The world of e-commerce is a competitive one and if you do not fulfil the expectations of your customers, they will move on. Augmented reality (AR) is a powerful and effective technology for enhancing customer experiences. Indeed, research indicates that conversion rates for products can increase by up to 94% if they incorporate AR experiences. Here, you’ll learn five ways to leverage augmented reality in e-commerce and enhance customer experience.
What Is Augmented Reality?
Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that overlays digital elements, such as 3D models, graphics, or animations, onto the real world. Through devices like smartphones and tablets, shoppers can virtually interact with products, exploring them in 3D and often in real-time. This immersive approach bridges the gap between physical retail and online shopping, providing a more lifelike preview of items.
5 Ways to Leverage Augmented Reality in Your E-Commerce Store
According to Snap Inc., over 100 million consumers actively make use of AR technology for online retail shopping. Indeed, you may be losing out if you do not leverage AR in your e-commerce store.
Here are five ways to leverage augmented reality in your eCommerce store:
- Use AR To Provide Extensive Product Details
You can use AR to innovatively provide your customers with extensive product details and thereby boost e-commerce sales. After all, they will gain an in-depth understanding of the product and be more likely to purchase it.
In essence, you can provide an immersive (3D model) experience to customers, letting them view products from multiple angles and different lighting conditions. More so, they can interact with your products virtually and more easily understand product features and benefits.
In this way, you can provide customer experiences that trump traditional experiences that fail to accurately depict aspects such as product sizes, texture, and colour. This is even more effective because providing a realistic visualization of products helps to reduce incidences of returns and enhance customer satisfaction.
You can find an example of this AR application in IKEA’s AR app. It allows you to assess virtual furniture placements in your home for the right fits and looks.
Other ways to leverage AR and provide detailed information to your customers include setting scannable QR codes to display 3D product models or videos when customers scan them. You can also embed AR experiences into your brochures which can include interactive quizzes, maps, or 3D graphics.
- Provide Personalised Shopping Experiences
The ability to predict a customer’s choices and offer them to them at the right moment can make a difference in conversion rates. This is what AR and machine learning (ML) integration into eCommerce can bring you. Your customers can receive personalized product recommendations based on their browsing history or previous purchases.
Moreover, research reveals that the purchasing tendency of customers increases by up to 80% when they receive personalised experiences from an e-commerce app. to purchase when an e-commerce app offers them a personalised experience.
To put this into practice, you should first use insights from customer analytic tools to better understand the needs and preferences of your customers. Thereafter, you can take steps to implement targeted marketing campaigns and product offerings. For example, you may create personalised virtual try-on experiences for your customers that let them check how particular products (like dresses) look on them before they make a purchase.
Another way to implement this personalized experiences strategy is to combine AR with CallPop software. You will receive a pop-up containing relevant user information during support or service calls. Then you can use this information to personalize the experience of the customer.
To see AR and personalization in action you may check out Nike’s AR app which lets you customize shoe designs according to colours and materials.
Related: 8 Steps to Master Customer Journey Mapping: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Incorporate Interaction Design Principles for Enhanced Engagement
You can use AR to enhance customer engagement and provide interactive and immersive experiences for them. This can help you improve sales and return purchases.
Start by using AR to allow customers to explore and interact with your products. Ensure that you incorporate interaction design principles in the AR experiences for a more engaging shopping experience. Your customers will therefore tend to stay longer in your online store and ultimately make a purchase.
An example of this AR application in e-commerce can be found in Lacoste’s AR app. You can view their virtual fashion show and explore product collections.
- Run Interactive Product Demos
Give your customers the room to explore the features and benefits of your products in a virtual space. These AR-powered interactive product demonstrations are a great option for showcasing complex products, prototypes, and conceptual design models. Your customers can even visualise the final products and leave their feedback even before you physically make them.
- Gamify Experiences to Engage Customers
It is possible to excite, attract, and engage your customers by combining gaming elements with AR technology. You can entice them with game rewards such as freebies and discounts. At the same time, you will be building a community of customers who interact together. Ultimately, you enhance customer experiences and loyalty.
Also read: The Impact of Influencer Marketing: A Case Study of Nike’s “Dream Crazy” Campaign
Steps to Implement AR in E-Commerce
Below is a concise roadmap to successfully deploy AR in your E-commerce strategy.
- Consider Costs and ROIs
It is essential for you to properly consider the associated costs and potential return on investment that an investment in AR may bring to your e-commerce business.
- Budget for development, testing, and marketing.
- Forecast returns by evaluating potential conversion boosts and customer satisfaction.
After all, statistics indicate that 30% of small-business failures are traceable to insufficient monthly cash flow generation.
Learn Best Practices for Effective Inventory Management in Your Online Store
- Carefully Choose the Right AR Technology
You have to carefully consider aspects such as your budget and available internal resources before incorporating AR into your online retail processes. Selecting the most suitable AR platform or tool depends on:
- Business size and available resources.
- User expectations and desired features (e.g., web-based AR vs. app-based AR).
- Compatibility with existing E-commerce frameworks like Shopify, Magento, or WooCommerce.
- Integrate The AR Solution into Your E-Commerce Store
Various e-commerce platforms provide built-in support for AR experiences. For instance, you may use the default 3D renderings in Shopify to upload AR models. On the other hand, you can use tools such as Shopify’s AR Quick Look to implement custom AR models. Alternatively, you can consult AR development companies for help.
- Start Creating AR Experiences
Your focus in this step is to create interactive and engaging AR experiences. Focus on realism and ease of use. For instance:
- Enable virtual try-ons, allowing customers to “wear” or “test” products in real-time.
- Offer detailed instructions or tutorials to guide first-time AR users.
Learn How to Utilize Data Analytics to Predict Consumer Behaviour Change
- Monitor and Measure Performance
You should be able to measure the impact your AR solution has on sales and customer experience. This can include measuring the changes in key performance indicators such as cart conversion rates, order conversion rates, and return rates.
Related: Understanding Market Trends: Tools & Techniques for 2025
- Prioritize Customer Data Security
A major concern with most emerging technologies is customer data security and privacy. You must take steps to curb potential data breaches and ensure the security of sensitive customer data. For example, you should confirm that the file-transfer service provides security features that include TPN (Trusted Partner Network) verification. It should also have ISO 27001 certification. It can be a serious security risk if the personal and financial information of customers is not secure when they use your AR shopping app.
Enhance Customer Experiences with Augmented Reality
You can leverage augmented reality in your e-commerce strategy to help you drive conversions and enhance customer experience. Your customers can receive more product details, engage with interactive demos, and enjoy personalized shopping and gamified experiences. Remember to factor in costs, choose the right AR tools, and prioritize customer data security in your efforts to exceed customer expectations. In this way, you can differentiate your brand from your competitors and build stronger relationships with your customers.
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