Augmented reality in commerce: how to use it to sell more
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2024 8:35 am
Augmented reality in commerce can be used in many ways, such as retail, repairs, or interactive storytelling.
Smartphone with an AR image of a chair on the screen displayed in a blue-gray room.
On this page
What is augmented reality?
How does augmented reality work?
Ways to use augmented reality in commerce
An example of augmented reality in commerce
Frequently asked questions about augmented reality in retail
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Augmented reality (AR) has been around for over 50 years ,canada whatsapp but its popularity and use has increased dramatically in recent years. This technology combines the digital and physical worlds, allowing you to showcase your products in a hybrid environment.
Companies across a variety of industries have implemented augmented reality in commerce as a way to share their products or services with potential customers.
What is augmented reality?
Augmented reality is a technology that blends virtual and real-world elements. It involves an augmented reality device, usually a tablet or smartphone, and sometimes specialized AR glasses or headsets (for example, the Apple Vision Pro). With these tools, you can use AR to overlay virtual elements on top of an image of the physical world.
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How does augmented reality work?
Unlike virtual reality (VR), which involves digital objects in a completely digital environment, augmented reality technology adds digital objects to the real world.
Using cameras and sensors, an AR app can place virtual objects in the user's environment, which can then be viewed on the screen of a mobile phone or other AR-enabled device.
By superimposing these digital images over images of real-life environments, augmented reality allows users to see something that doesn’t exist in their real surroundings. With so many possibilities at their fingertips, businesses have begun to use this technology in innovative ways.
Ways to use augmented reality in commerce
Augmented reality in retail
Augmented reality in repairs
Augmented reality in training
Augmented reality in education
Augmented reality in tourism
Augmented reality in interactive narratives
Augmented reality in modeling and design
Augmented reality in retail
A great use of AR technology by consumers is online shopping. By allowing your customers to interact with an item and see what it looks like up close, AR shopping can increase sales.
For example, an augmented reality app can allow a consumer to view a 3D digital version of a sofa. Even if the customer is not in the physical store, they can view the sofa from all angles and even place it in their own physical environment. This is a great way to allow users to visualize which sofa would look best in a specific room.
Another example could be a beauty supply store using AR to give a customer the chance to experiment with different eyeshadow or hair colors. Allowing your customers to use augmented reality in this way to interact with your products from afar could increase customer engagement.
Augmented reality in repairs
Another way to use augmented reality in business is by deploying the technology for remote maintenance and repair processes. Whether you need to provide information to a technician or a consumer, you could use AR technology to place overlays, how-to information, and diagrams on real-time images of a product.
This use of AR could give your business the ability to provide remote assistance for repair processes that would otherwise require an in-person visit from a customer service representative .
For example, a user could point their smartphone at a complicated mechanical product. Then, using augmented reality, they could see how the parts are supposed to work to diagnose what isn't working as it should.
Augmented reality in training
Smartphone with an AR image of a chair on the screen displayed in a blue-gray room.
On this page
What is augmented reality?
How does augmented reality work?
Ways to use augmented reality in commerce
An example of augmented reality in commerce
Frequently asked questions about augmented reality in retail
Start your online business today.
For free.
Free trial
Augmented reality (AR) has been around for over 50 years ,canada whatsapp but its popularity and use has increased dramatically in recent years. This technology combines the digital and physical worlds, allowing you to showcase your products in a hybrid environment.
Companies across a variety of industries have implemented augmented reality in commerce as a way to share their products or services with potential customers.
What is augmented reality?
Augmented reality is a technology that blends virtual and real-world elements. It involves an augmented reality device, usually a tablet or smartphone, and sometimes specialized AR glasses or headsets (for example, the Apple Vision Pro). With these tools, you can use AR to overlay virtual elements on top of an image of the physical world.
Click here to start selling online right now with Shopify
How does augmented reality work?
Unlike virtual reality (VR), which involves digital objects in a completely digital environment, augmented reality technology adds digital objects to the real world.
Using cameras and sensors, an AR app can place virtual objects in the user's environment, which can then be viewed on the screen of a mobile phone or other AR-enabled device.
By superimposing these digital images over images of real-life environments, augmented reality allows users to see something that doesn’t exist in their real surroundings. With so many possibilities at their fingertips, businesses have begun to use this technology in innovative ways.
Ways to use augmented reality in commerce
Augmented reality in retail
Augmented reality in repairs
Augmented reality in training
Augmented reality in education
Augmented reality in tourism
Augmented reality in interactive narratives
Augmented reality in modeling and design
Augmented reality in retail
A great use of AR technology by consumers is online shopping. By allowing your customers to interact with an item and see what it looks like up close, AR shopping can increase sales.
For example, an augmented reality app can allow a consumer to view a 3D digital version of a sofa. Even if the customer is not in the physical store, they can view the sofa from all angles and even place it in their own physical environment. This is a great way to allow users to visualize which sofa would look best in a specific room.
Another example could be a beauty supply store using AR to give a customer the chance to experiment with different eyeshadow or hair colors. Allowing your customers to use augmented reality in this way to interact with your products from afar could increase customer engagement.
Augmented reality in repairs
Another way to use augmented reality in business is by deploying the technology for remote maintenance and repair processes. Whether you need to provide information to a technician or a consumer, you could use AR technology to place overlays, how-to information, and diagrams on real-time images of a product.
This use of AR could give your business the ability to provide remote assistance for repair processes that would otherwise require an in-person visit from a customer service representative .
For example, a user could point their smartphone at a complicated mechanical product. Then, using augmented reality, they could see how the parts are supposed to work to diagnose what isn't working as it should.
Augmented reality in training