How Is Augmented Reality Transforming the Furniture Industry?

In the past decade, there have been technological advancements worth talking about as they have significantly impacted different walks of life. One such technology that has created a lot of buzz and excitement around itself in different businesses is augmented reality (AR). The power of AR in retail is being realized by several businesses and brands across the globe. AR in retail serves as a powerful tool for retail businesses to display visually appealing products. Healthcare, pharmaceuticals, e-commerce, e-learning - augmented reality has created an impact in nearly every industry. The furniture industry is no exception to this.

Imagine being able to place a bed in your bedroom or a dining table in the living room virtually without the need to visit any furniture store physically. AR in the furniture industry makes this possible. AR in the retail furniture industry overlays digital furniture objects in a user's real-world environment. This can be achieved either by using WebAR or AR smartphone apps. It is important to understand that AR in retail does not completely eliminate the real world for users. In fact, it augments reality with virtual content.

AR in the furniture industry has been a significant game-changer in the way customers shop. With AR in furniture, there is no need to visit various furniture markets. The size, design, shape, texture, and other striking features of any furniture can be viewed on the smartphone, just by merely tapping on the screen. With AR in the retail industry becoming popular, developers have developed powerful augmented reality apps. These enable people to just scan the dining room, living room, or kitchen and actually get recommendations of furniture that would best fit the physical space, which they are scanning.

Benefits of AR in the retail furniture industry for businesses

1) Personalized shopping experience

In the furniture industry, the one-size-fits-all approach does not work. This is because every interior space is different. A cupboard that may blend well in the bedroom of an individual may not be the best fit for another individual. With AR in the furniture industry, businesses can offer a personalized and customized shopping experience to the customers.

2) Try-before-you-buy option

Furniture is a high-priced item and not something which people buy every day. Hence, it is vital for businesses to offer the option to try and buy remotely. With AR in retail, customers can actually see how the furniture would fit into the real world in which they live. Just like people can try glasses and apparel virtually before buying them, augmented reality has made this possible for the furniture industry as well.

3) Customer engagement

AR in the furniture industry offers an immersive shopping experience to customers. Users have a wide range of options to choose from - colours, styles, sizes, varieties. By offering a captivating experience of furniture products, businesses can increase customer engagement and retention as well as sales with new purchases.

Considering the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and even moving forward, social distancing and minimal human interaction and contact are likely to be the new normal. In view of this, it makes sense for businesses and brands in the furniture industry to invest in developing a WebAR or AR app for smartphones.

Contact us for a free demo and more details of the AR app for the furniture industry.