Are Virtual Showrooms & Smartphones The New Sales Floor?
The Future Of Commerce and Augmented Reality.
Brands are increasingly turning to text messages, video chats and phone calls to sell to a generation of never not-shopping customers, is the addition of Augmented Reality virtual showrooms the natural progression of this trend?
Augmented Reality technology has come a long way, 2020 so far has seen an explosion of AR into the lives of anyone who owns a smartdevice. Shoppable AR advertising as well as a plethora of try on apps have made AR accessible to the masses via major brands and retailers.
Threads Styling are the perfect example of a commerce trend that is fully emerging in the market right now, the Threads shopfront is their Instagram page where instead of interacting with sales staff on the shop floor, customers shop the feed before chatting via DM or Messenger with chatbot and real sales assistants.
The digital landscape is moving at speed and social media, DM’s and text chat are very familiar to millenials as is Augmented Reality - the blending of these two huge retail trends is driving the emergence and evolution of the AR VR virtual showroom.
Virtual showrooms provide potential customers with the experience of being at a place without having to physically be there. Well designed UI and a well thought out customer journey ensures that a brand's look, feel and messaging is translated from the usual physical experience to the digital one. Depending on the product the customer can shop 3D Augmented Reality products, with the ability to try on, place in their own environment (see how that couch will look in your living room) and view up close in incredible detail from all angles.
- Virtual showrooms have the main benefit of being omnipresent.
Anyone with internet, a smart device or computer can enter the virtual showroom, allowing brands to showcase their collections to a 24/7 global audience, the virtual showroom never closes and an Australian in Melbourne could easily shop a showroom form a US brand. E-Commerce might have always allowed 24/7 access, but virtual showrooms offer brands the chance to recreate their physical stores for the online space, and with the added option of chatting with a representative online, via DM, text chat or AI powered chatbot.
Consumers can expect to see virtual showrooms and AR / VR experiences for the runway soon. Fast fashion brands such as Topshop and Zara have begun to embrace both VR and AR, but luxury brands, like Balenciaga, are also starting to join in. It is exciting to imagine the possibilities that could come with new and improved VR technology - No longer do customers need to go in-store to see how a particular piece or product fits their body or home. It could truly revolutionize the way people shop online, and could possibly provide access to a far wider audience.
- The future of retail is digital, brands will continue to push more and more brick and mortar functions into the online space - and, in the current COVID - 19 climate this could be the advancement that is needed to save the retail space.
If you would like to chat to us about an AR or VR strategy for your business, get in touch using the form below.