Virtual Try On Explained:Examples, Benefits & More

It’s a well known story – an online retailer trying to increase sales, but customers are hesitant to purchase as they don’t know if that jacket, or those pair of spectacles will suit them. 

It’s a major challenge. 

You need to find a solution to this problem and find it fast. AR solutions are advancing at a rapid pace, and while you might be hesitating to implement them into your sales strategy, don’t think for a moment that your competitors are hesitating. In fact, quite the opposite. .

Before long, they’ll eat up your market share. Not because their products are better – simply because they’ve found a way to pacify  customer hesitancy. 

If you’re wanting to learn about reducing conversion rates using AR, you’ve come to the right place. 

In this article, we’re going to explain: 

1. What Virtual Try On is
2. What product categories Virtual Try On is used in
3. Virtual Try On technology explained
4. Five benefits of using Virtual Try-On technology
5. Three best Virtual Try-On software on the market

What is Virtual Try On?

Simply put, it’s technology that allows users to virtually ‘try on’ the company’s products through an electronic device with a camera. It could be glasses, hats, make-up, or anything that customers usually try on before purchasing. 

In the past, customers would visit a website, scroll down one product page after another, and look for something that might catch their interest. And once they found that special product? 

That’s when customers  ran into a roadblock. Let’s say they found a product that seemed perfect in every way. They fell in love with the product’s photos and the product description. It was the exact thing they were looking for.

But the second they started thinking about pulling the trigger on a purchase, doubt creeps in. How could they be sure the product will fit? 

Their imagination had painted the perfect product, but could they be certain reality will match their expectations? 

Most often, the answer would be  ‘No.’ 

Every customer is familiar with the concept of buyer’s remorse. 

It’s one thing to talk about ordering a pair of underpants; it’s something else entirely to talk about ordering something people might see you wearing in public. 

You can live with the wrong underpants, but eyeglasses? Jewellery? Make-up?

Absolutely not. Close the browser window, get into your car, and race to the relative safety of a retail store. 

Or so popular wisdom said before virtual try on entered the game. 

Now everything’s changed. 

Virtual try on deals with these challenges by answering customer questions and allaying their doubts about certain products. 

Those glasses look cool, but would they fit me? With virtual try on, customers start the AR experience, open their selfie camera, and voila! On the screen, they’re wearing the glasses, and they look exactly as they would in real life. 

The same principle applies to every other wearable product. Whereas before, only the bravest (or the most imaginative) of customers dared to order glasses online without trying them on first, now virtual try-on software has the power to reduce customer hesitancy to the point where even the most sceptical of customers feel comfortable enough to purchase the product.

And since customers don’t even have to leave their house to gain access to virtual try on, it means that online retailers not only get to compete with brick and mortar stores, it is very likely that they’ll be surpassing them very soon. 

Through the years, we have seen digital solutions take the ‘traditional’ ways of doing things, and reimagine how society operates. Netflix made Blockbuster obsolete. Uber is disrupting traditional taxi services, and Airbnb is disrupting the hotel industry. 

Virtual Try-On software is the force that will do the same thing to the traditional retail industry. 

This technology is developing at a break-neck pace, and there will come a day – not too far in the future – when people will consider the idea of having to leave their homes to go shopping to be ridiculous. 

In what product categories is Virtual Try On used?

Virtual Try-On is becoming something of a universal key when it comes to wearable products, capable of boosting the sales of companies across the online retail industry. 

Here are the four main examples of virtual try-on software in action: 

1. Eyewear

When it comes to eyewear, Virtual Try-On is a godsend. Eyeglasses can look absolutely amazing, but until the customer is certain that they will still look amazing when resting on their nose, the glasses will probably remain unpurchased. 

Bailey Nelson is an Australian eyewear company that recognized this reality, partnering  with Plattar to create a virtual try on experience that would have the power to allay the fears of their customers and boost their online sales. 

They more than succeeded in both regards. 

The company has seen its conversions rise by 400% and found that virtual try-on visitors, on average, viewed three times as many products. 

Through the 2020 pandemic, Bailey Nelson had to close their stores in order to adhere to pandemic restrictions. Virtual Try-On software has enabled the company to shift its sales online. As the concept has proved to be so successful, virtual try-ons persist beyond pandemic restrictions as they offer customers an ease in which they can purchase eyewear. 

2. Head covers 

When it comes to hats, you better get your selection right, or that hat will never see the light of day. Unsurprisingly, companies have recognised the challenge their customers face and responded accordingly. 

Tenth Street Hats began its foray into Virtual Try-On slowly, with one AR-powered hat. Soon the number of hats available for viewing with Virtual Try-O ballooned to 32, and the results followed shortly after. 

