E-commerce platform Shopify has partnered with Poplar Studio to launch its own 3D and augmented reality service that allows online merchants to showcase their products on their websites in a more immersive way.
Merchants using Shopify will be able to convert their products into 3D and AR models through an app that will cost $49 per month. Doing so will allow customers to gain a brick-and-mortar experience without needing to physically come into a store.
Experts are predicting that more online retailers will begin adopting these types of technologies moving forward.
Amazon already has an AR feature that allows customers to see what an item may look like in their home, while Gucci gives customers the ability to virtually try on shoes using AR technology.
Not only has the need for this type of technology grown as a result of the pandemic, but the creation of the metaverse will usher these tools even further into relevancy.
“The metaverse may do more to change retail than anything since the physical store,” said Cate Trotter, head of trends at consultancy Insider Trends