Introduction to Connected Retail Ecosystems
From virtual try-ons to interactive product displays, augmented reality (AR) is redefining how brands engage customers and drive sales. However, it’s critical to know the importance of deploying AR in the suitable way that gives value for each retailers and their customers. While many are jumping on the AR bandwagon, only a couple of retailers are utilizing it effectively.
The Key to Unlocking AR’s Potential
The query is: If AR is useful, why isn’t everyone realizing it? The key lies in the suitable use of the technology. AR is exciting, nevertheless it shouldn’t be deployed in isolation. The technology’s true potential lies in integration with other technologies, ecosystems, and real-world applications. When leveraged in tandem with other advanced technologies – corresponding to RFID, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) – and connected with the broader retail ecosystem, AR can deliver personalized and frictionless customer experiences in real-time.
Customer Experience Benefits from Integrating AR
Offering immersive interactive experiences and interesting in-store experiences, AR-powered solutions are redefining the shopper shopping experience (CX). From streamlining operations to tailoring customer experiences, retailers can use AR in a variety of ways to reap its full value.
Real-time Inventory Visibility for Customers
If retailers can deploy AR of their stores, they might help customers visualize available stock and even locate products. As a result, customers can easily visualize different items and locate them with no hassle. Customers can virtually try on products, immediately know what colours and sizes can be found for purchase, and even see any alternative suggestions available. This creates a frictionless and connected in-store shopping experience for patrons.
Omnichannel Shopping Experiences
As omnichannel shopping becomes more common, leveraging AR solutions could make these experiences more seamless and user-friendly. AR allows shoppers to see products of their environment, enhancing confidence in purchase decisions. By integrating AR with order management systems, retailers can enable customers to order, purchase, or request home delivery directly from throughout the AR interface. This removes the trouble of switching between platforms, streamlining the shopping process for a more frictionless experience.
Personalized Experiences
Retailers that personalize customer interactions inside AR environments can create exceptional value and significantly enhance the shopping experience. By combining AR solutions with customer relationship management (CRM) systems, retailers can ensure customers are supplied with hyper-personalized recommendations based on shopping history, preferences, and even real-time interactions with products. This can improve sales as customers usually tend to interact and make purchases after they receive relevant and meaningful product suggestions.
Impact on Operations
Integrating AR with a wider retail ecosystem can ease the workload on staff. Instead of manually checking stock availability or looking for alternative sizes, employees can depend on AR systems that sync with the broader retail tech stack to offer quick information on to consumers. This can allow staff to spend more time on useful tasks corresponding to personalizing human interaction with customers and ensuring high-quality in-store experiences.
Beyond enhancing in-store experiences, AR plays an important role in streamlining retail operations. By integrating AR solutions with RFID and wider supply chain technologies, retailers can facilitate faster restocking, predictive demand evaluation, and even automated reordering, ensuring popular AR-featured items are at all times available. Retail associates can use AR-enabled smart glasses to quickly locate products, reducing picking time and errors. Similarly, staff can use AR-powered glasses to scan barcodes and QR codes, speeding up inventory management significantly.
Conclusion
Augmented Reality is a strong tool, but its potential is proscribed when it exists in isolation. To reap its full potential, retailers have to integrate it with the broader retail ecosystem and use it in tandem with other technologies corresponding to AI, RFID, and more. The real value isn’t in using standalone AR applications, but in incorporating the technology into an all-encompassing retail technology stack to create seamless, connected experiences that merge the physical and digital worlds in meaningful ways. Those who can approach their technology adoption holistically can create frictionless shopping experiences for his or her customers while streamlining their retail operations.
