5 Cool Augmented Reality Apps You Can Try Immediately For an Awesome Online Shopping Experience: Augrealitypedia
5 Cool Augmented Reality Apps to Enjoy Online Shopping (Image Credit: Brother UK)
In one of my most popular posts, I explained about the integration of Augmented reality in retail stores. Today, I will demonstrate the fusion of Augmented reality into the online shopping platforms.
And, for this purpose I will take the examples of some awesome Augmented reality shopping apps. Literally, these AR Apps will provide you out-of-the-world online shopping experience.
Moreover, companies also realize the importance of this technology into the consumer-world. Yes!, they know very well that Augmented reality (AR) can convert the shoppers into buyers very effectively.
While, a number of e-commerce players have already started milking this opportunity with their innovative Augmented reality apps, eBay is ready to introduce the AR features on their website.
Update:- On 20th March 2018, eBay has introduced Augmented Reality features to select proper packaging box size.
5 Cool Augmented Reality Applications for an Awesome Online Shopping:
Before proceeding to the list of Augmented reality shopping applications, it’s necessary to understand the reply for two questions:-
- Why there is a need of AR Shopping Apps instead of usual online shopping Apps?
- Which unique property makes these AR Apps desirable to both consumer and seller?
OK, I can reply the above two questions with a single word “Actualization“. Undoubtedly, nowadays shopping Apps are becoming very user friendly. They provide you a lot of relevant information along with the picture (also, sample videos) of the available products for your convenience.
But, in case of usual shopping Apps, you can’t actualize the image or video of desired product (say, a table lamp) with your existing surroundings (say, an existing table). You have to wait for the delivery of the physical product to get a real picture. In other words, these shopping apps lack the actualization factor.
Augmented reality can do the actualization for you. Yes, Augmented Reality shopping apps provide an additional feature to select the realistic 3D model of the desired product. And, using the camera of the smartphone, you can actually merge (AR overlay) this 3D model onto the live video feed of your mobile (Say, a virtual table lamp on the real table).
Moreover, you can also visualize your desired product from different angles and change your selection dynamically. Isn’t it a complete actualization?Integration of #Augmentedreality In #ShoppingApps Provides A Complete Solution For Buyers and Helps In Better #Decisionmaking. Click To Tweet
Seems futuristic? No, shopping with Augmented reality does a reality now. So, let me make you familiar with the following 5 Cool Augmented Reality Shopping Applications:-
#1. Amazon AR view : Shop Anything in Augmented Reality
Well, my first selection of Augmented reality shopping app is none other than the well known Amazon App. Yes!, you read it correctly.
Amazon has integrated the Augmented reality technology with its existing shopping app and named the feature as “AR view“. This offers you to select and visualize a complete 360-degree view of any of the products from the various categories.
But, the real magic starts now. Here, you can visualize the selected product in the real environment of your home before making the actual purchase.
And, you can do all these in four simple steps:-
- Launch the “Amazon App”.
- Tap on the “camera icon”, placed in the search bar.
- Tap “AR view” and select your desired product.
- Point your smartphone towards the future placement of your desired product and feel “how it would look afterwards?”.
In the below YouTube video, Amazon introduces the feature “AR view” in the world of online shopping.
This feature is freely available for the Android (version 7.0 or later) and iOS (iPhone 6S or higher) devices.
#2. ApolloBox AR : AR Shopping App for Lifestyle Gadgets
My next selection is ApolloBox AR, from the startup company Apollo Box. This Augmented reality shopping App is freely available for Android and iOS devices.
Like Amazon’s AR view, this AR App enables you to visualize products in the 3D Augmented reality environment before the actual purchase. ApolloBox AR call this feature as “AR Teleport“.
And, you can use this interactive shopping application with below four simple steps :-
- Launch the “ApolloBox AR App”.
- Tap on “AR Teleport” and select the desired product.
- Tap on the “Teleport icon”.
- Point the camera of your smartphone towards the desired location and place the virtual 3D model of the product on to the real environment.
The below YouTube video explains the usefulness of AolloBox AR in the online shopping world.
