Top 4 Ideas on How to Use VR in Retail
People today are overwhelmed with market choice, so everyone keeps searching for new methods to gain customers. Virtual reality is the answer to prayers. This technology has multiple applications and can benefit almost every business. But it works especially well in the trade industry. This article will tell you about the top 4 VR retail concepts to use.
Entertain your customers
Retail is not about directly selling a product only. Entertaining customers, improving their experience, giving new impressions help to increase their loyalty and to achieve great results in sales.
VR development works perfectly as an entertainment tool. Because it was initially created as one. The immersive experience is not the most widespread technology today and can still fascinate and amaze people who encounter it, especially if you use one of the latest headsets.
Cases
Topshop successfully used VR to draw customer’s attention in their flagship store in Oxford Street, London. The experience was dedicated to the start of the summer season and the setting was the most summery — an aquapark. Customers were offered to take a ride on a virtual waterslide that started in the shop and went through the city. While riding, the users could see the passerby, the buildings around and floated above cars and doubledeckers.
Westfield mall, in order to compete with online shops and make people go outside, launched a VR experience together with their partner. An Alien Zoo was introduced in Westfield Century City in Los Angeles and gained great popularity. A group of six were to go on a trip into the imaginary world inhabited by all types of fantastic creatures. The users could interact with other members and the zoo dwellers on their thrilling adventure.
Increase brand awareness
The more people know about the brand, the more successful it can be claimed. Virtual reality can make people notice you, talk about you, stand out among the competitors and make your brand go viral.
As people get amazed with a branded VR experience, they will definitely share this with their community and so spread the word about the company. A correctly chosen setting and environment contribute to the brand image as well.
Cases
The North Face has used VR experience in its marketing not once. In 2015 they suggested the customers, who tried on their new winter jacket, going on a polar expedition. The VR experience then turned into a real-life ride on a dog sled around the mall to deeper the impression. Another case includes a series of immersive tours in picturesque places around the world, which was aimed to encourage people to go on an actual trip to these places.
The Patron, a tequila brand, decided to tell a story of their product in the form of a 360 video. In combination with VR, it turns into a colorful and exciting journey. The video follows the product lifecycle from agave field to being bottled and served. The customers will definitely recognize a bottle of Patron tequila after that.
Introduce “try it before you buy it” concept
70% of customers want to use v-commerce to try on clothes and accessories as well as to customize them.
VR solutions give them an opportunity to try a product in its digital form. Sometimes it is not even necessary to leave home, which is an extra advantage. Retailers can use a VR experience as a demonstration tour, a fitting room, a showroom or a product test. Any of these will allow the customers to get acquainted with the product and encourage to make a purchase.
Cases
IKEA is a well-known innovator in the retail industry. Years ago they started to incorporate hi-tech methods of promotion: artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and, of course, virtual reality. One of the cases is a VR tour in their kitchen. Customers can move around, interact with the furniture and kitchen tools, and cook some deliciously-looking meatballs.
Do you want to buy a new car? Many brands today will suggest you a test drive in a virtual world. Audi, Volvo, Range Rover introduced their customers to the VR experience to know the vehicle, have a test drive and, in some cases, to try various configurations of the car.
Create a virtual shop
A lot of people are lazy. Virtual reality is a great way to buy what you need without leaving the comfort of the house while saving you time and effort.
A virtual shop can be presented in different ways. It can be a complete copy of the actual shop; it may include a virtual assistant; it can be a virtual catalog the person browses in VR. Nowadays not every VR shop supports instant payment: for some of them, it is necessary to pay through another app on the phone. However, the concept is widely used and is claimed to be a future of e-commerce.
Cases
Online shopping giant Alibaba introduced their concept of the VR shop. As the customer puts on a headset, they can take a trip to any shop presented on the website. The store is filled with products they can examine from every angle, try it on, and buy at the same app. The key point is that the application can run on low-cost cardboard hardware.
eBay went a little bit differently. Their VR experience is an interactive catalog to browse and choose from personalized to customer’s preferences. The navigation is performed with eye-tracking technology, so no additional control is needed.
VR helps to draw attention, increase brand awareness and, as a result, increase the revenue. So in retail it is a must-have for companies which want to stand out and provide their customers with exceptional user experience.
