Online shopping gets an upgrade
How we shop is changing and has been since the advent of the internet. The internet has had a radical impact on the way we shop. No longer are direct mail and physical retail stores being solely relied upon to purchase goods and necessities. People have become more and more comfortable with buying goods online.
Real-time immersive shopping experience
However, the traditional retail space could be set to re-emerge thanks to virtual reality. Combining the best of both worlds, software developers are employing virtual reality headsets to allow customers to go shopping from the comfort of their own homes.
The idea is to develop a real-time immersive shopping experience, where customers can walk though virtual shops, examine virtual versions of real-life products and make purchases like they would in the real world.
The all-in-one VR solution
For those of us who don’t want to brave the lines and chaos of boutiques and department stores, but still want to browse the offerings with a little more of a realistic feel, this latest application of VR could be the answer to all retail problems. And the most recent addition to the VR retail landscape is Retale.
Unlike traditional online shopping, Retale works as a central mobile/digital hub, enabling shoppers to search for merchandise and store locations, create and manage shopping lists, and clip and store coupons.
Changing the shopping game
Using Facebook’s Oculus, Retale Virtual Reality is the first virtual reality, location-based shopping companion. With Retale, users are immersed in retailer-specific environments to shop local offers in a contextual, engaging 3D world.
According to Retale CEO, Christian Gaiser, “Our team thinks VR can change the game for shopping by providing consumers with a really immersive environment.”
Explore and interact virtually
Using VR, Retale allows buyers to actually explore the store and interact with retailers’ products much as they would in the physical world. The 3D version also allows consumers to see price tags with clear descriptions of the products. Customers can even add products to their shopping list. From there, they receive confirmation on a smart phone via a push notification from the Retale app.
While Retale Virtual Reality is still in its infancy, its looking to change the game in the near future.
