Use AR/Virtual Try-On Technology To Drive Sales & Reduce Returns

I am quite difficult to please. Most of the time I am ‘grumpy’, or so my wife says. I try to explain that’s just my face, but it’s an argument I never win. So when I am impressed I like to show it.  

Recently I was due to fly to Ibiza (yes it was great thanks for asking). I needed some new sunglasses, as I previously invested in prescription sunnies that were too wide for my face.

I didn’t want to go back into Specsavers as the reason I’d bought the ones I had, is because they didn’t much of a selection. 

To The Internet!

Online shopping nowadays gives you masses of choices in just a few clicks.

I’d previously tried my sunnies on in the shop and bought them. So how was online shopping going to be any better? But I thought I’d give it a go anyway.

My regular glasses are a good fit so looked at the codes on the glasses, and begin my search for a sunglasses version of my regular glasses. 

1. Google – “Prescription Sunglasses Hugo Boss”.
2. The Shade Station website pops up with a variety of Boss styles, and I click on a similar style to mine.
3. After discovering the filters for arm length and lens size, I match these to my existing frames. The ones I was looking at disappeared.
4. Then I return to the search and use the filters from the start this time, finding a Ray-Ban pair very similar to the ones I was looking at.
5. **** This is where the magic happened ****
6. I noticed a ‘Try Me On’ button.
7. After pressing the button and giving permission for the website to use my camera (and I quickly tidy the clutter in the background), a virtual mirror super imposes the glasses on my face.
8. You can even turn your head and they move to allow you to see rough profile views.
9. Amazed and happy with the look, I bought them. To make things even better, and this is a glowing testimonial for Shade Station, I ordered at 3 pm on a Thursday and received my new prescription sunglasses on Friday morning at 10:30 am. Mic Drop (I said I like to share when I’m impressed).

Here’s a screen grab of me trying them on virtually.

Here’s the photo of me wearing them, to show the similarities of the fit.

*Ray-Ban logo is missing because they have prescription lenses, but the appearance and fit is very good.

Great Story James, But You Promised Good Stuff!

Ok, so my getting sunglasses is not groundbreaking, but the technology is and I wanted to explore it.

I’m not sure what platform Shade Station are using, however, a majority of these platforms are integrations. If your business can offer a virtual tour or a virtual 360 demo of a product, these integrations can usually be embedded.

So after a quick Google search, I found a few companies providing the solution. So I thought I’d share.

One supplier provides virtual try-on services for jewellery, cosmetics and accessories. I’m sure there are many more, but if you were curious, I’ve saved you some time digging.

Fitting Box 

Banuba 

Virtooal 

What’s To Swipe and Deploy?

So much like Snapchat filters these tools can be fun to play with. However, in a business sense, they can be a great conversion tool. My example above led me to make a purchase. My concern over the fit was gone after I had ’tried’ them on.

There are lots of AR tools coming to the market for all types of industries. This example worked well in the e-commerce context, but there could be one suitable for your industry, and it may just help to bring the offline world online. For example, furniture placement, or changing wall colours for paint brands. 

For online stores, if there’s a virtual try-on solution out there that works for your products, go and find it. All the returns you receive because items don’t fit or don’t suit buyers might be reduced if the customers have the option to virtually try them on.

Added bonus, because it’s virtual, no shoplifter can steal it in your changing room or walk out the door with it.

That’s a wrap for Swipe & Deploy #3. Join me next week when I will share another insight or piece of inspiration from around the web.