The best augmented reality apps for iOS and Android enhance the customer experience in ways that previously only seemed possible in sci-fi movies. Customers can see what makeup products look like on their faces, what new cabinets look like in their kitchen, and what paint looks like on their walls.
In addition to providing the opportunity to build customer confidence in their choices, AR apps can help build the kinds of customer relationships that appeared to die out with the rise in online shopping. You can now bring customers back into your store—or even create a store if you do not have a physical location—through AR.
Intuitive and Easy to Use
When the technology was very new, it was far more difficult to use. Now that AR has been in development for more than 50 years, it has become extremely user-friendly. AR has come a long way, and now it only takes a few clicks on your phone to access an entire world that has been created specifically to optimize the shopping experience.
Product Comparison
One of the most frustrating parts of shopping, whether online or in person, is the difficulty of comparing products. Sometimes they are in different locations in the store. Other times, they are simply large or bulky, making it a challenge to look at from multiple angles or read the packaging.
If the products are being compared on a website, sometimes the website just is not conducive. Toggling between windows can be a challenge, especially on a phone. If the availability of information is not uniform, it becomes even more difficult to compare and contrast items.
Sometimes customers would like to compare what the products look like in their home. It didn’t use to be possible to compare exactly how different colors of paint will look on your walls in different lighting. Augmented reality has changed that.
Product Customization
When customers want to see what a sofa may look like in a different color, augmented reality can make that happen with the click of a button. Using AR can help customers make decisions about the exact details of almost any product. They can add or delete customizations to their heart’s content, making sure they get the product they are looking for.
Immersive Catalogs
This brings the customer experience to a whole new level. You can go as simple as making it easy to see products from every angle, or as complicated as bringing the customer right into your store. Some AR apps even give cosmetics customers an opportunity to see how the makeup looks on their faces before they purchase it. In the future, customers will even be able to “try on” clothes to see how they would look in them.
For many customers, their preference to shop at a physical location is because they want the opportunity to try a product before they buy it. If you strictly have an eCommerce business, it would serve you well to add AR capabilities to your shop, so that customers can be confident in their purchases. When they are, they are far more likely to spend more time and money on your site.
In-Store Experience
There are so many ways that creating an AR app for your store will make shopping there a more pleasurable experience for all of your customers. If you have a large store with a wide variety of items, navigational AR will make finding the product easier for your customers. Employees will spend less time directing customers to specific items, and customers will be happier with their experience. You can even make a game out of navigating your store, having customers find prizes and discount codes.
You can give customers product information in real-time, so they do not have to deal with the frustration of finding the information on the package, where it can be hard to read and inconsistent. This is a wonderful tool for customers with physical limitations, who may have a difficult time getting items off of shelves. By giving customers the option to use AR to find out about your products, you make your store’s customer experience more inclusive.
Conclusion
You can use AR apps that are already available or create an AR app just for your business which will change the way you do business for the better. Give customers more confidence in their decisions, by letting them try things out before they buy. Not only will your customers be happier with their choices, but you will also have fewer returns.
With an AR app that provides product information in real-time, employees will spend less time answering general questions from all customers, and shoppers with limitations will feel more comfortable in your store. Make shopping a fun experience again by helping your customers navigate your store, and incorporating activities that will keep them coming back.
