Augmented reality (AR) has long been seen as futuristic, abstract technology with eCommerce and will gradually take on how businesses run. For many, it was one of the technologies that could be played around one day; in other words, it was a novelty rather than a priority. However, as eCommerce took off during the pandemic, many fashion houses were caught off guard as they had no technical backing to support prolonged lockdowns. Now though, with many brick-and-mortar stores off-limits and online competition increasing, attitudes towards AR and its role in ecommerce have shifted significantly, particularly within the Garment Pattern Design Software industry. On a similar note, our fashion design software helps apparel companies to make the most of the latest technology with its custom-made solution. It enables your buyers to design their clothes seamlessly and tries them on using 3d technology before heading for the final payment.
Garment Design Software Enables Apparel Companies Manifest Digital Trends
Retailers are being forced to rethink their priorities and embrace new trends, tools, and technologies that allow them to serve compelling customer experiences and win the loyalty of today’s shoppers. Augmented Reality (AR) is one such solution helping fashion houses bridge the gap between physical and digital commerce. It offers a platform where the two business models can blend in more smoothly and perfectly fit the bill for Garment Pattern Design Software retail and the challenges the apparel industry has to deal with. New-age technology is emerging as an urgent investment area for many eCommerce retailers and fast becoming a competitive differentiator as fashion brands battle for customers and conversions in the age of COVID.
According toABI Research, by 2022, over 120,000 stores will leverage AR. The rising number of AR-capable devices in the world is expected to grow to over 4 billion. The technology is transforming the way fashion companies engage with their customers, thus, enabling their buyers to experience products virtually from the comfort of their homes. AR technologies can help consumers understand what they are buying and make it easier for brands to meet customer expectations leading to higher-post purchase satisfaction and more brand loyalty. Leading names in the technology, including Snapchat, are deploying new tools to make it easier for brands to create three-dimensional, photorealistic versions of products and easier for consumers to try these products. For the first time, brands can install the technology within their apps, which means they no longer have to develop or acquire it independently. Premium brands, such as Puma and Ralph Lauren, are its early testers. Snapchat users will also be able to more easily discover products to digitally try on via Snap’s new “Dress Up” section, which is the first time it has created a specific destination for this type of content.
Letting developers of other fields use Snapchat’s technology is applauded by many experts in the fashion industry see it as a medium to develop and expand AR across the sector. The technology has been a point of focus for Snapchat, with more than250 million people using the AR shopping lenses more than 5 billion times. The company is more eager to identify itself as a camera company than a social media or advertising-driven company. The lucrative opportunities emerging in the fashion domain are the primary reason why many companies are more inclined toward offering camera and AR-based infrastructure to apparel brands and influencers as extended reality and the metaverse proliferates. These instances indicate that there are many advantages of using augmented reality in fashion. Let us explore.
Here are the advantages of using AR in the clothing business:
Increases Revenues
Companies using AR largely benefit from increased profits. When customers experience a product before purchasing them, they deepen their relationship with it and develop a sense of ownership. Shoppers who feel they already know the product are more likely to buy it. In fact, when customers know that you have installed AR on your website or enabled it in a store, they are more eager to try it and purchase products. It is a great opportunity for fashion houses to educate their customers and offer more in-depth content based on their experience while developing AR technology. It also presents the perfect opportunity to upsell companion products or accessories. Providing immersive experiences in stores can also help Garment Pattern Design Software houses drive more sales. For instance, if garment companies use our 3D fashion design software, a customization built-in with 3d technology enables fashion houses to let their customers select, design, and preview apparel. The easy-to-interface helps customers seamlessly design their clothes and gain a 360-degree preview before heading for the final payment. The tool ensures your customers are happy and have a great time while shopping from your store.
Attracts More Buyers with Virtual shopping experiences (and NFTs)
Gone are those days when Garment Pattern Design Software brands had to invest heavily to use new technology in their eCommerce. The advancing technologies and rising competition have put fashion on the fast track. There are an abundance of technology to be used in the sector and many competitors to leverage them. Fashion and fashion-tech companies are leaving no stone unturned to entice buyers. Therefore, AR, which was earlier restricted to online stores, is now being adopted across brick-and-mortar locations. Companies with in-store locations use technology to enhance the shopping experience. For instance, retail store Tilly‘s used AR in 2017 to sponsor a treasure hunt tied to back-to-school shopping. The app allowed customers to search the store for coins to receive discounts.
Likewise, new enhanced technologies, such as Meta, are being increasingly used in virtual concerts, parties, and virtual work meetings to let users shop for official merchandise and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on its digital platform. These technologies are already being used by high-end brands, such as Louis Vuitton and Burberry, who have already launched their own NFT collections, while Gucci is in the process of creating one. In future, these launches may take place directly on Meta, where users can show off their limited-edition purchases instantly through their avatars.
Offers More Opportunities for Collaboration
Having numerous advanced technologies at disposal opens a room for collaboration which is a great way to expand business while also taking technology to every corner of the Earth. Many tech giants, such as Meta, have joined forces with Balenciaga. The French luxury fashion brand is known for embracing the metaverse: on top of launching a collection through its very own video game, Balenciaga has also teamed up with Fortnite to launch both physical and virtual merchandise. It is logical to form partnerships and tap onto your partner’s assets. For instance, the collaboration between Balenciaga and the luxury brand will help Meta explore and expand its customer base and bring fashion into its virtual universe. Meta has also hinted at letting users “walk through and explore [their] Pinterest boards in the metaverse”, which only underscores how big fashion’s role will play on the upcoming platform.
Reduces Returns
Research fromStatista suggests that product returns can cost as much as $550 billion per year, and the primary reason behind this trend is the inability of the product to meet customers’ expectations. They bought a product based on a stock photo, only to realize that it wasn’t what they imagined upon receiving it. Enabling customers to experience the product in an augmented world and letting them have a first-hand experience reduces the return burden on apparel companies. Customers know what they are getting into, and companies won’t have to bear the extra costs of unsold items. Using AR can help them boost their revenue and reduce cart abandonment rates or return rates. Retail giant Macy, too, experimented with its “try before you buy,” an AR product visualization strategy that helped the company reduce return rates to less than two per cent.
Make an Informed Decision-
AR is the future, and for that to happen, everybody must participate. Fashion, fashion techs, customers, and investors must do everything in their capacities to build in AR and think about how that helps to solve new problems that we aren’t solving on our own. The clothes designing software by iDesigniBuy is a step towards making this aspiration come true by helping apparel brands to provide exceptional customer experience and solve problems with immersive customization solutions. The tool helps brands and retailers boost their sales and garner more revenue by increasing customer loyalty and forming transparent and warm relations with shoppers.