Table of contents
Among the emerging technologies, augmented reality (AR) is driving the eCommerce industry to a whole new horizon. AR in eCommerce has rapidly taken over customers by enhancing their experience. Consumers’ interest and overall participation level have increased after the introduction of AR in eCommerce.
See more:
- eCommerce Trends 2025: How Can Businesses Adapt?
- AI and Machine Learning in eCommerce
- 26+ Features of Mobile Shop 2025 (Core To Advanced)
What is augmented reality in eCommerce?
Augmented reality (AR) in eCommerce is a transformative technology that enhances the online shopping experience by allowing customers to visualize and interact with products in a more immersive way. This technology integrates computer-generated images with the real world, enabling users to see how products will look and fit in their own environments before making a purchase.
An outstanding solution for e-commerce challenges
In fact, for e-commerce, there are still other heavy challenges that should be solved. One of them is the eCommerce conversion rates. It stays low in the range of 2% – 4% for e-commerce, while traditional brick-and-mortar conversions vary in the 20% – 40% range. E-commerce loses to retailers in sensory limits. As customers come to the stores they want to try by everything they want, before making decisions to purchase.
54% of customers prefer visiting brick-and-mortar stores because they can’t fully visualize products in online stores.
However, e-commerce now proposes good solutions to cope with that problem, Augmented Reality (AR) is among the top ones. As mobile devices change the landscape of the e-commerce market, augmented reality will soon change the way we shop.
>> See more: 10 Biggest Mobile Commerce Trends To Look Out For 2025
Customers expectations
- 63% of customers are confident that augmented reality may transform their shopping experience.
- 35% says that they would likely go shopping online more if there would be a possibility to virtually try stuff before buying it.
- 22% would be less likely to visit traditional retail stores if AR were available in online stores.
There is no doubt that AR in eCommerce soon stop being a novelty and will become a common tool for day-to-day activities, like smartphones, tablets, and drones.
The use of Augmented Reality in eCommerce
So, you may ask yourself how AR benefits your business. Here are some ways and impressive examples that you should notice:
1. “Virtual Try-on” – Visualize the product experience before purchasing
Augmented reality apps go a long way in eliminating ambiguity from e-commerce purchases. They do so by helping consumers visualize the product in the context of the physical space they’ll occupy.
For example, home-furnishings company IKEA has had enormous success with its IKEA Place augmented reality app for iOS and Android.
In this manner, augmented reality in eCommerce can speed up the product search process for high-value and bulky products. Along those lines, Amikasa has a superb e-commerce AR app that lets shoppers design their dream homes using designer furniture from several brands.
2. Imitate real in-store experience
Depending on the up-to-date research, 61% of the customers prefer purchasing goods in online stores that provide AR features, than those without it.
AR in eCommerce gives customers virtual in-store experience, starting from a common chat with advisors to dressing up clothes or footwear (Topshop and Converse AR techs). Also, any AR user may see 3D models of special furniture from any degree and even put anywhere inside his or her own house.
3. Body Measurement App
The Body Measurement App has a goal to offer the user the most accurate virtual fitting of the body. This AR in eCommerce solution is to a better way to measure the fitting of the user which is revolutionary in eCommerce.
We are aware that fitting is a basic problem while buying clothes or any wearable products online. Therefore, the body measurement App allows the online user to try a product that accurately fits their body before making the final decision.
4. AR Manual
AR user manual demonstrates the process of reading a manual of appliances interactively with a step-by-step virtual guide. Users without any hassles using smart devices can easily go through the details of the product. It also reduces the time and the fear of unknown risks while going through the manual of any appliance.
With an immersive 3D experience integrated with AR Technology, AR manual increases the percentage of understandability. After a simple scan of the appliance, the AR manual indicates all the useful instructions and features virtually.
5. Virtual Measurement
Technology to detect and calculate the size of the body or object as per the need of your eCommerce user.
6. For cosmetic brands – Try out more options without investing time or effort
Cosmetics and beauty brands are hopping on the AR train to success. It makes sense: Seeing an eyeshadow applied to your face often looks vastly different from how it appears in the online product photo of the compact.