Thus, Augmented reality along with the realistic 3D models and simple animations help you to select the best suitable product to purchase. Moreover, you can also play various fun AR games for the rewarding coupons and offers.
#3. IKEA Place : AR Shopping App for Your Furnishing Needs
This AR App “IKEA Place” provides you an interactive Augmented reality shopping platform for all your furnishing needs. And, this shopping app is freely available for iOS (iPhone 6S or later) devices.
As the name suggests, using this application, you can virtually place IKEA products in the real environment of your home. Technically speaking, this placement is not just overlapping rather it mean the accurately rendering and merging of the true-to-scale 3D models into the available floor space.
You can enjoy this AR shopping app with below four simple steps :-
- Launch the “IKEA Place”AR App.
- Snap a photo of the placement location of the product you would like to purchase.
- Select the 3D model of the desired product and insert it into the snap of placement location (from 2nd step).
- Adjust (move and rotate) the selected 3D model according to your choice and virtually place it there.
The below YouTube video demonstrates the function of AR Shopping App “IKEA Place”.
Moreover, you can also share a snap of your selection (virtual product plus real location) on social networking apps like WhatsApp and Instagram. Thus, using the IKEA Place AR App you can select, visualize, share (snap) and then ultimately buy your desired product.
#4. Wayfair : Augmented Reality Shopping App for Home Goods
Well, my next selection is “Wayfair App” from Wayfair Inc.. This AR App is freely available for iOS (iPhone 6S or later) and Android devices.
With the integration of Augmented reality technology, this e-commerce company has added a very innovative feature to their Wayfair App. And, they call it “View in Room 3D“.
Similar to IKEA Place, this AR App let you select and visualize the true scale 3D realistic models in the available room space. This provides you an accurate perception of “how it would look afterwards and will it fit in the room?”.
And, you can purchase your favorite product using below four simple steps :-
- Launch the “Wayfair” APP.
- Browse to the App to find the desired product.
- Tap on “View in Room 3D”.
- Point the camera of your smartphone towards any location and Tap to place the virtual 3D model at that location.
The below YouTube video introduces this awesome Augmented reality app “Wayfair” to the e-commerce industry.
Moreover, you can also visualize your selection in complete 360 degree view. And, once you are done with the selection, you can purchase the product from the Wayfair App itself.
#5. SPEQS: Augmented Reality shopping App for Eyewear
My last selection of AR Shopping app “SPEQS” has launched by an Australia based online-store SPEQS. And, if you stay in Australia, you can definitely try this awesome Augmented Reality App.
This application is freely available for Android and iOS devices. It enables you to virtually try, select and purchase a pair of eyewear (glasses/sunglasses) according to your choice.
SPEQS App utilizes the Augmented reality technology to superimpose the virtual 3D model of selected eyeglass onto the live video feed of your face. The below YouTube video introduces the “SPEQS” App to the Eyewear industry.
Thus, just install this AR App. Launch it, scan your face with the front camera of your smartphone and be ready to select from a wide range of designer eyewear. Moreover, you can also share the saved snaps or videos of yourself wearing the selected pair of eyewear on social networking Apps.
Wrapping up
To summarize, I can say that Augmented Reality technology provides a very interactive shopping platform for online shoppers. Also, the capability of selecting, visualizing, rendering and measuring the virtual products on the fly makes Augmented reality shopping Apps as a complete solution provider for the buyers.
Thus, Augmented reality provides an out-of-the-world shopping experience to you. Nevertheless, AR shopping Apps have been considered as a win-win platform for both buyers and sellers.
That’s all from my side. In the comment section, let me know what you have liked the most? And, If you like my post, do share it with your friends. Also, do let me know about your queries related to augmented reality, if any. I will try my best to resolve them through my successive blog posts. To keep yourself updated about Augmented reality, don’t forget to subscribe to my website. Additionally, visit my Facebook page and do follow @Augrealitypedia on Twitter.
Awesome info! Really augmented reality is going to give online shopping an another edge. It’s really going to be fun while shopping with these apps. Good work. Please do keep us updating about new AR applications.
Thanks for the appreciation. Yes, with the recent launch of ARCore 1.0 from Google, even more devices will become capable to run Augmented Reality Applications.