Augmented Reality (AR): When Virtual Try-On Boosts Sales by 94%, According to Shopify!

A Number Worth Thinking About

Retailers have reported conversion rates as high as 90% for augmented-reality-based transactions.

The Opportunity Is HUGE

• Product returns down 25% (which also has a real environmental impact)
• Conversion rate x3
• Time spent on-site +2.7x

Case Study: LVMH

LVMH rolled out virtual try-on for its cosmetics lines. The conversion rate is reportedly 5 times higher, though LVMH stays tight-lipped about the exact figure.

AR for Whom, for What?

For Furniture

• Real-time 3D configuration
• Visualization in the customer's own space (handy for knowing whether your new furniture will actually fit your interior)
• Instant customization

For Fashion

• Virtual try-on
• Size adjustment
• Multi-angle preview

For Beauty

• Live makeup testing (and L'Oréal is way ahead of the curve on BeautyTech)
• Skin diagnostics
• Personalized recommendations

The Numbers That Kill

• 50% of consumers show better brand recall thanks to immersive ads
• 61% of customers prefer sites with AR

My Expert Advice After 25 Years in Digital

Start with ONE product segment. Test. Measure. Scale.

Once again, there's no real point in starting with a massive overhaul: just one category is enough to measure the impact on sales (and possibly on time spent on the page).

A Sample 3-Step Action Plan

Month 1

• Audit of AR-suitable products
• Technology selection (Reality in France seems to know its stuff, with solid references like the rising star Veesual for try-on, and Banuba for makeup)
• Proof of Concept (POC) on one product line

Month 2

• User testing
• UX (User Experience) optimization
• Team training

Month 3

• Wide rollout after POC validation
• AR-first marketing
• ROI measurement

This Is for You If

• Your return rates are through the roof
• Your average cart value is stagnant
• You're looking for innovation that sets you apart
• Your digital transformation is stalling
• Your customers are asking for more interactivity

Warning

Don't confuse a gimmick with genuine value. AR needs to solve a real customer problem, otherwise you'll have implemented a tool — sometimes an expensive one — for close to zero benefit. Which brings me back to the need to test on a small scale first, to see if it sticks, before any major rollout.