iWorld
Virtual shopping spree: How augmented reality on social media enhances the retail experience
Mumbai: Nowadays, convenience is paramount when it comes to shopping. Consumers want an easy way to try on clothes, visualize how furniture will look in their homes, and generally “try before they buy.” Thanks to augmented reality (AR) technology, these immersive experiences are increasingly prevalent across the retail space.
AR allows brands and retailers to introduce engaging new shopping experiences like virtual fitting rooms, digital try-ons, and color-matching for everything from paint to makeup to hair dye. By implementing AR, customers no longer need to physically try on items or second-guess how a purchase will look in their space. It eliminates the uncertainty of shopping.
Ultimately, AR reduces product returns, increases customer engagement, and fosters long-term brand loyalty. According to research by G2, 61% of consumers prefer retailers offering AR experiences. It is no surprise retail accounted for 5% of global AR usage in 2022, with that number continuing to grow each year. Snapchat even predicts nearly 75% of the global population will frequently use AR for shopping by 2025.
Brands worldwide are using AR to create targeted marketing campaigns, boost engagement, and deliver personalized shopping journeys. For example, Nike’s AR app Nike Fit lets users measure their feet to find the perfect shoe size and visualize how different sneaker styles and colors look on their feet. The app improves sizing accuracy by 60% and reduces returns by 50%.
Similarly, Converse’s Sampler app enables shoppers to virtually try on hundreds of shoe styles from multiple angles using their smartphone camera. This immersive experience has increased conversion rates by 30% and time spent in the app by 50%.
So, what are the key benefits of AR in retail?
Reduced Returns
Allowing customers to virtually try before buying dramatically cuts down on product returns and related costs for retailers.
Increased Engagement
Shoppers can experiment with makeup shades, try on eyeglasses, and visualize outfits without lifting a finger, keeping them actively engaged with brands and products.
Enhanced Loyalty
Delivering seamless, personalized shopping experiences builds lasting customer loyalty and repeat business.
Valuable Data
Brands gain insights into customer sizes, preferences, and behaviors to inform inventory and marketing decisions.
Boosted Sales
Customers are more likely to purchase items they can confidently preview in a realistic setting.
Leading brands are finding innovative ways to integrate AR into the retail experience across channels:
Color Matching
AR helps match paint colors, cosmetics, and more to a customer’s surroundings or skin tone by overlaying the shade onto a photo for an accurate preview.
Virtual Fitting Rooms
Brands like Gucci use AR to let shoppers virtually try on clothing items to find the right size, fit, and style from the comfort of home.
Interactive Displays
In-store AR displays allow customers to browse extended product catalogs, personalize items, and ensure a great fit or shade match.
Virtual Try-Ons
Similar to fitting rooms, AR lets shoppers virtually try on accessories like eyeglasses or hats before purchasing. Warby Parker’s app uploads a selfie to preview frames.
Space Visualization
Customers can use AR to envision how large furniture pieces will look and fit in a room versus relying on guesswork.
Gamified Engagement
Starbucks has used AR to engage customers by letting them scan cups to unlock animated scenes, encouraging brand interaction.
As this technology continues evolving, augmented reality shopping experiences are set to become the standard. Several companies are already implementing AR throughout the customer journey to deepen connections and redefine what is possible in retail.
The following article is attributed to Vosmos CEO Piyush Gupta.
iWorld
Meta launches AI connectors for ads in open beta
Tools enable campaign creation, reporting and insights via AI platforms.
MUMBAI: If ads were once about gut feel, Meta now wants them run on autopilot with AI riding shotgun. The company has unveiled its Meta ads AI connectors in open beta, a move aimed at embedding campaign creation, management and analysis directly into the AI tools advertisers already use. The push reflects a broader shift in digital advertising: from platform-led workflows to AI-assisted, cross-tool execution.
At the heart of the rollout are Meta’s ads model context protocol (MCP) server and a command line interface (CLI), which together allow advertisers to securely link their ad accounts to AI agents. The promise is straightforward real campaign data, not generic prompts, powering decisions across workflows.
The connectors are designed to streamline multiple layers of campaign management. Advertisers can generate detailed performance reports, create and edit campaigns using natural language, manage product catalogues, and diagnose signal quality, all without leaving their preferred AI environment.
Meta is also leaning into ease of adoption. For MCP, the company says setup requires no coding, developer credentials or API integrations, positioning the tools as accessible for businesses of varying sizes and technical maturity.
The launch complements Meta’s existing AI business assistant within Ads Manager, which focuses on recommendations and troubleshooting inside the platform. The connectors, by contrast, extend that intelligence outward into third-party AI tools that marketers increasingly rely on for cross-channel planning and automation.
The underlying strategy is clear: instead of forcing advertisers deeper into its ecosystem, Meta is meeting them where they already work while still keeping its data and ad infrastructure at the core of decision-making.
As AI continues to reshape how campaigns are conceived and executed, Meta’s latest move signals a future where managing ads may feel less like operating software and more like having a conversation.
