In the post-lockdown world, as life slowly gets back to normal, retailers are trying to adjust to a new reality. With social distancing and contactless shopping set to become the norm, the retail industry will look to leverage the advantages of augmented reality services.

Before lockdown, augmented reality for the retail industry had already proven to be a game-changer. Consumers could browse online shopping pages, access virtual catalogs, and even try out products virtually. Now, retail businesses will look to adapt to the changing demands of consumerism.

Why Traditional Retailing Might Not Work

The world has been in lockdown mode for close to four months now. Shopping is a matter of habit. And, with people getting used to a way of life where social distancing and self-isolation are the new normal, the retail industry must look outward to make the transition to contactless consumer experiences. This may be obtained with the help of virtual services.

The image used for illustration purposes. Zeal AR is not the owner or creator of the image. (Image Source:  GETTY IMAGES)

Here are some pertinent reasons why conventional retailing needs to make sweeping changes to their business models.

1. Restrictions on Travel: The pandemic’s biggest victim has been traveling and commute. People have been locked in for months on end. They only go out for emergency purposes. Therefore, adopting AR technology for retail business may be the right way forward.
2. Strained Resources: A conventional retail business thrived through its brick-and-mortar stores. However, such physical locations of business are costly to set up and even costlier to maintain. In the post-lockdown world, few can sustain such a costly business model. Switching to AR retail would be a timely, one-time investment, the benefits of which will be long-term.
3. Virtual Trials: This was one of the major attractions why retailers started using augmented reality in Australia as part of their consumer experience. For those shoppers who detest going shopping, they can do it from the comfort of their homes, using their smartphones or tablets. Moreover, browsing through a store can be done virtually, along with trials of products, such as furniture and apparel. This is a truly practical solution when it comes to following social distancing norms.
4. Personalized Content: Using augmented reality in Melbourne, retailers can address consumer demand for personalized user content. Services and products can be made to look more relatable to consumer needs with the aid of AR experiences. This is a great way to convince the customer that you care about their demands and feedback.

The image used for illustration purposes. Zeal AR is not the owner or creator of the image.

The Large-Scale Adoption and Acceptance of Technology-Driven Shopping

As already mentioned, the use of augmented reality in retail is not a new phenomenon, albeit it is still in its nascent stage. However, several industry leaders are already showing the way by reaching out to augmented reality service providers to help boost brand awareness and outreach.

Communication is key in the retail business. The unprecedented lockdown may have forced may businesses to introspect on their communication strategies when it came to their consumers. To retain consumers, and attract new ones, the adoption of virtual technologies such as AR, have become more important than ever before.