Introduction to Augmented Reality Shopping
American retailer Kohl’s has recently introduced an revolutionary augmented reality (AR) window shopping experience for its customers. In partnership with Snapchat, a social media giant, Kohl’s developed a tailored experience using Snapchat’s portal lens feature. This feature allowed customers to explore Kohl’s New York holiday pop-up store remotely, without being physically present.
How the AR Experience Works
The in-house production team at Kohl’s built a portal lens that replicated the event space in 3D. By choosing the Kohl’s portal lens from the lens carousel on Snapchat, customers could see an AR version of the pop-up store’s doorway. They could then pivot across the space and explore featured collections. The experience also included shoppable links, allowing customers to make purchases directly from the official Kohl’s website by tapping on the links.
The Rise of AR in Retail
AR is considered one of the largest technology trends today, especially amongst players within the retail industry. Companies like IKEA and Macy’s have also created popular AR experiences this yr. Kohl’s move to leverage AR of their holiday marketing strategy is a clever and strategic one. At its core, AR is a technology that overlays virtual information and objects onto real-world scenes in real-time, making a recent artificial environment.
The Benefits of AR for Businesses
AR is not any longer alien to the general public, and all that is required to experience AR is a functional smartphone with a camera and an AR app. For businesses that wish to face out and leave an impression on their customers on this already saturated digital-first market, AR should definitely be added into the marketing mix. Consumers today are tech-savvy and all the time online, and to win their hearts, businesses must engage with them on a private level and supply them with unique, personalized experiences.
Personalized Experiences with AR
AR applications can assist businesses provide personalized experiences for his or her customers. For example, in retail, AR may be used to assist customers visualize products and picture what it appears like to own the product before making an actual purchase. AR can even make a customer’s experience fun and price remembering. Kohl’s, as an example, debuted its “Kohl’s Cash Snapchat lens,” which allowed customers to take part in a football game where they might fill their carts with gifts and collect rewards as they made their way down the sector.
The Future of Customer Engagement
Technology is always reshaping the world that we live in today. The way people connect with brands and businesses are evolving, and organizations must pay attention to these changes. To expand its customer base and retain loyalty, businesses need to transcend just posting an advert on Facebook, Instagram, or the local paper and repeatedly explore revolutionary ways to provide customers a nice and unforgettable experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Kohl’s AR-powered window shopping experience is a terrific example of how businesses can leverage technology to offer unique and personalized experiences for his or her customers. As the retail industry continues to evolve, it is probably going that we are going to see more businesses adopting AR and other revolutionary technologies to interact with their customers and stay ahead of the competition. With its ability to offer immersive and interactive experiences, AR is certainly a technology that companies should consider adding to their marketing mix.
