Augmented Reality in E-commerce: Benefits and Challenges

Want some staff for your next party? What is the easiest way for you to choose one? For sure, you will check out the online stores for new ultimate staff. You can sit on your couch, relax, and see through the different staff for yourself.

The new staff can be grocery, furniture, lifestyle, and anything you want is now available in the online stores. That’s how E-commerce or online shopping has taken place in our day-to-day life. And the use of the E-commerce curve is getting steeper all the way.

Now, why am I talking so much about online retailing? Because today, it has another emerging trend that is augmented reality. The AR trends have driven online selling-buying into an unreal dimension. Want to know more about the augmented reality in e-commerce? Then take a cup of coffee and enjoy this read.

What is Augmented Reality?

In simplest words, augmented reality is any computer or mobile application that allures users to experience a digital layer of information. How can you enjoy digital information? You don’t need to change your physical environment or go somewhere else.

Simply be at your place, then track the digital data to enjoy a real-time experience. It can be interchanged with virtual reality. But VR and AR are not the same. Augmented Reality will allow you to drag the virtual world into the existing physical environment.

That means no alteration of the real-time environment. But virtual reality completely changes your existing environment and takes you to another world. So, don’t get confused between these two.

How E-commerce Uses AR?

You can pick the best good for yourself regarding home goods, fashion, or any other type from the E-commerce sites. The online buying-selling trend can amplify 100 times using augmented reality trends.

You can maneuver your shopping trends by using AR. This technology has become an integral part of online shopping and industries. It reduces labor and offers a jitter-free experience for both ends.

Buyer and seller. If you have an AR-enabled device, then things are really easy for you. It takes a new turn for you. An E-commerce site that uses augmented reality is one step closer to their customer.

In 2023, it is clear that a customer ratio of 57% is likely to buy their stuff from an e-commerce site that has AR as integral. 

Through AR software and application, you can handle your choice on a quick note. Easy customization in online shopping is possible with AR. This tech allows you for real-time trial.

You can’t try the dresses online because there is no trial room! A funny note. But you can place your camera and then put on the dresses one by one to see how it looks on you.

Not only for accessories, shoes, and dresses; the same goes for home decor. So from fashion to home decor, it’s all possible with augmented e-commerce buying.

Benefits of Augmented Reality in E-commerce

I guess the benefits are very loud. Both the users and brands get benefitted from augmented reality in e-commerce. It provides an immersive product discovery experience for the customers out there from anywhere and anytime.

In AR-integrated e-commerce, there is no time for buying-selling. Anytime and anywhere you can start your shopping. So, let’s see how augmented reality facilitate the online-business trend single-handedly. 

Boost The Conversion Rate

Augmented Reality made it possible to try out the products on your own without having physical contact with them. When it comes to online selling, the brand owners monitored a surprising thing. The products with AR content shows higher selling rate than those which don’t have AR.

Almost 94% higher conversion for the products that are augmented. It has omitted the trouble of online shopping that sometimes people claim we can’t give a trial. But e-commerce that has AR lets the customers try out their chosen products, customize, and discard the unwanted readily.

However, the brand owners monitor the AR shopping trends to make their next business decision and campaigns.

Decline In Return Rates

In the begging, when people had to buy the goods without trial. But the augmented interface of online buying has enabled a true shopping environment. So, how does it help?

Customers can find the best product for their carts when they try it on; they can compare if the product is the same as described or not. This 3D visualization helps to finely screen the displayed products and customize them.

Eventually, once the product is delivered, the user gets their chosen products, as shown in augmented reality. So, no issues with returns. That ultimately saves the time of customers, brand, cost, and labor.

Higher ROI

It’s a blessing for all the brand owners out there who have implemented augmented reality in their online businesses. It’s prominent that most of the gigantic brands already have augmented reality in their business. Consequently, the customers find their perfect match product within a few tries.

Because through AR, you are more careful about your product details and customization. So, the premium experience lets the user invest more in your products. According to online market research, shoppers are more likely to buy goods online that have a 3D visualization model, and the rate is around 44%.

It can locate products quickly, add order numbers, and makes the selling process faster. Ultimately, it adds more value to your business and counts cash.

Makes Your Brand Visible

With AR-oriented business, you can stay forward all time from your competitor’s brands. When you add the 3D layer and premium customization services, your business can cross all the hurdles. So, brand visibility is one of the brightest sides of AR in online business. 

Improving CRM

You can surely expect to make a bridge between your customers and your business through AR. The efficiency of this technology, from product showcasing to product handling, customization, and product delivery, is unreal.

In this way, it attracts lots of customers and helps to build a trustworthy relationship. AR gives the platform for shoppers to select their very own products and express what they feel about the services and products.

These thoughts in the future allow the online shop to focus on different segments that need improvement. Ultimately improved customer relationship management is another good side of implementing AR in e-commerce.

Challenges of Augmented Reality in E-commerce

Despite having wonderful impacts on e-commerce, the shoppers and the brand owners may face some challenges with this new trend as well. What are those? Let’s see…

Difficult To Build

Building the ultimate AR business model is a cumbersome task. Each business is different from others in terms of policy, products, and team everything. So, when you want to connect your business with augmented reality trends, you need to be careful.

Nowadays, from small to gigantic, all online businesses are trying out the AR model. But how do you want to be different from others? You need to check on that. For that, you also need a skilled build-up team for maintenance.

Problem With Content And Use Cases

As an additional part of the business, it has some issues with credible use cases. AR processing is still in its baby phase, but yet it is popular. But when it comes to content development and use cases, it still needs some polish.

Some people find the way they get service from online shops with AR; they can find a similar service with AR. Making it the effective one with high-quality content and use case is one of the biggest challenges.

Inefficiency in Long Term Usage

Though it’s engulfing the online shopping trend, it has to set its remarks. Why is that? Because many customers feel incited to use it, they easily get hitched by the offline shops as well. So, why did this happen?

In this, the AR trends need to evolve quickly with customer preferences. Also, the availability of AR with any smartphone application or web is mandatory. There is still a lack of experts that can handle the AR problems and make it a long-term addition to online retails.

Security And Legal Issues

Sometimes, social and legal issues can arise using AR. Using someone other’s private space may not be allowed. So, augmented processing should be careful about that. Very specifically, when you are navigating to a physical environment of a customer, make sure it’s secure and not hijacking their data.

End Thought

Augmented Reality has been promoted highly for e-commerce. It gives a seamless and interactive environment for both the brand owners and professors.

No doubt, it’s paving the new way for smart shopping and business. Your intended customers can give a virtual tour of your online store, drag the merchandise into their cart, customize, and, yes, finally get the purchase with easy delivery.

AR processing has benefits and hurdles at the same time. But with higher maintenance, more e-commerce sites and brands can showcase their augmented services. Are you ready for shopping? Drop in.

Leave a Comment