E-commerce giant Amazon has rolled out a new augmented reality tool recently that lets you virtually try on any shoes you want to buy. Amazon hopes this new tool will make the online shopping experience easier and more interactive for potential shoppers. Read on to know more about how it works.
Virtual
Try-On for Shoes
Named Virtual
Try-On for Shoes, this new feature is only available for iOS users in the US
and Canada who have downloaded the Amazon shopping app. The company stated that
the feature has been added to "thousands of styles" from brands like
New Balance, Puma, Reebok, and Adidas.
How to Use?
To use the
virtual try-on for shoes, you need to tap the virtual try-on button on the footwear
product page. Then you need to aim your smartphone camera at your feet. As soon
as you do that, a pair of virtual shoes will appear on your screen. You can
even scroll through different colors while the feature is still active. It will
automatically adjust on your screen.
Talking about
the new feature, Muge Erdirik Dogan, president of Amazon Fashion, stated, "Amazon
Fashion's goal is to create innovative experiences that make shopping for
fashion online easier and more delightful for customers."
The Drawback
Though this
feature would give you a sense of what the shoes would look like on your feet,
it will not give you any help regarding how the shoes will fit.
The company wasn't
very clear about it. It is a serious concern for people who choose a pair of
shoes they love only to learn that they won't fit them right, which can be due
to many reasons like a fat pinky toe.
The answer to
this size-related question was hidden at the very end of the company's FAQ
section.
Amazon wrote: "The
Virtual Try-On for Shoes experience helps you visualize how the shoes will look
on your feet from every angle; however, it is not a sizing tool. Fit
information on the product detail page can help you pick the perfect size."
The company
needs to do better in this regard because most shoppers are not just looking
for great-looking shoes. They also want shoes that fit right and offer them the
required comfort.
Not the First
Time
Though the
virtual try-on for shoes is an impressive feature (with a key drawback), it is
not the first time Amazon has used advanced technology to enhance customer
experience. In 2017, the company launched "AR View," which lets you visualize
a product in your home using your smartphone.
After that,
Amazon also introduced another tool, "Room Decorator," which allows
you to place multiple virtual items in your home simultaneously.
Not the Only
Brand
Also, Amazon is
not the only company experimenting with augmented reality in online shopping.
Big brands like Nike, Ikea, L'Oreal, and even Zara have launched similar
website features to enhance user experience.
Sources:
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/09/amazon-will-let-you-try-on-digital-versions-of-shoes-you-want-to-buy.html
https://www.euronews.com/next/2022/06/10/amazon-is-using-augmented-reality-to-let-you-try-on-shoes-virtually-before-you-buy-them
https://gizmodo.com/amazon-virtual-shoe-try-on-1849042612