Have you ever wanted to try out a piece of clothing or furniture before buying it online? Or do you miss the in-store shopping experience with knowledgeable sales staff? Virtual reality (VR) provides a solution that transforms the ecommerce market by offering an immersive and engaging experience to customers. VR recreates in-store experiences, enables virtual product testing, and offers new environments that shoppers can browse with ease. In this article, we will explore how VR is changing the ecommerce landscape and what ecommerce businesses need to know to implement it successfully.
Benefits of VR for Ecommerce
The shift towards online shopping has forced ecommerce retailers to rethink their strategies. However, VR offers a valuable asset to ecommerce businesses by providing a unique way of creating memorable shopping experiences that can boost sales. Here are some of the benefits of VR for ecommerce:
- Augmented or Recreated In-Store Experiences: VR can recreate in-store experiences that enhance the shopping experience, providing consumers with an immersive experience as if they are physically present in the store.
- Virtual Product Testing: Consumers can now virtually test products before making a purchase, leading to higher customer satisfaction rates, fewer product returns, and lower costs for ecommerce businesses.
- Insights into Customer Preferences and Behavior Patterns: VR allows ecommerce businesses to track customer engagement data, transaction data, and demographics data, allowing brands to adjust their marketing strategies accordingly.
- Cost-Effective Solutions: With the right hardware and technology, ecommerce businesses can provide a VR experience to customers without breaking the bank.
The integration of VR into ecommerce retailers’ operations has the potential to change how retailers manage their stores, thereby disrupting the mainstream market of specialty products significantly. The technology is essential as entrepreneurs start exploring the possibility of VR within their ecommerce endeavors for business relevance and sustained growth in the future
Implementing VR for Ecommerce
To successfully implement VR for ecommerce, companies must consider the following steps:
- Determine Goals: Companies must first determine their goals for the virtual experience, be it for branding, raising awareness, or creating a unique shopping experience.
- Choose Hardware and Technology Required: Choose the necessary hardware and software, which can range from inexpensive Google Cardboard to more extensive VR headsets.
- Test User Experience and Performance: Testing is critical to ensure stability, reliability, and a seamless and speedy user experience. It’s also necessary to consider user feedback for software usage and compatibility.
- Market the Experience: Once e-commerce businesses develop the VR experience, they need to market it to ensure maximum exposure.
Implementing VR technology for ecommerce purposes can be the most exciting frontier your brand could explore this year. With VR, you can create optimal customer experiences that suit online stores.
Examples of VR in Ecommerce
Several companies have successfully implemented VR in their ecommerce strategies. For instance, Emperia, a startup, has created virtual stores for Bloomingdale’s, Dior, Ralph Lauren, and Lacoste, among other brands. The platform is designed to support various devices and offers insights into user engagement, transaction data, and demographic data. Other brands like The North Face and IKEA have also experimented with VR technology and offer product testing and visualization through mobile apps or complementary headsets and showrooms.
The North Face “trailhead” Virtual Reality in-store experience is an excellent example of VR in ecommerce. The campaign generated four times the foot traffic and double the sales of a typical retail outlet. Customers could wander through the Appalachian Mountains while wearing a VR headset. They experienced the unique feeling of a location by seeing, hearing, and sensing their environment, leading to buying emotions. Ikea also offers a try-before-you-buy option for their customers by showcasing virtual showrooms that enable product customization.
Future of VR in Ecommerce
Virtual and augmented realities have become popular topics in the ecommerce world. With the growing number of VR users expected in coming years, the use of VR in ecommerce is likely to become more accessible and democratized. The technology has the potential to impact the retail industry significantly, with major chains introducing it in their flagship stores and online stores to engage with customers, creating loyal followers, and boosting sales.
According to a PwC report, almost half of those surveyed would pay extra for products if a VR experience is included, mainly for products like furniture and household goods. The use of VR has the potential to change how retailers manage their store layouts, and experts predict that specialty products will significantly benefit from the technology. Finally, GDPR rules will be a vital factor in how customer data analysis and feedback are collected through the VR shopping experience.
Conclusion
Virtual Reality technology is transforming how ecommerce businesses operate, providing a more immersive and interactive experience to consumers. By implementing VR technology, companies can augment in-store experiences, provide enhanced discovering computers, essentials, visual environments, and possibilities that customers hardly found before. The benefits of VR in ecommerce range from providing more engaging customer experiences to juicy insights into customer behavior patterns. Ecommerce businesses that invest in VR technology today have the potential of realizing significant long-term values that translate into limitless possibilities in the virtual realm.
Luca Booth is a pioneering voice in the intersection of technology and spatial design, and the lead author at VPR Matrix. With a background in architectural design and a passion for the latest in virtual reality innovations, Luca brings a unique perspective to the world of VR architectural design.