Again, when customers use AR to test the item, they make a better buying decision. In most cases, they will buy unintended items as supplements for their main item. For instance, a customer can quickly furnish their living room after using AR to see how the room would appear after a complete makeover.
Better Customer Relationship
Your customers matter. When you satisfy them, they will have more reasons to keep buying from you and referring you to others. One way e-commerce has benefited from AR is increased customer satisfaction.
By giving the customer room to test before they buy, the customer makes confident decisions and will be willing to try other items even if they don’t plan to buy them now. That way, you’ve strengthened the bond with customers, creating room for more sales.
Your e-commerce is lagging if you don’t have AR to revamp things. If developing such technology sounds overwhelming, visit Zolak and have the team integrate AR into your e-commerce business. You will appreciate the returns and impact that AR will bring to you.
Conclusion
Augmented reality is playing a profitable role in e-commerce. Businesses that have managed to tap into this technology enjoy different benefits, including increased sales, reduced product returns, better brand awareness, customer satisfaction, etc. We’ve discussed what AR is and its role in e-commerce. With the knowledge shared in this post, you can comfortably go ahead and implement AR in your e-commerce and enjoy its benefits. Utilizing a team like Zolak to help you implement AR in your e-commerce.
