Letting customers "try out" products virtually can give customers the confidence to take the plunge
Buying new products online that you haven’t used, or even seen, in real life can feel risky. You’re left guessing: How would that red couch look in my living room? Would these glasses fit my face? Could I really pull off blue lipstick?
Over the past decade, augmented reality (AR) technology has eased this uncertainty. By superimposing virtual objects onto a live view of physical environments, AR helps users visualize how products would fit into their world. Across industries, retailers have built apps to help consumers virtually try out products—including furniture, glasses, and makeup—with the hopes of attracting customers and ultimately increasing sales.
[This article has been republished, with permission, from Kellogg Insight, the faculty research & ideas magazine of Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University]