Introduction
Augmented reality, virtual reality and AI is changing the way we shop. Retailers can use these technologies to give shoppers more personalized and interactive experiences in-store.
Virtual showroom
In a virtual showroom, the customer can see how products look in their home, office or car. This is particularly useful for customers who cannot physically visit a store location (e.g., if they live in another country).
Customers can also use such technology to get a feel for what it would be like to have certain products around them and how they might fit into their lives. This is particularly true when it comes to furniture and other items that require careful consideration before purchase.
Virtual shopping
Virtual shopping is a new concept, but it has come a long way from the days of early online stores. Today, customers have the ability to experience products in a variety of ways. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technology allows retailers to bring products into their customers’ homes for testing purposes. This helps them make more informed decisions about purchasing products—and it’s also just plain fun! Customers can see how different items will look in their living rooms or kitchens before they buy them. They can even try on clothing items before they buy them with VR applications like Magic Mirror or Virtual Mirror by Sephora.
If you’re interested in using AR or VR technology for your own business, here are some things to consider:
- ARKit is one of the most popular platforms for developing AR experiences right now; here’s everything you need to know about getting started with Apple’s tech
Personalized individual product experience
The customer can experience the product in a virtual environment and make a decision to buy the product or not. This can be done through augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR). In this scenario, you have access to customer data so you know exactly what they are looking at and how they interact with it. For example, if a customer is trying on glasses, you’ll know if they are taking them off because they don’t like them or putting them on again because they do like them. When using AR technology, personalized individual product experience gives store associates the ability to guide customers through their selection process using visual cues such as arrows that point out key features of each option available for purchase. With VR technology, shoppers can try out products in realistic environments before making any decisions about which products best suit their needs and preferences.
Collaborative virtual shopping
A new way of working together, one that will allow retailers to reach customers in ways they haven’t been able to before.
In collaborative retail, shoppers and merchants can work together on the best possible experience for both sides. This may start with a product design process that begins with consumer input, such as 3D printing models of products or asking questions about what customers would like to see in their store. It could also involve training your staff on how to use apps like FaceTime or Skype to connect with customers remotely in real-time (or even virtual reality).
You might also consider adding interactive elements into your marketing campaigns, so that people can participate from home by watching videos or trying out games. Collaborative marketing gives customers a chance to interact with brands through social media or by commenting on blog posts—and provides an opportunity for brands’ sales teams (or individual employees) who are passionate about technology!
New marketing strategies
You can use these strategies to reach your target audience in a way that feels organic, even if you’re not yet established in the virtual world.
In terms of integrated marketing, there are many ways to integrate your physical store with its online counterpart. For example, if you want customers who visit your online store to come into the brick-and-mortar location and make purchases there as well, consider offering discounts or other incentives for shopping at both locations (maybe even for completing certain tasks on social media).
Another strategy is advertising on social media platforms and through influencers who have large followings—such as celebrities or well-known bloggers—in order to promote your physical location within virtual reality. This may cost more than traditional advertising methods like billboards or newspaper ads but it’s also likely much more effective because users will be interested in purchasing items from an entertainer they know personally versus simply seeing an ad on television by someone who has no connection with them whatsoever!
Metaverse with AR, VR and AI to enhance the product/customer experience
With the advent of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI), the retail experience is rapidly changing. Retailers are using these technologies to enhance their product/customer experience by creating a virtual showroom that better reflects real-life products, offering an immersive shopping experience and personalizing it based on customer preferences.
- AR creates an even more immersive customer experience by allowing shoppers to see how their options would look in their own homes or on them with realistic graphics and lighting effects.
- VR also offers retailers a way to create a virtual showroom where customers can walk around and try out products without having to go anywhere or wait in lines or checkout lines at stores.
- The combination of AR and AI will make this process even more dynamic by personalizing the experience based on what they know about you as a consumer: your body type, height etc., so that you feel like the clothes really do fit you well—even though they’re only virtually trying them on!
Conclusion
The retail industry has been undergoing significant changes in the last decade and more traditional retailers are trying to adapt to new technologies. The latest trends include virtual showrooms, personalized products and collaborative shopping. All these developments will help brands create more engaging experiences for their customers.
