Retailers now able to offer virtual visualization solutions in-store

POPAI Hungary’s mother organisation Shop! HQ provide a new service for the members called „Experience Retail Today” sending regular collections of articles and insights to the mailbox of the suscribers about the actuals of the international retail sector.

On and offline at the same time

With nearly 60% of shoppers looking up product information and prices while using mobile phones in stores, the partnership is a natural progression in retail innovation. Raydiant’s digital screens in stores will display Poplar Studio’s AR and 3D virtual try-on technology. This will be enabled by “magic mirrors” or digital displays triggering AR experiences that allow shoppers to visualise products, access entertainment play and virtually try on products through AR.

With this technology, retailers can combine the digital shopping experience with the physical shopping experience. As stores have a natural limited capacity for stock, AR technology and virtual try-ons allow customers to engage with the full range in store.

Lifebelt for shops

The pandemic has had a lasting impact on the retail industry, with the U.S. anticipating that almost 81,000 retail locations will be lost over the next five years as a result. With consumers used to shopping safely online, retailers will need new ways to engage with customers and attract them back into the store.

David Ripert, co-founder and CEO of Poplar Studio, says: “The Covid 19 pandemic has only accelerated a trend in physical store closures globally which started a few years ago, in parallel with the rise of e-Commerce. Customers are now not only familiar with digital shopping, but expect to use technology as part of their shopping habits, from product discovery through to conversion. Retailers need to transform their physical offering and adopt new digital tools like AR virtual try-ons and 3D product visualisation, in order to appear innovative, while providing a shopping experience that is safe, practical and engaging. By partnering with Raydiant, Poplar Studio is proud to help retailers build the store of the future.”

Bobby Marmahat, CEO of Raydiant, says: “Our #1 goal at Raydiant is to provide businesses with the best solution on the market for creating in-location experiences that “WOW” their customers. As the pandemic comes to an end, shoppers are looking for convenient, enjoyable experiences that make them feel clean and safe. This is why the digital shopping experience has quickly become a must-have for successful retailers everywhere and also why we are thrilled to add Poplar Studios as the next addition to our partner ecosystem Marketplace. We believe that this partnership is the next step to creating a better, more enjoyable in-location experience for retailers everywhere.”