Customer Experience in E-Commerce with Augmented Reality (AR)

What Does AR Do in E-Commerce?

Augmented reality overlays digital content onto the real-world view. In e-commerce, this allows customers to virtually place products in their own spaces or try them on themselves.

Seeing how that couch would look in your living room before buying, or trying on glasses on your face - AR makes these possible.

AR Application Types

Place in Room

The customer points their phone camera at the room and places the product's 3D model on the floor or wall. Ideal for furniture, home decor, lighting, and appliances.

Virtual Try-On

Using face recognition or body tracking, the product is virtually fitted on the customer. Used for glasses, watches, jewelry, makeup, and clothing.

Product Information Layer

When camera is pointed at a physical product or its packaging, additional information, animations, or interactive content appears.

Technology Options

WebAR (Browser-Based)

Requires no app download. Users click a link and experience AR directly in the browser. Low access barrier but features are limited compared to native apps.

Google's model-viewer component integrates with Scene Viewer (Android) and AR Quick Look (iOS) to deliver WebAR experiences.

Native AR (In-App)

Developed using ARKit for iOS and ARCore for Android. Offers advanced features like tracking, light estimation, and occlusion.

AR Integration for E-Commerce

1. Prepare web-ready 3D models of your products (GLB format)
2. Create USDZ versions for Apple devices
3. Add the model-viewer component to your product page
4. Position the AR button visibly and clearly

Common Issues

• Scale errors: Products may appear differently sized in AR. Set the 3D model unit system correctly.
• Plane detection: AR systems need to detect flat surfaces. Guide users to point their camera at a surface.
• Device compatibility: Not all devices support AR. Provide a 3D viewer fallback for non-AR devices.

Conclusion

AR bridges the gap between physical and digital shopping in e-commerce. With WebAR, you can start at low cost and offer customers a differentiating experience.