Defining Augmented Reality

In the simplest terms, augmented reality or AR is a technology that overlays digital content and information onto the physical world. It keeps the real-world central but enhances it with other digital content, layering new elements, and supplementing reality. There are three types of digital realities: augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality. AR enhances the real world by adding new elements or other digital information. Popular examples of augmented reality experiences include Snapchat lenses and the game Pokemon Go. Whereas Virtual reality (VR) completely replaces the user's experience, putting them into a completely virtual world. In the middle, is mixed reality. It's mixing a little bit of the physical world with the virtual world.

Medium Of Augmented Reality

As of today, AR can be experienced through mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. It acts like a magic window; through which the viewer can see holograms or 3D models of real-world objects. On PC, it works through a webcam. On head-mounted displays, glasses, and lenses, Augmented Reality becomes a part of your entire field of view, making for a more life-like Augmented Reality experience.

Augmented Reality & Retail

Benefits Of AR

AR creates a new digital experience that enriches the relationship between consumer and brand and can be used in any location, be it PC at home, mobile devices or kiosks in stores. The consumers enjoy the benefits of being able to see and feel what owning the product is like without buying it first, while the retailers get better product exposure which leads to an increase in both online and in-store sales and the benefit of reduced returns. Here are some of the reasons why you should incorporate AR into your retail business:

1. Ease of trials- Waiting around for trying out products is boring and time-consuming.With AR you can set up virtual mirrors or a digital screen, in your stores where they can see how the product is looking virtually without trying it on physically. It leads to better client and time management.

2. Combines traditional retailing and online shopping- Shopping is considered a fun activity. Now with so many retail stores and a huge population, it becomes difficult to shop or even find the right things. One of the key benefits of AR in e-commerce is that it replicates the same ‘fun’ feeling of traditional shopping methods minus inventory costs and never-ending lines.
   

3. Increasing brand presence and awareness- AR is an amazing tool to enhance a company’s brand awareness to wider audiences. Mobile apps with state-of-the-art AR features will help a brand provide unique experiences to users.

4. Earn a better return on investment(ROI) - AR is modern-day technology that undergoes changes frequently, therefore an e-commerce retailer that provides such facilities will definitely earn much higher than the ones who aren’t using it. Integration of AR in the retail sector has become a mandatory trend these days.

5. Improve the shopping experience- To sum up, all advantages whether you’re shopping online or offline, a retailer should provide the most interactive means so that their customers have a worthy experience of shopping and would prefer to visit the shop/store/portal/app again and again. 

How Can We Help

MirrAR is an augmented reality setup for the jewellery industry. It enables your customers to virtually ‘try on’ unlimited pieces of jewellery just with a swipe of a finger. It is a one- of- it’s kind Augmented Reality technology for brands in fashion retail, including jewellery, watches & eyewear to enable virtual try-on for their consumers. The technology converges the virtual world with the real world by giving a wholesome in-store experience to its consumers. It allows jewellers to digitize their inventory & share links with their consumers who further can virtually try on their favorite piece of jewellery and visualize the desired look before the final purchase.

So, if you’re a brand in fashion retail including jewellery, watches & eyewear head over to MirrAR to know more.