Capture customer attention and give an outstanding shopping experience with AR

Augmented Reality (AR) is quickly becoming an essential tool for businesses looking to capture customer attention and provide an outstanding shopping experience. By 2025, nearly 75% of the global population and almost all people who use social/communication apps will be frequent AR users. This makes AR an excellent way to stand out in the crowded e-commerce market and drive conversions.

Here are 5 ways and examples how to use augmented reality as a significant value in your online store, showroom or overall communication with a customer:

1. Bring web Augmented Reality to your ecommerce

Do you think AR experience would be useful to your clients? Interactions with products having AR content leads to a 94% higher conversion rate than products without AR, according to Shopify. Imagine a customer browsing through your online store, and being able to virtually try on a piece of clothing, or see how a piece of furniture would look in their living room before making a purchase. This level of interactivity and engagement can lead to a significant boost in conversions and reduce returns

Although web AR and the tools that use it seem to be modern, creating and using it in an online store can be very simple. All you need is a 3D model of the product or, for example, a photo of an image or poster. Next step is converting the file to AR formats (USDZ or GLB) and using a simple system to be embedded on the store's website in the form of a button or widget. Most importantly, for a smooth shopping process, web AR does not require downloading external applications.

There are also more sophisticated ways to use AR in e-commerce, e.g. virtual trying on, animations or displaying personalized products.

2. Bring customer attention to the store or showroom. 

The customer in the store, using AR, can display additional information about the product, reviews its use or other variants. Depending on the kind of effect you lack in the physics store this is the key to thinking about how to address it using AR. You can use webAR to bring more attention to some products, their features, or build brand awareness. Cosmetics brands, for example, set up sampling devices in drugstores with contour-based AR function, which enable virtually trying out lipsticks, without the need to physically apply the product. The producer of mineral water can show information about the history of the source and its mineral composition.

But, if you need to drive foot traffic via storefronts, you can add AR to the Christmas Window. For example, Harrods used AR in their Christmas windows to bring an extra dimension to their storefront

3. Use AR in your social media strategy.

Brands can use AR effects in social media to increase customer interaction, product awareness, and generate word-of-mouth. Platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook all offer different AR features such as product visualizations, mini-games, and virtual try-ons. Think of a customer scrolling through their Instagram feed, and being able to virtually try on a pair of sunglasses or see a product in action. This level of engagement can increase product awareness and drive sales.

According to Snapchat, more than 250 million people engage with AR on Snapchat everyday on average. Snapchat has broad mobile reach among Gen Z and millennials and communicates as AR friendly platform

Instagram and Facebook on the other hand are popular among all audience demographics. Both platforms have a Stories feature and offers AR features like product visualizations, mini-games and image trackers and virtual try-ons.

TikTok which is growing very fast is popular mainly among the youngest demographic group. Tiktok created and opened the dedicated AR effects tool to all users named Effect House. RR filters also can be used by brands e. g. face masks, funny distortions and animated backgrounds or AR games.

Here is an example showing how  Coca-Cola was promoting its Coke Summer Music events with an augmented reality experience on photo-messaging app Snapchat.

4. Augmented Reality (AR) is a powerful tool for creating engaging and interactive marketing campaigns.

By incorporating AR into your marketing strategy, you can distinguish your product and educate customers about its features in a fun and memorable way. The process is simple - customers simply scan a product, packaging, or QR code with their smartphone to trigger an AR experience. This opens up a world of possibilities for enhancing the customer experience and showcasing your product in a new and exciting way. For example, customers can see additional product features or animations that bring your product to life. By providing a unique and immersive experience, AR can help build brand awareness and increase customer engagement, ultimately driving sales. So, if you're looking to stand out in the crowded marketplace, consider incorporating AR into your next marketing campaign.

5. Build better relationships with your customers.

AR can be used to entertain, enhance, or create a great post-purchase experience for customers. For example, using AR in newsletters, post-purchase communication, or Christmas messages can make them more engaging and memorable.Here are some examples:

• Support the post-purchase experience by using AR as a tutorial when using the product for the first time, e.g. in the case of an espresso machine or washing machine, or when folding or unfolding a sofa, cabinet. It is not without reason that AR and VR have been developing the most in the fields of training and education over the past year. 

• Use AR to enhance customer communication and retention: Imagine sending a newsletter with an AR component that allows customers to display a new product at home that perfectly matches the first both in your store

In conclusion, AR is an excellent tool for businesses to capture customer attention, provide an outstanding shopping experience, and drive conversions. By using web AR in e-commerce, physical stores, or social media brands can set themselves apart from the competition and build stronger relationships with their customers.