# Augmented reality, the future of retail Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2017-07-08 Category: FINANCE Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/finance Meta Title: Revolutionise In-Store Customer Experience with Augmented Meta Description: Discover how augmented reality is reshaping the way customers interact with physical stores, providing personalised assistance and tailored offers. URL: https://financedigest.com/augmented-reality-the-future-of-retailhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/wm2a8273-1558-1736843704745-compressed.jpg) In-store customer experience has always followed the same formula. Customers enter the premises, browse through items, sometimes try them, and purchase those they liked. If a sales assistant is available and answers questions with a smile, the customer will enjoy the experience. But, there are a number of issues with this set up: an item or a size may be unavailable or hidden at the bottom of a pile. And sales assistants struggle to attend to all customers. They spend their [days carefully folding items ensuring they still tempt the next](https://www.financedigest.com/markforged-announces-the-metal-x-gen-2-next-day-metal-and-the-x7-field-edition.html "Markforged Announces the Metal X Gen 2, Next Day Metal, and the X7 Field Edition") customer. Attracting fewer and fewer customers, retail is losing ground and is in danger of going underground altogether. ![Marc Schillaci, CEO of Actinic](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/marc-schillaci-1736843704633-compressed.jpg) Marc Schillaci, CEO of Actinic [Augmented reality](https://www.financedigest.com/augmented-reality-ar-virtual-reality-vr-to-dictate-the-growth-of-temporal-implants-market.html "Augmented Reality (AR)/Virtual Reality (VR) to dictate the growth of Temporal Implants Market") promises to revolutionise in-store customer experience, thereby presenting retailers with a unique opportunity to save their physical stores. In 2016, $ 6.1 [billion were spent on augmented reality technologies](https://www.financedigest.com/sulphur-recovery-technology-market-value-to-grow-by-almost-1-2-billion-during-2021-2031.html "Sulphur Recovery Technology Market Value to Grow by Almost .2 Billion During 2021-2031"). Investment is expected to double over the course of 2017, [reaching $ 13.9 billion](https://www.financedigest.com/automotive-body-in-white-sales-at-3-4-cagr-over-the-forecast-period-from-2021-to-2031-reaching-us-59-7-billion-in-2021.html "Automotive Body in White sales at 3.4% CAGR over the forecast period from 2021 to 2031, reaching US$ 59.7 billion in 2021"). Average projected year-on-year [growth between 2015 and 2020 is set even higher](https://www.financedigest.com/short-bowel-syndrome-market-higher-growth-rate-forecast-2020-2030.html "Short Bowel Syndrome Market Higher Growth Rate & Forecast 2020 – 2030"), at 190%. [Current trends](https://www.financedigest.com/acne-scar-treatment-market-current-trends-and-future-aspect-analysis-2021-2031.html "Acne Scar Treatment Market Current Trends and Future Aspect Analysis 2021 – 2031") suggest augmented reality is going to be a huge success; users want new experiences, and there are many in-store! **Augmented reality: a unique opportunity** Augmented reality will add a dimension to the in-store experience: customers’ individual situations will be taken into account, and tailored offers will be designed to meet their specific needs. Customers are encouraged to take pictures of themselves, describe their personal situation, their expectations, and everything flows effortlessly from there. Augmented [reality redefines](https://www.financedigest.com/telecom-api-market-api-set-to-redefine-telecom-sector-as-telecom-2-0-gets-closer-to-reality.html "Telecom API Market – API Set to Redefine Telecom Sector as Telecom 2.0 Gets Closer to Reality") commercial basics: Customer path: step-by-step customer assistance throughout their visit; original, personalised and value-enhancing ways of promoting items. Customers [see a virtual sales](https://www.financedigest.com/hyperkalaemia-treatment-market-sale-will-apprehended-to-see-impressive-growth-in-near-future.html "Hyperkalaemia Treatment Market Sale Will Apprehended To See Impressive Growth In Near Future") advisor on their mobile phones and follow him through the aisles; Item information: more personalisation, from more general to more detailed information; recommendations in all areas; Trying items: a simulation helps the customer get a feel for how he could use the product he wants to buy (try a dress at a party, a swimming costume on the beach, an electric drill on some wood,…). The customer sees himself using the item and gets to compare different options on his screen in order to help him make the selection; Suggestions and advice: a wide range of useful tips can be shared, including new products, complementary items (to perfect a party look, for example), special deals, available colours or variations… The latest developments in [innovation confirm augmented reality is here to stay](https://www.financedigest.com/the-smart-inhalers-market-to-stay-innovatively-persistent.html "The Smart Inhalers Market to stay innovatively persistent"). The technological components (sensors, gps, beacon…) and software components ( [artificial intelligence](https://www.financedigest.com/types-of-artificial-intelligence.html "artificial intelligence"), facial recognition…) already exist; they just require assembling. All these services will be rendered through smartphones and will [grow to include virtual](https://www.financedigest.com/the-drug-repurposing-market-to-virtually-grow-beyond-geographies.html "The Drug Repurposing Market to virtually grow beyond geographies") changing rooms, large – usually tactile – screens, and sometimes virtual reality headsets. Sales assistants will retain their functions, guiding customers to make informed choices, as they did before. Given the speed at which technology is developing and consumer thirst for new experiences, augmented reality is set to develop at lightning speed. It is, without a doubt, the [future of retail](https://www.financedigest.com/intelligent-delivery-the-future-of-ecommerce-and-retail.html "Intelligent delivery: the future of eCommerce and retail"), and will inspire brands to find novel ways of attracting, conquering and retaining customers. E-Commerce should aim to promote this new in-store purchasing experience; both sales channels will complement and reinforce each other. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---