Aug 6, 2024

How Augmented Reality (AR) is Changing Online Shopping

Imagine you’re shopping for a new couch online. Instead of guessing how it will look in your living room, you can see it right there, perfectly placed in your space.

Or think about trying on a new dress virtually, seeing how it fits and flows without stepping into a store. This is the magic of augmented reality (AR) in online shopping, and it’s changing the way we buy things.

AR technology blends the physical and digital worlds, creating a shopping experience that's more convenient, engaging, and fun.

By overlaying digital images onto our real-world view through our smartphones or AR glasses, AR lets us interact with products in ways we never could before.

From fashion to furniture, AR is bringing products to life, helping us make better purchasing decisions and enjoy the process more.

What is Augmented Reality?

Before learning how AR is changing shopping, let's understand what AR actually is.

Augmented Reality, or AR, is a technology that adds digital content to the real world.

This digital content can be images, animations, sounds, or other sensory inputs.

Unlike virtual reality (VR), which creates a completely digital environment, AR enhances our real-world surroundings with digital elements.

In shopping, AR lets customers see products in their own environment or on their own bodies before making a purchase.

This can be done through a smartphone camera, a tablet, or even AR glasses.

For example, you can point your phone at your living room and see how a new sofa would look, or look at your face through an app to try on different makeup products. This mix of digital and physical worlds makes shopping more interactive and personalized.

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AR Shopping Trends to Look Out for in 2024

1. Social Media Apps and Camera Filters

Social media is a huge part of our lives and is now a big player in online shopping.

Platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok are adding AR features that let users try on products virtually.

Brands are creating AR filters that users can access through their phone cameras to see how clothes, accessories, and even makeup look on them.

These AR filters are not just for fun—they're powerful shopping tools.

Imagine seeing how a pair of sunglasses looks on your face before you buy them, or how a shade of lipstick matches your skin tone.

This makes the shopping experience more personalized and reduces the uncertainty of buying products online.

Plus, sharing these AR-enhanced selfies on social media can create buzz around products, helping brands reach more potential customers.

2. Virtual Try-On

One of the biggest challenges of online shopping is not being able to try before you buy.

AR is solving this problem with virtual try-ons.

This technology lets you see how products look on you through your phone or computer screen.

Whether it’s clothes, shoes, glasses, or even makeup, virtual try-ons give you a realistic preview of how the product will fit and look.

Fashion and beauty brands are leading the way with virtual try-ons. For example, beauty brands like Sephora and L’Oréal have apps that let you try on different makeup products virtually.

You can see how a particular eyeshadow or lipstick looks on your face, helping you make better buying decisions.

Similarly, fashion brands are using AR to let customers see how clothes fit their body shape and size, making online shopping more reliable and less prone to returns.

3. Virtual Showroom

Gone are the days when you had to visit a store to see a product in person.

With AR, you can now explore virtual showrooms from the comfort of your home.

These virtual showrooms allow you to see and interact with products as if you were in a physical store.

You can walk through a virtual space, look at products from different angles, and even see how they would fit in your own home.

Furniture and home décor brands are at the forefront of this trend.

Companies like IKEA and Wayfair have AR apps that let you place virtual furniture in your living space.

You can see how a new couch looks in your living room or how a bookshelf fits in your study.

This not only helps you visualize the product but also ensures that it matches your existing décor and fits in your space.

4. Better AR Hardware Options

As AR technology advances, the hardware we use to experience it is getting better too.

Smartphones and tablets are becoming more powerful, with better cameras and sensors that make AR experiences smoother and more realistic.

In addition, AR glasses are becoming more accessible, allowing for hands-free AR experiences.

These advancements in hardware mean that AR shopping features are becoming more common and accessible to a wider audience.

Improved hardware also means better graphics and more interactive AR experiences.

This makes online shopping more engaging and enjoyable, as customers can explore products in more detail and interact with them in new ways.

5. AR Mirrors for In-Store Shopping

While AR is making waves in online shopping, it’s also transforming the in-store experience.

AR mirrors, also known as "magic mirrors," are being installed in physical stores, allowing customers to try on clothes virtually.

These mirrors use AR technology to superimpose digital images of clothing onto your reflection, so you can see how an outfit looks on you without actually trying it on.

This technology is particularly popular in fashion and beauty stores.

It not only saves time but also enhances the shopping experience.

You can quickly try on multiple outfits or makeup looks without the hassle of changing clothes or applying and removing makeup.

AR mirrors are also great for social sharing—customers can take photos of their virtual try-ons and share them with friends for feedback.

6. Using AR to Gamify In-Store Shopping

Some brands are taking AR a step further by using it to gamify the shopping experience.

Gamification involves incorporating game-like elements into non-game activities to make them more engaging and fun.

In the context of shopping, this could mean creating AR treasure hunts or challenges that customers can participate in while they shop.

For example, a store might have an AR app that guides customers to hidden virtual objects around the store.

Finding these objects could unlock special discounts, rewards, or even exclusive products.

This not only makes the shopping experience more enjoyable but also encourages customers to spend more time in the store and explore more products.