Introduction to Augmented Reality Shopping
Snap, a preferred social media platform, believes that augmented reality (AR) is the long run of shopping. To prove this, Snap partnered with Publicis Media and Alter Agents to conduct a study on the impact of AR on digital shopping. The study involved 4,028 shoppers from the U.S., U.K., France, and Saudi Arabia, who shared their experiences with AR technology.
The Impact of AR on Returns
The study revealed that AR can significantly reduce the speed of returns for digitally shopped items. A whopping 66% of people that encountered AR tech through the buying process said they were less prone to return the product once it arrived. This is a major finding, as returns generally is a major hassle for each consumers and retailers.
Building Confidence with AR
The research also found that 80% of shoppers feel more confident in committing to a purchase order when there’s an AR component involved within the shopping process. This is because AR allows consumers to visualise products in a more accurate and complete way, reducing the likelihood of disappointment or surprise when the product arrives.
The Benefits of AR in Different Categories
Snap’s study claims that AR features like virtual try-ons make people more prone to click "buy" across various categories, including:
- Beauty: 69% of shoppers usually tend to buy with AR tech involved
- Clothing: 74% of shoppers usually tend to buy with AR tech involved
- Food/Beverage: 60% of shoppers usually tend to buy with AR tech involved
- Retail: 70% of shoppers usually tend to buy with AR tech involved
- Travel: 64% of shoppers usually tend to buy with AR tech involved
Snap as a Solution for Brands
With these findings in mind, Snap pitches itself as the answer for brands and ad agencies trying to incorporate AR tech into their selling strategies. As the second-largest source of AR discovery during shopping, after store web sites, Snap may help brands make AR a component of their consumers’ discovery and buy journey.
The Competition in AR Shopping
Snapchat will not be the one platform excited about AR tech and mixing social media with ecommerce. YouTube has experimented with try-on features and is exploring live shopping, while TikTok has a partnership with Shopify that enables users to purchase products directly from Shopify stores without leaving the TikTok app.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Snap’s study demonstrates the potential of AR to revolutionize the shopping experience. By reducing returns, constructing confidence, and increasing the likelihood of purchase, AR generally is a game-changer for brands and retailers. As social media platforms proceed to take a position in AR technology, it’s likely that we’ll see much more revolutionary and interactive shopping experiences in the long run. With its findings and capabilities, Snap is well-positioned to be a frontrunner on this space, helping brands to create immersive and interesting AR experiences that drive sales and customer satisfaction.
