The Future of Retail

AI's Impact on Virtual Try-On and Augmented Reality Shopping

The retail industry is embracing AI-powered technologies to enhance the shopping experience [1]. Virtual try-on and augmented reality shopping are revolutionizing how consumers interact with products. By leveraging AI algorithms and computer vision, virtual try-on solutions enable customers to visualize how products will look on them before making a purchase [2]. In this blog post, we will explore how AI is reshaping the retail landscape, providing immersive and interactive shopping experiences that bridge the gap between online and in-store shopping.

Existing AI Tools for Virtual Shopping

Warby Parker's Virtual Try-On

Warby Parker, a popular eyewear brand, uses AI-powered virtual try-on technology to enhance the online shopping experience [3]. The company's app utilizes the smartphone's camera to create a 3D model of the customer's face, allowing them to try on different eyeglasses virtually and select the best fit before making a purchase.

L'Oreal's Augmented Reality Makeup Try-On

L'Oreal, the global cosmetic company, leverages AI and AR to offer a virtual makeup try-on feature [4]. Using their smartphone camera, customers can virtually apply different makeup products, experimenting with various looks before buying. This not only enriches the shopping experience but also helps customers make informed purchase decisions.

Nike's Virtual Shoe Fitting

Nike has developed a virtual shoe fitting feature called 'Nike Fit' [5]. The feature uses a combination of computer vision, machine learning, and recommendation algorithms to help customers find the right shoe size. This innovative solution reduces product returns and increases customer satisfaction by ensuring an accurate fit.

AI's Impact on the Retail Industry

The integration of AI and AR in the retail sector is transforming the shopping experience. According to a survey by Gartner, 46% of retailers planned to deploy either AR or VR solutions by 2020 to meet customer service requirements [6]. These technologies are enabling brands to offer personalized, immersive, and interactive shopping experiences that resonate with the digital-savvy consumers of today.

The Future of AI in Retail

As AI and AR technologies continue to evolve, the future of retail looks promising. Personalized recommendations, virtual try-on, and augmented reality shopping are becoming the new norm. The future may see even more sophisticated applications, like holographic fashion shows or fully virtual shopping malls.

References

Brynjolfsson, E., Hu, Y. J., & Rahman, M. S. (2019). Competing in the Age of Omnichannel Retailing. MIT Sloan Management Review.

Source: www.sloanreview.mit.edu/article/competing-in-the-age-of-omnichannel-retailing

Grewal, D., Roggeveen, A. L., & Nordfält, J. (2017). The Future of Retailing. Journal of Retailing.

Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022435916300872

Warby Parker. (2020). Warby Parker's Virtual Try-On App.

Source: www.warbyparker.com/app

L'Oreal. (2019). L'Oreal's Virtual Makeup Try-On.

Source: https://www.lorealparisusa.com/virtual-try-on-makeup

Nike. (2019). Nike Unveils 'A Game-Changing Innovation': A Fit Feature To Fix Shoe Sizing Online And In-Store

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/andriacheng/2019/05/09/this-new-nike-fit-feature-could-be-a-game-changer/?sh=406d8b842473

Gartner. (2020). Gartner Survey Shows 37 Percent of Service Leaders Are Piloting or Using AI Bots and Virtual Customer Assistants.

Source: https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2019-03-04-gartner-survey-shows-37-percent-of-service-leaders-ar