Furniture Industry Background
The furniture industry has long struggled to gain a solid foothold online. It doesn’t come as a surprise, considering that it is never easy for shoppers to determine if a particular furniture piece will go well with the rest of their home décor or if their available space is enough to accommodate it. It’s never enough to look at photos online.
This reluctance or hesitation grows when the piece is bigger or the price tag is higher. Why would they even bother to shop online when they can always visit the person and check the product in person?
As far as shoppers are concerned, it will be simpler for them to get the exact measurement of their empty space, drive to the nearest physical shop, spend hours deciding on the item’s aesthetics, color, and design, and finally make a purchase.
Physical visits are not always feasible, though. That is why there is a need for unique technology to make it possible to buy furniture pieces online anytime and anywhere.
That is when augmented reality or AR enters the picture.
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Augmented Reality and How It Works
Did you know that the furniture industry’s household names were actually the first ones to adopt augmented reality in the eCommerce world? Surprising, isn’t it? Well, there is a good reason for that.
Augmented reality allows different furniture brands to provide realistic product visualizations to customers before they make a purchase. With the help of AR, shoppers get the chance to point their devices at a particular space in their house or office and pick the item they like to put there.
You then superimpose the item’s realistic 3D version to the real-life surroundings of the shopper. Customers can also manipulate patterns and colors or move the piece around to determine the correct size, fit, and style.
It is a significant breakthrough for both small and big furniture brands. Instead of being a mere new and fascinating technology that can be experimented with, augmented reality addresses the primary objections customers experience whenever they buy furniture online rather than doing it in person.
AR: The Big Thing
Augmented reality is regarded as an up-and-coming technology. The technology offers users an AR experience with immersive solutions in different verticals. Similarly, augmented reality for today’s furniture industry introduces new opportunities for many furniture businesses. It allows them to sell their product offerings more effectively. Augmented reality allows users to gain more in-depth details of an object. It helps businesses in the furniture industry to transform all of their business prospects.
Through the availability of AR support, it is easier to advertise thousands of colors and hundreds of furniture designs. The use of AR in the furniture industry has taken the shopping experience to the next level.
Why Do Furniture Brands Adopt the Use of Augmented Reality?
Different furniture brands have proven to the world that the industry of online furniture shopping is poised to enjoy equal, if not more, benefits from this breakthrough technology, even though many of the earlier adopters of AR technology focused on entertainment and gaming.
Below are just some of the top reasons why more and more furniture brands are now adopting and using AR in their business.
Augmented Reality: A Chance to Reach More Target Customers
With the help of AR, furniture brands will now be able to reach more audiences that were not reachable in the past, and these are people who would not and cannot physically visit your shop because of the distance.
Such audiences lack the convenience of dropping by in person but are still able to place their orders to be delivered to their homes. The distance will no longer be relevant as consumers can now try the products first in the comfort of their own homes.
Augmented Reality Improves Buying Confidence
By allowing online shoppers to place and visualize products in their very own space, all furniture brands and retailers can practically take out the guesswork from the overall online furniture shopping experience.
As customers get the chance to interact with your products through their AR versions, they will be able to get answers to some essential questions. Will the furniture fit in their space or room? How big is the piece in the first place? Will it match their walls and décor? How will it look with the rest of the house?
Naturally, when the customer or buyer is more confident and informed, there is also a higher chance of purchasing. Instead of letting shoppers take second guesses before making a purchase, AR can influence purchase decisions that are more certain to enhance buying confidence.
Augmented Reality Can Dramatically Reduce Returns
It is not a secret that furniture brands tend to see higher rates of returns. However, with the help of AR shopping, there is a drastic reduction in how many returns are made. After all, augmented reality can change the customer’s home and transform it into an instant virtual showroom that allows them to be 100% sure of the size and style of every item before they purchase it. This level of certainty can lead to lower return rates as customers can choose whatever they need right from the get-go.
Augmented Reality Creates a Wow Factor
Augmented reality also offers an exciting new way to shop for products online. This unique way to shop can attract more people and create a sense of buzz that cannot be achieved by traditional shopping alone.
As more and more customers become drawn to this one-of-a-kind immersive technology, different furniture brands have taken advantage of it and naturally gained interest and attention.
Aside from this, augmented reality also lets brands leverage it to help them stand out from their competitors who might still be using the old traditional ways of selling furniture online.
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How to Use AR in Furniture Websites
Despite the significant number of furniture brands adopting the use of AR, there are still a lot of retailers who miss out on this unique technology for one simple reason. They are often worried about the development efforts and costs associated with creating an AR-enabled shopping experience.
However, there is something that they don’t seem to realize. The truth is that it is easier and simpler to integrate an AR-enabled experience on furniture apps or websites.
As of the moment, two different ways will let furniture brands develop and provide a shopping experience based on augmented reality.
1. Go For In-House Development
This is the more technical and expensive one out of the two methods. Similar to other earlier adopters, furniture brands can invest in and work with a development team knowledgeable in the field. Most of the time, they would begin the project using 3D modeling and rendering software to come up with realistic 3D versions of furniture pieces. They will then develop overlay versions that will allow augmented reality.
2. Pick an AR Commerce Platform that is Ready to Use
As of the moment, several platforms provide the choice to easily convert physical furniture inventories into AR and 3D product views with no need for any technical background or knowledge.
How Much Will it Cost to Develop AR-Based Furniture Apps?
Calculating the overall costs of developing augmented reality apps will depend on several factors. These include the following:
- Features of the furniture application
- Complexity of the furniture app
- Specific type of furniture app
- Location and size of the developer or development team
- Platform where you plan to launch the furniture app
It is estimated that you might have to budget anywhere around $20,000 up to $50,000 to develop an AR furniture app. Once again, this price may vary depending on the specific requirements you have for your app.
How Cad Crowd can Help
Augmented reality is starting to become one of the most significant assets for online furniture selling and shopping. Every day, more and more furniture brands are beginning to adapt to it, raise attention, and experience substantial online growth.
Here at Cad Crowd, we work with the most creative talent to build immersive 3D designs to impress your audience. Become one of the many furniture brands to dive into the modern way of selling products, consult with us today, and receive a free quote.