Snap believes AR can transform the online shopping experience: Our principal analyst spoke with the company’s global AR product strategy lead about how Snap is helping brands increase conversions and reduce returns.

Nearly 2 in 5 augmented reality (AR) users in the US will shop with the technology this year, for a total of 35.0 million retail AR users. That base is up 18.8% from last year and will continue to grow at double-digit rates through 2024 as shoppers make use of virtual try-on and product visualization features.

It’s still early days, but augmented reality is showing real potential for social commerce. Brands can use the technology to improve the experience and help customers make more informed purchase decisions.

Retailers have long had an eye on augmented reality (AR), but it still has unrealized potential for shopping purposes.

On today's episode, we discuss whether augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) will rival the smartphone as the next big platform, the impact of 3D advertising, how in-store shopping habits have changed, whether there really is an attention economy slowdown, what to do about inflation, an unpopular opinion about video chats, which way people fold their arms, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our senior director of Briefings Stephanie Taglianetti, director of forecasting Oscar Orozco, and analyst Dave Frankland.

The beauty industry is getting a digital makeover, thanks to Gen Z, viral TikTok trends, AR capabilities, and new consumer behaviors. Brands will need to take a multichannel approach to keep up.

Learn about remote-controlled stores, the most popular retail membership programs, the right way to rethink your augmented reality (AR) strategies, whether home returns are the future, how many Americans make lots of money, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our analysts Suzy Davidkhanian, Dave Frankland, and Paul Verna.

On today's episode, we discuss which shopping channel will make the biggest splash in 2022, where augmented reality will be, and how much online shopping will grow next year. We then talk about Heinz's limited edition plantable labels and whether people will pay $700 for an A&W jacket. Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer principal analyst at Insider Intelligence Suzy Davidkhanian.

On today's episode, we discuss what the next big augmented reality (AR) experience might be, the Trojan horse of self-service retail, whether podcasting has a "hit" problem, the NFL's 2021 regular season ratings, a possible delivery drone milestone, an unpopular opinion about consumer choice, robot referees, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our analysts Oscar Orozco, Peter Vahle, and Blake Droesch.

Augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) continue to expand their reach as new devices and applications make them more accessible to consumers.

SMB AP/AR Automation Nears Inflection Point as Interest Turns to Action. AP/AR automation among SMBs has long lagged the payments digitization curve set by larger businesses, leaving a massive untapped network of potential clients for banks and software providers.

Retailers can do so by ensuring they offer a wealth of content that provides shoppers with a clear sense of what a product is, how it works, and what it looks like. For some categories, such as makeup, apparel, and furniture, they might also leverage technology such as augmented reality to help shoppers ensure they want the product they’re planning to purchase.

Augmented reality is still early in its life as an ecommerce aid, but it has the potential to reduce retail returns in the future. The ability to improve product visualization during online shopping could lower the rate of returns—a huge and growing source of waste. The return rate for ecommerce orders currently hovers around 20%, according to the National Retail Federation, up from 18% in 2020.

Shopper Media. YouGov.

Snap sees AR making a difference for brands: Product marketing lead tells our principal analyst that use of augmented reality tools delivers “meaningful impact” to the bottom lines of business partners.

That could mean implementing tools like augmented reality (AR) try-on tech, or simply showing what an item looks like on a diverse array of bodies. Making this process easier will allow consumers to feel more secure in their purchases and could make even the most price-conscious shopper decide to pull the trigger.

Augmented Reality (AR). AR-supported ads, particularly on mobile, are a good fit for insurers looking to tap their investments in offline channels like magazines and flyers to create multichannel experiences. For example, UK-based insurer LV= allows consumers to scan its flyers with a smartphone camera to access a 3D house model.

However, shopping livestreams have just started to emerge on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube within the past couple of months. Paid social teams so far have been in promoting livestreams, but the shopping events are largely conducted by organic social teams.

Among executives worldwide, 72% believe the metaverse will have at least some positive impact on their organization. Some 13% expect this mixed-reality realm to redefine their industry, while 28% think it will enable new business practices and help them reach new customers. Another 28% anticipate the metaverse will have minimal or no positive effect on their company.

AI and augmented reality (AR) startups that focus on making the customer journey more convenient will continue to attract investors.