It's no secret that ecommerce has had a major impact on the way people shop. With advancements being made in on-demand app development and unique ecommerce retailer apps, today’s shoppers are buying more and more items online.
That said, surveys indicate that most consumers still prefer to make big purchases in person. While they may use the internet the research a product, when it comes to buying something like a piece of furniture, they still want to see how it looks in the real world before deciding to make the purchase. This prevents furniture retailers from selling many items to online customers.
Emerging technologies are changing that. Augmented reality (AR) is giving online shoppers the freedom to insert virtual renderings of furniture into their surroundings. This provides them with a better sense of how an item might look in their own homes. AR advancements will dramatically impact both the online and brick-and-mortar furniture shopping experience.
Why AR is changing the furniture shopping experience
AR tech was made popular by apps like Snapchat and Pokemon Go!. However, it has practical applications beyond the world of gaming and social media. AR lets users mix the virtual world with the real world via a phone, tablet, or wearable headset’s screen.
Major companies have already recognised how this technology can help shoppers determine if a large item is worth purchasing online. Both Ikea and Pottery Barn have released AR apps that let users clearly visualise how an item would look in their immediate surroundings.
It’s easy to understand the benefits of this feature. When shopping for furniture online, customers typically see pictures of items that don’t provide a clear sense of whether the items will match the decor of their homes.
Those pictures also make it difficult to truly understand how much space an item will take up. While the product description may offer measurements, knowing a piece of furniture will technically fit in a room isn’t the same as knowing whether or not it will take up so much space that the room feels cramped.
You truly need to see the item in the room to genuinely appreciate the impact it will have on the space’s overall aesthetic design. Thanks to AR, online shoppers now have that opportunity.
The mutual benefits of using AR to buy furniture
Understanding whether an item will fit in its intended space is just one benefit shoppers get from using AR to buy furniture. This feature can also inspire them to envision an overall design scheme for a particular room.
When customers have the freedom to insert virtual images into their surroundings, they’ll be more likely to explore their options. An item a shopper may have overlooked might catch their attention if they have the chance to see how it would blend in with their home’s decor.
This also benefits the retailer. Again, it boosts the likelihood that shoppers will make purchases online. However, even if a shopper is still convinced they need to see an item in person before buying it, AR can be a valuable research tool to get them into your store.
Perhaps a shopper spots an item of furniture on a retailer’s site and reads more about the product to get a sense of whether it’s right for their home. The static photos and product description may not be compelling enough to make a shopper take the trip to the nearest brick-and-mortar location.
With an AR feature, they can get a more dynamic view of the item. A piece of furniture that might have looked boring in a flat image could interest them when they have the opportunity to visualise how it would look in their living space. This boosts the odds that they’ll visit one of the retailer’s physical stores to see the item in person. Obviously, this can yield more bricks-and-mortar sales, as well as more ecommerce sales.
It’s easy to understand why many shoppers prefer to make larger purchases in the real world – it’s difficult to truly know whether an item of furniture will be a good fit for a room when shopping online. Luckily, AR is changing that in ways that will benefit both retailers and their customers.
Rae Steinbach is a freelance editor writing on behalf of award-winning app designer Blue Label Labs. From design and development to pre-launch marketing and post-launch maintenance, Blue Label Labs delivers mobile, tablet and watch apps for the modern consumer.
