Augmented Reality

When it comes to e-commerce, growth is a trend you can’t ignore. Globally, the e-commerce industry is projected to reach $4.5 trillion by 2021, and in the U.S., online sales are increasing by about 15 percent every year. But when looking at more specific e-commerce trends, it can be difficult to discern fact from fiction.…

On a busy retail floor during peak sales season, it’s difficult (if not impossible!) to pull a veteran employee away from critical duties in order to train a new recruit. Thankfully, human resources has a new technology at their disposal to scale trainers: virtual reality (VR). Not only is VR effective in scaling training programs,…

The retail industry is in the throes of a major transformation as the traditional retail model gives way to new modes of “experiential retail.” A key element of experiential retail is the innovative use of technology to provide richer shopping experiences that are more informative, frictionless, immersive and satisfying. To create richer experiences both online…

A profound movement is being orchestrated by the big retailers to deliver augmented reality (AR). From Apple, Google, Microsoft, Alibaba, eBay, Amazon.com, more and more retail giants are offering new augmented and virtual reality experiences to customers. The frontrunners are already in full swing, and it’s important to understand you don’t need to be as…

Walmart has acquired virtual reality (VR) company Spatialand, which will act as the centerpiece of the retail giant's VR efforts. Spatialand makes software tools that let creators transform content into immersive VR experiences. The startup worked with Walmart’s technology incubator, Store No. 8, on a project last year, and has now been acquired by that group,…

The retail industry is undergoing a major transformation as e-commerce disrupts traditional brick-and-mortar store models and gives rise to new modes of “experiential retail.” The experiential retail trend is being driven by a number of factors, including the increasing popularity of e-commerce, the decline in traditional department store traffic, and the proliferation of mobile devices.…

In episode 122 of Total Retail Talks, Jaime Wilson, senior director of products, apps, augmented and virtual reality for Overstock.com, details how the online retailer of designer furniture and home goods is using augmented reality (AR) within its mobile application to improve its customers’ shopping experiences. Wilson discusses Overstock's goal for its use of AR,…

Furniture and kitchenware giant Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (WSI) is acquiring augmented reality (AR) startup Outward in an all-cash deal for $112 million. The furniture brand, which operates stores including Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, West Elm and others, will be using the startup’s 3-D imaging tech to “enhance and extend its high-touch customer service platform,” the company says. Outward, founded…

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) bring the potential for entirely new shopping experiences and new kinds of added value. They are the gateways to “v-commerce,” a blend of brick-and-mortar retailing and e-commerce. L.E.K. Consulting recently surveyed 1,000 consumers who were aware of AR and VR technology. The results offer an initial look at…

Lowe's is expanding its "Smart Home powered by b8ta" connected-home shopping experience to 70 stores nationwide. The store-within-a-store concept, which was developed in partnership with software-powered retailer b8ta, features a curated selection of smart home products — e.g., security systems, thermostats, cameras, lighting equipment, speakers — that shoppers learn about and try before making a…