From Fitting Rooms to Screens: The Rise of Virtual Try-On

Remember ordering a pair of glasses online that looked amazing on the model, but when you wore them in real-time, they just didn’t suit your face shape or personal style? It’s frustrating, to say the least, & it’s one of the biggest challenges that customers face when shopping online. The “Expectation Vs Reality” experience can leave users feeling disappointed and hesitant to shop online again.

As per YouGov survey, 56% of UK consumers reported that they had experienced difficulty in discovering the perfect fit for clothing, glasses, and even the right lipstick shade while shopping online. But in the realm of technology, a new star of Artificial Intelligence is at the rescue, ‘Virtual Try-On’!

According to a Deloitte study, shopping with virtual try-on and AR(Augmented reality) based experiences leads to a 94% higher conversion rate. Virtual Try-On technology is narrowing the gap between what customers order and the products they receive. Embrace this innovative approach and elevate your online shopping experience to new heights. Get inspired!

What Is Virtual Try-On?

Virtual Try on technology is here to change the game. It allows customers to virtually try on products like clothing, jewelry, glasses, and makeup using their smartphones or tablets. Augmented reality overlays virtual visuals over the real world via the device’s camera, giving customers a realistic and accurate preview of how the product will look and fit.

This feature demonstrates the look and feel of products virtually to the customers giving them a sense of control over their purchase decision!

How Virtual Try-On will reshape the Online retail Industry?

As e-commerce becomes more prevalent, the progress made in this arena has been nothing short of impressive. Companies are pushing the boundaries with their virtual try-on solutions, to drive maximum conversions & minimize returns.

Leading brands have already integrated virtual try-on capabilities on their websites, with several others gearing up to follow suit. How about reading some successful case studies?

Case Studies

Discover the major brands that are already using this game-changing technology to elevate their online shopping experiences:

• Adidas
  Adidas is in partnership with Snapchat for virtual try-ons, using 3D Body Mesh technology for a realistic experience. Customers can try on outfits and purchase products directly in the app. With an anticipated CAGR of 25% for the virtual fitting room market, Adidas’ adoption of this technology has resulted in increased engagement and sales.
• L’Oreal
  L’Oreal, a major player in the beauty industry, leverages virtual try-on tech to enrich its customer experience. Makeup Genius, their app powered by facial mapping, has surpassed 20M+ downloads, propelling conversions and engendering a tremendous impact on the bottom line. User-friendliness and flawless integration have fueled its immense popularity.
• Gucci
  Gucci, the legendary Italian fashion house, employs virtual try-on tech in collaboration with Snapchat to boost sales and augment customer engagement. Their 3D modeling feature for shoes and bags has generated a substantial impact, as they create immersive virtual stores and showrooms for browsing and sampling everything from footwear to eyewear.

Along with these 3 Warby Parker, Lenskart, Farfetch, Wacoal, Sephora, & Nike are also using VR for better customer experience & higher conversion rates! But don’t think virtual try-ons are just for the big guys. Small and medium-sized businesses can also use this tech to create a shopping experience that’s as unique as their customers. By giving shoppers more control and customization, these businesses can build brand loyalty and increase conversions.

How to build an effective and optimized virtual try-on experience?

Virtual try-on is not just about making a sale. But more about creating a personalized experience that will help a customer in making the right decision. And, one key element of a shopper’s UX is the presentation of products! A poorly orchestrated try-on could discourage a consumer instead of helping them make a purchase decision. If you want to maximize your customer’s experience (and your bottom line), there are a few key best practices you should keep in mind.

1. Use High-quality visuals- No one wants to make a purchase based on a product that doesn’t even show the product from all personalized angles. According to a study by Shopify, adding 3D models or interactive videos can increase conversions by up to 80%.
2. Share Control — Give your customers some control. Offering customization options like color, size, & fit makes a huge difference. It helps customers feel more confident in their purchases.
3. Improve interactivity — To provide a meaningful immersive experience to the users, the designers need to add sensory elements for interaction cues, audio for spatial positioning, & a sense of space and responsiveness to achieve the product growth. Intuitive interfaces, such as click-and-drag or touch-and-swipe, allow users to adjust the size and position of the product on their bodies. The experience should also host a responsive interface that adapts to different screen sizes, orientations, and camera specs.
4. Responsive UI-. Without a responsive user interface, virtual try-on experiences can be frustrating for mobile users, leading to lower conversion rates, dissatisfied customers, and a tarnished online reputation. On the other hand, a responsive UI can be a game-changer, helping to attract and retain customers and drive business growth in the fiercely competitive online market. In today’s mobile-dominated world, it’s essential to prioritize a responsive UI to ensure that virtual try-on experiences are both enjoyable and accessible for customers on all devices.

It all comes down to how well the disciplines work together. No doubt, Virtual Try-On can bring a massive revolution but it comes with potential challenges.

One of the primary concerns is the possibility of higher product return rates due to the limitations of product visualization. Customers cannot physically touch or try on the product, leading to a higher likelihood of receiving an item that does not fit or meet their expectations. This can result in increased costs for businesses and decreased customer satisfaction, ultimately hindering long-term growth.

Second, developing virtual try-on technology can be expensive, which may pose a challenge for small businesses that lack the necessary technological resources. Without a solid tech foundation, it can be even more difficult to create a successful virtual try-on experience.

Bridging a big gap: Future of Online Shopping

In a nutshell, the era of virtual try-on technology is ushering in a new wave of transformation within the e-commerce industry. Digital transformation within the e-commerce industry is enabling companies to meet the evolving demands of their customers by providing a seamless and immersive experience. Prominent brands have already integrated virtual try-on features on their websites, and small and medium-sized enterprises can also leverage this technology. Implementing this approach can lead to higher conversion rates and potentially increase the likelihood of returning customers.

However, to achieve this feat, businesses need to recognize the importance of ui ux design in retail and implement human-centered design and user-friendly interfaces that enable customers to adjust the size and position of products on their bodies.