The company raised its conversion rate by 52% and increased its revenue per user by 41.8% The company has found that the longer the customer uses virtual try on, the higher the likelihood of them buying, and the bigger the purchase. 

3. Make-up

The realm of lipsticks and mascaras is another that has benefited greatly from the development of Virtual Try-O technology. 

YouCam Makeup is the perfect example of it. The app has been downloaded some 900 million times and collaborates with 320 global brand partners. The app allows its users to try on different brands of makeup and Virtual Try-O technology allows users to see exactly how well different brands look. 

But the app goes beyond simple testing. By offering a community feature, it allows users to communicate with one another, share pictures, and ask their friends for opinions. No different than if they visited the store and helped each other decide which make-up to buy. 

4. Jewellery 

The jewellery industry has been in decline, with many companies suffering a fall in revenue of up to 15% over five years. In large part, the decline is due to the industry’s slow transition to digital shopping, but one company that has recognized the reality of the situation is CaratLane, the biggest online jewellery company in India. 

This company was one of the first to launch an app with facial recognition and 3D imaging features which allowed the users to virtually try on their earrings, driving conversion rates and raising user engagement. 

And the results speak for themselves. In an industry that struggles to transition into online shopping, 40% of CaratLane’s revenue comes from online sales. 

Virtual Try-On technology explained

We’ve examined the concept of virtual technology and discovered its power to transform the online retailing industry. But how does it work? What does the process look like for a customer that’s scrolling down one product page after another and stumbles upon a product they like the look of?

How do they enter the Virtual Try-On experience? 

To start with, companies must decide where the customer is viewing the products. There are two options: 

1. App-based AR experiences
2. Web-based AR experiences

The two options represent a lot of differences not only for the customers but also for the companies that have to choose which option to offer. 

App-based AR experiences often have more options available, courtesy of the app’s ability to utilise all of the features offered by smartphones. But app-based AR experiences demand users download them on their phones which has turned out to be quite the hurdle. 

Many don’t want to go through the hassle of adding another app to their phones, which limits the reach of app-based AR experiences. 

And when it comes to the point of view of companies, app-based AR solutions come with a number of challenges. For one, building an AR app can come at a significant cost. We’re talking up to $35,000. But building an app like that in-house also means that there are no guarantees of success. 

Oftentimes companies spend a fortune developing an AR experience only to find that the technology has fallen behind the market by the time they get around to launching it. And afterwards, they still incur significant maintenance costs because a team of developers is required to continuously upgrade and update the app. 

The option of a web-based experience, on the other hand, is proving to be more and more attractive to companies with each passing day. It is true that webAR lags behind app-based AR in terms of performance, but that won’t be the case for very long. The technology is improving daily and will soon catch up.

WebAR experiences are also much easier to access. All customers have to do is visit the company website, which means they have a far wider reach. 

But perhaps most importantly, companies get to partner with AR providers like Plattar. For a low monthly subscription, Plattar offers an end-to-end process, allowing companies to upload, manage, and publish AR experiences from a single platform, including Virtual Try-On.

Having gone through the process hundreds of times, Plattar generates  market-leading results. When it’s time to publish  –  copy one line of code onto your website and you’re  done. 

The entire process often takes no more than a couple of weeks, as opposed to the long months required to build an AR experience in-house.

But let’s get back to the customer. 

After they have found a product they like, they can begin the AR experience. Within the app, it’s a matter of clicking a button. On the web, it often comes in the form of scanning a QR code with their cameras which then triggers the experience. 

Both experiences need the user to grant them access to use the phone’s camera. Then they put themselves in the frame, and the magic begins. 

Virtual Try-On technology then superimposes the chosen product over the camera view, matching the customer’s features and dimensions.

Virtual Try-On software ensures that the size ratio is exactly the same as it would be in the real world, giving users a realistic experience. And with photorealistic rendering, they might come to think they’re actually wearing the glasses. 

The entire process takes the guesswork out of the shopping experience. It takes the uncertainty out of it. Customers love brick-and-mortar stores because they get to hold products in their hands, try them on, and examine them from every angle. 

With virtual try on, online retailers offer their customers the same opportunity.

5 Benefits of using Virtual Try-On technology

1. Reduces returns

Return rates are the bane of online retailing existence. T

At least 30% of all products bought online are returned. To put it differently, the online retailing industry has a $761 billion product return problem. 

In comparison, brick-and-mortar stores enjoy a relatively low return rate of 8.89%.

But there’s no need to be jealous. Virtual Try-On software is here to answer the problem. 

With the adoption of virtual try on solutions, online retailers have seen their return rates decrease by  64%. Mitigating returns is a sure way to improve your bottom line. 

