What is augmented reality for e-shops?
If customers buy goods in a brick-and-mortar store, they have the opportunity to try the products, see their full size, colors or how the product will look in the space. While these options are not entirely possible in an online environment, augmented reality aka AR, offers a way to provide customers with more comprehensive information about your products, right from the comfort of their homes. Let's look at what augmented reality is and how you can place it on your e-shop.
What is Augmented Reality?
Even though people are used to shopping online, there are still products that require more contextual information, and this can be a barrier to selling certain categories. If you sell furniture, for example, customers can place a physical model of the bed directly in their bedroom thanks to augmented reality on your e-shop. Augmented reality is thus a bridge between online and brick-and-mortar shopping, as it facilitates the presentation of goods and gives customers a better understanding of the products they are buying.
What is the difference between augmented reality and virtual reality?
The two terms are very often confused, but they are actually different. Virtual reality puts you in an artificially created world. In contrast, with augmented reality, you still perceive the surroundings, which will only be expanded by some aspects. You also don't need any special equipment for augmented reality, a smartphone is all you need. And thanks to this, everyone can enjoy augmented reality from their mobile phone today.
What is the use of augmented reality?
Augmented reality will allow customers to view products in their own environment, making them more likely to choose the right product the first time. Customers really want to know what they are getting, and augmented reality in the e-shop will help them understand what they are buying.
The size of a product and its spatial location can be difficult even if you see the product directly in a brick-and-mortar store, and especially if the customer only views it on a display. By placing an augmented reality preview, you allow customers to view the product right in their environment. They can see what a new sofa in their living room or a swimming pool in the garden will look like.
How to transfer augmented reality to the e-shop?
Augmented reality placement may seem complicated, but the opposite is true. The goods are converted into 3D models and placed on your e-shop using iframes or direct links. So there is no need for customers to download the app because all the objects can be seen immediately on the web. The whole process is under the auspices of WEB AR software, which works on platforms such as Wordpress, Shopware, Shopify or Shoptet.
