How AR can Help Improve Customer Engagement in eCommerce?

The first age of the internet was about information and the next one will be about experiences. The biggest companies of the first generation are built around access to information. Google's main goal is to sort out the world's information. Facebook gives you information about the important moments that occurred in the lives of your near and dear ones.

However, the coming generation of big companies is being built around giving people experiences. Snap Chat is meant for in-the-minute experiences with your friends with no digital information left behind. Airbnb plans to make you experience another city like a local.

And, with regards to retail, an impact of Augmented Reality on E-commerce customers is changing the whole game. This can be well studied from the stats supporting the statement of how AR improved e-commerce customer engagement.

This cutting-edge technology makes it possible for the owners to augment real-world shopping conditions with computer-generated resources, bringing efficiency, clarity, and comfort to the customers. 

But, how can retailers with little experience in this high-tech tool best use AR to help increase conversions? While there are different strategies, one of the techniques more retailers are utilizing is to improve customer engagement using AR. Here are the tips for increasing the Customer Engagement using AR:

Steps to engage e-Commerce customers with AR

By Improving Customer Experience 

The AR technology gives customers who shop online the opportunity to view the product in form of a model. They can connect with in a similar way they would if they were visiting a physical store. This gives the clients a superior feel of the product and how it fits into their lives. As per the reports, 61% of online customers like to make purchases on sites that offer AR technology.

By Providing Modification and Customization

Most of the customers like to explore various preferences and choices before buying a product. With AR, clients would now be able to experience this virtually from the solace of their homes. Customizations including designs, colors, patterns and much more can be explored with augmented reality.

By Increasing the Shopping Time

Today, most online stores offer instructional videos on a few products so as to enable the purchaser to understand the product. With Augmented reality not only they could interact with the product but they can also explore its functionalities. Generally, an average online customer spends about 2 minutes online before making a purchase, however, with the AR that time can be increased. Moreover, it has been showing that the more time a client spends in a store, the more certain they are to make a purchase.

Amazon Is Already On-Board

Amazon, an eCommerce and cloud computing organization has added 'AR View' function in its app for ease of shopping. As of now, Amazon offers AR view function for the selected number of products. But, the company has plans to continue including more products in this list so that customers can test the look and feel of it.

The products can be rotated to know how extensive it is and what it looks like when placed in the real area. AR view feature of Amazon application has improved shopping experience by giving customers a satisfied feeling and winning their confidence while placing the order.

Incorporating AR in eCommerce Websites Made Simpler

Forecasting the rising need of AR-based mobile applications in the coming future, big giants like Google and Apple have built up their very own Augmented Reality platform. These platforms make it easy for developers to develop eCommerce applications having AR features.

ARKit: Augmented Reality for iOS 

iOS app developers can breathe a sigh of relief with the accessibility of ARKit – a platform to develop AR iOS applications. This kit decreases the time and efforts of the developer in building apps that flawlessly mix digital objects and information with the real-world environment.

ARCore: Augmented Reality for Android 

ARCore is a software development kit for Android developers to create amazing applications with Augmented Reality capacities. This kit contains every one of the tools that developers require to make greater and better bets with AR that superbly blend the virtual and real world.

The Future of AR in eCommerce

Augmented Reality is the future of omnichannel experience. This technology uses the perk of online shopping, for example, convenience, and beats the challenges of 'vulnerability' to deliver impactful outcomes for eCommerce business. AR enables customers to interact with the product in real time and deliver touch and feel experience like that of in-store shopping.

By taking out the guesswork from online shopping, AR technology has lessened company losses resulting from return request of clients. These pain points are addressed with innovations in the field of eCommerce. AR enhanced e-Commerce customers, making their life easy and hassle-free. AR is genuinely a market differentiator and many eCommerce brands are betting big on it.