AR for eCommerce examples
Here are some notable examples of augmented reality (AR) being utilized in eCommerce:
Amazon’s AR View
This feature allows customers to visualize products, such as furniture, in their own homes using their smartphone cameras. Users can place virtual 3D models in their real-world environments, enhancing their shopping experience by allowing them to see how items fit into their spaces before purchasing.
Ray-Ban’s Virtual Mirror
Ray-Ban offers a marker-based AR experience where customers can use a virtual mirror to see how different sunglasses styles look on their faces in real time. This feature is accessible via their website or mobile app when users scan a QR code or marker.
IKEA Place App
IKEA pioneered the use of AR for furniture shopping, allowing users to scan their rooms and visualize how various pieces of furniture would fit within their spaces with high accuracy. This app has reportedly reduced product returns by 35% and increased sales by 14%.
Sephora’s Virtual Artist
Sephora’s app enables customers to try on makeup virtually, allowing them to test different shades of foundation and lipstick using their smartphones. This AR feature helps customers make informed choices before purchasing beauty products.
Burberry’s Google Collaboration
Burberry has integrated AR into its online shopping experience by partnering with Google, allowing customers to view 3D models of products directly through search results. This enhances the visual experience and helps manage customer expectations regarding product appearance.
AR platforms for eCommerce
Shopify
Shopify is rapidly integrating AR and 3D technology into its eCommerce offerings, enabling businesses to provide virtual try-ons and interactive product experiences. This platform caters to the growing consumer demand for immersive shopping experiences.
BigCommerce
The eCommerce platform integrates AR features that allow customers to preview products in their own environments before making a purchase. BigCommerce supports virtual try-on solutions across various product categories, including clothing and makeup, helping to reduce return rates by providing a better understanding of product fit and style.
Overly
Overly enhances traditional catalog shopping experiences by integrating AR technology. For example, with TopShop augmented reality, users can scan items of interest to access more information and direct purchasing links, transforming catalog browsing into an interactive digital experience.
Psychological aspects that prove why AR boosts sales
1. Engagement
Virtual Reality provides a new level of interaction for customers where it is getting connected to the user. Users can understand how it will physically look by using the VR headset to view the products for themselves.
It is noticed that when consumers get engaged with a virtual product that too the 2D printed image, they feel more connected.
It offers the user with an intense view of the products that make him/her visit online platform again and again.
2. Incredible storytelling
Storytelling is a way of connecting with people on an emotional level. Because VR storytelling is interactive, it allows you to be both involved in the message being disseminated, and also live it out in real time.
The best part of AR is it is helping to change the traditional aspect by introducing virtual platform with some stories or news.
The user gets keen to become a part of events and promotions of the virtual products.
3. Curiosity
Users can’t hold themselves when it comes to AR experiences.
The experience is so effective that it attracts the users to experience AR again and again.
The appealing and motivating features of the AR try to keep users happy and curious about the product.
4. Accuracy
AR with 3D visualization helps the user to make an accurate decision.
Thus talking about AR service, all products that are going to be purchased have more chance to reduce the return rate.
A user without any doubt will purchase the items as AR provides an interactive experience.
5. Personalize
Talking about the online store — especially in the case of wearing, where products can only be viewed — does not provide a better user experience.
Whereas, AR offers a level of personalization to the customers where they may see themselves in all of the outfits to know which would look best on them.
Future of Online Shopping
All in all, VR experiences can eliminate doubts, reduce the return rate as well as increase conversion rate.
AR provides customers with the ability to observe 3D model of products in online shops, as well as customize it. A wider choice, as well as more options, give customers abilities to make wiser decisions and improve the purchasing rate
The future of online shopping will pivot on augmented reality. AR is already adding value in getting shoppers to stay engaged on retailer’s mobile platforms as well as driving in-store traffic. Key players in the industry will indeed have a huge stake in the future of Augmented commerce because as eCommerce evolves, so will your consumer’s expectations.
Stay tuned for integration of AR technology into SimiCart platform
To keep our customers at the forefront of technology, SimiCart are integrating Augmented Reality into our platform that ultimately boosts the shopping experience with mobile devices. That is to say, our team is working on a new AR-enhanced sizing feature for ecommerce. The new smart sizing capability is promised to help bridge the gap between online and offline shopping, allowing customers to make faster and better product decisions. You’ll soon be able to experience SimiCart smart sizing in the next version of our apps. Stay tuned to be the first to know about our exciting feature release!
