Virtual Reality Shopping

Many retailers are exploring new ways to engage customers in an interactive shopping experience. From luxury fashion labels to beauty brands, companies are incorporating VR-powered experiences into their digital offerings. VR shopping allows customers to immerse themselves in an interactive digital world, and explore products without the need to visit a physical store. In this blog post I will discuss the various aspects of VR shopping and things you need to take into account before adopting this.

Finny Chellakumar

10/26/20203 min read

Virtual Reality (VR) shopping is an immersive way for customers to virtually visit a store and shop from the comfort of their own home [1]. It allows shoppers to sample products, try on clothing and makeup, and get a realistic view of what they’re buying before they purchase it [2]. Additionally, this technology also allows for virtual showrooms, enabling customers to experience products in a more realistic environment [2].

VR shopping also allows for a more personalized experience, as customers can get a feel for the product before they buy it [3]. This technology is becoming increasingly popular, and is revolutionizing the retail industry by providing customers with an unprecedented level of convenience and personalization [3].

There are a number of use cases for VR shopping, the most common of which include virtual product demonstrations, virtual showrooms, virtual try-ons, and virtual tours [4]. Virtual product demonstrations allow customers to experience a product in a realistic way, such as trying on a pair of shoes before buying them [5].

Virtual showrooms are a great way for retailers to showcase their products in a realistic environment, which can help drive sales [6]. Virtual try-ons allow customers to try on clothes, makeup, accessories and more without ever having to leave their home [6]. Finally, virtual tours give customers a better understanding of retail stores, allowing them to explore the store without ever having to step foot in it [7].

What are the VR shopping platforms available?

While there are many emerging products in the industry, I have consolidated few which has made its mark among retailers.. So here is the list for you .

Vue.ai is an end-to-end retail automation platform that allows retailers to create 3D virtual shopping experiences [7].
Poplar Studio uses visualization technology to power new generation shopping experiences across e-commerce websites, social commerce and the metaverse [7].
OBSESS is another leading virtual store platform that helps brands and retailers create custom metaverse shopping experiences integrated with e-commerce sites [8].

Have retailers adopted VR Shopping? who are they?

Many retailers have adopted VR shopping in order to provide customers with new and engaging shopping experiences. Companies that have already experimented with new forms of online shopping are becoming early adopters of the technology, such as Dyson, Tommy Hilfiger, Charlotte Tilbury and Dermalogica [10,11].

Tech and media analysis firm Omdia estimates that 2.4 million Oculus Quest 2 headsets have been sold in its first three months of availability in 2020, with a further 7 million expected to be sold by the end of this year [12].

Finally, there are a number of augmented reality (AR) shopping apps available, such as Home Depot, IKEA, Wayfair, Target, Sephora, Amazon and Nike [9].

Are you considering adopting VR Shopping experience? Is it suitable for you?

Now coming to a more important question.. Is VR shopping a good candidate to be included into your retail tech budget?.. While VR shopping is becoming increasingly popular and available for a variety of industries, some verticals may not be suited for this technology. Some verticals, such as grocery stores, may not benefit from VR shopping as much due to the need for fresh products and limited shelf-life of certain items.

Additionally, for certain products, such as furniture, customers may need to physically see and touch the product in order to assess its quality and make a purchase decision. Furthermore, some customers may find the technology to be clunky and difficult to use, thus leading to a decrease in customer satisfaction and sales.

Ultimately, VR shopping may be better suited for certain verticals, such as apparel, beauty, and accessories, than others.

As a retailer, what should you prepared for while you build the VR shopping experience!

Before building a VR shopping platform, there are a few key considerations to be aware of. Firstly, it is important to ensure that the platform is as easy-to-use and intuitive as possible to ensure a positive user experience.

The platform should also be optimized for low latency and high-quality graphics, as well as being secure and reliable. Additionally, it is important to have the infrastructure, resources, and support in place to provide users with assistance if needed.

Last but not least, it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of the customer base in order to create a tailored shopping experience.

References:

Virtual Reality Shopping

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Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-boy-wearing-vr-goggles-5303587/