The retail environment we know and interact with today has been completely transformed due to technological development. One aspect that’s led to such rapid development is the availability of mobile apps that play a huge role in changing today’s retail landscape.
Mobile apps that leverage augmented and virtual reality technologies allow brands to create engaging experiences like never before that allow them to take retailer-consumer interactions to the next level.
The beauty of mobile apps lies in the fact that they are extremely accessible and are one-touch away. The convenience such apps offer is unparalleled on any other device or platform. Hence, these features have helped these apps become game-changers for the retail industry.
Mobile apps you need to look out for
Here are ten mobile apps that are changing the retail landscape through their innovative features:
Retale
A location-based app, Retale puts users in retail environments where they can explore a 3D VR world to shop local offers, such as weekly deals. Consumers can interact with items through product links, coupons, and video. When consumers want to purchase something, they can be guided to the nearest store through the navigation system.
Alibaba Buy +
This virtual shopping mall allows customers to purchase from real-life stores, such as Macys and Costco for an entirely immersive experience.
The Apollo Box
This US-based marketplace uses AR to allow users to visualize items before they purchase them and allowing them to interact with these items.
Migros Discover
This Swiss supermarket uses VR to allow customers to scan any product in-store to access real-time ratings and reviews, product information, nutritional values, and recipes.
Sephora Visual Artist
The beauty giant has an innovative app with AR and facial recognition features which allow customers to try out different looks and items. Customers can experiment with different lipsticks, eyeshadows, etc.
H&M kick bot
H&M’s official chatbot allows users to navigate through various outfits and guides them to the items they’re in search of. After selecting your style and sex, the bot suggests outfits which you can like or dislike. If these items are disliked, the bot suggests new recommendations.
Under Armour Record
The sportswear brand developed a health-tracking app that uses IBM Watson and analyzes and records workouts, nutrition and sleep data, and provides personalized recommendations for training and nutrition.
Neiman Marcus
Snap. Find. Shop: This app leverages visual search to allow users to snap, find, and shop items from their smartphones. Users can take a picture anywhere and the app will draw up visually similar items from the inventory. Its online site also uses this technology by providing visitors with similar product suggestions.
Lowe’s Holoroom
The home improvement company utilizes VR to create a transformational experience for customers by allowing them to virtually build their own home improvement projects, such as changing the tiles of the bathroom.
Walmart
The retail giant’s mobile has a barcode scanner that allows shoppers to conduct price checks in store and access more information. Apart from this the app can also be used by customers at their homes to make online orders. For instance, customers can scan their empty shampoo bottles to order the product online or collect it from a nearby store.
Conclusion
Retail mobile apps are gaining popularity, and as we continue to move towards a completely digital world, where everything is at a person’s fingertips, online retail will continue to grow and expand in previously unseen ways.
Brands are providing their audiences with incentives to download and use their retail mobile applications. With top-notch in-app features that enhance the customer experience, the retail landscape will continue to change for the better.