2. Increases confidence to buy

This shouldn’t come as a surprise at this point. 

Virtual Try-On software was designed with the specific goal of increasing buying confidence, and you might’ve noticed it’s quite successful in achieving this. 

By overcoming customer doubts and offering them a buying experience that’s no different from the retail buying experience, customers suddenly find themselves unable to think of a reason not to buy a product online. 

After all, what’s the difference? They get the same level of certainty, only with Virtual Try-On they never even have to get off the couch.

It’s no surprise, then, that virtual try on has led to a 90% increase in conversion rates for customers that engage with AR.

3. Ability to create an endless aisle

The benefit of online retail coupled with Virtual Try-On software is that it eliminates all limitations that companies once had in regard to their stock. 

Companies merely have to create 3D models of their products and create virtual try on experiences, but after that, there’s absolutely no need for companies to squander excess stock. 

Virtual Try-On offers customers the chance to choose the product that fits them perfectly and once the order is made, companies can go about manufacturing the product and shipping it to the customer, saving a lot of money and sparing themselves a number of logistical migraines. 

4. Ability to showcase all product variations

So you have a wide range of product variations that you want to showcase to customers? 

Virtual Try-On software can come in handy in that situation. 

When customers find a product they like, Virtual Try-On allows them to give it a go. But then it also allows them to examine every single variation of the product. Different shapes, colours, and designs all become readily available for the customer to try out. 

A wide range of product variations is in many ways meant to ensure that the company has something to offer to everyone. And when it comes to eCommerce stores, Virtual Try-On is by far the best way to highlight product variety. 

5. Ability to personalise products

When product configuration first came into the picture, it instantly became a game-changer. Customers were thrilled by the ability to modify products to match their exact needs and wants. 

Whatever the product, customers found they loved the idea of a company that allows them to personalise their products. 

 The addition of Virtual Try-On is the next step in the evolution of interactive experiences. 

Now, customers not only get to customise products, they get to try them on afterwards. And if they’re still not happy, or they have another idea, they can go ahead and customise some more, and then try it on again. 

It’s like having  your own personal tailor, and it’s an opportunity no company should ignore. 

3 Best Virtual Try-On software on the market 

1. Plattar

Plattar is a market-leading platform provider for AR solutions, including virtual try on experiences. With end-to-end, drag-and-drop solutions, even non tech-savvy employees can create beautiful AR experiences. 

This means that companies don’t have to shell out the cash to hire developers, they can simply utilise Plattar’s intuitive interface to create effective AR experiences for their customers. 

The Plattar platform offers:

• 3D viewers
• 3D product configurators
• Preview placement
• Virtual Try-On
• Virtual environments

Depending on their requirements, companies can choose between four different pricing packages. 

Package	Pricing
Starter	$149/month
Professional	$599/month
Business	$899/month
Enterprise	Custom

And if you’re wondering what its customers have to say about their services, you can check them out here. 

2. Poplar

Poplar Studio is an AR and 3D platform that aims to simplify the implementation of AR experience by asking companies to copy a single line of code into their websites. The platform aims to empower companies by offering solutions that increase the reach of their marketing campaigns and lead to sky-rocketing conversion rates. 

Poplar Studio offers companies: 

• Product visualisation
• Virtual Try-On
• 3D display ads
• 3D modelling

Poplar does not offer pricing packages for its customers. Those who wish to receive an estimate must contact the company directly.

3. Sayduck

Sayduck is a leading 3D and AR platform that helps companies drive customer engagement and raise customer confidence. They offer their clients the ability to manage and publish their 3D content from a single platform. The company’s goal is to help make eCommerce websites into the future and help them take advantage of the massive shifts occurring in the market. 

Sayduck offers its clients: 

• 3D viewers
• Preview placement
• Virtual Try-On

The company has a pretty good track record of providing its clients with the promised solutions. 

The company offers its clients three different pricing plans. 

Package	Pricing
Premium	$99/month
Business Pro	$299/month
Enterprise	Custom

Time to take the next step

Virtual Try-On technology is the future. Its potential is unimaginable and it will only grow in importance with every passing day. 

The benefits are undeniable: 

1. Higher conversion rates
2. Reduced return rates
3. Higher customer engagement

In partnership with an AR platform like Plattar, companies gain access to an end-to-end solution that requires a minuscule monthly investment and delivers monstrous results. 

Virtual Try-On is not an  impossible project requiring years to complete. 

It’s easily accessible, and it could be a part of your online store in weeks. 

With the massive shifts happening in the market and the increasing transition into online retailing, virtual try on is an opportunity to both improve the customer experience and future-proof your business. 

Request a demo at Plattar to discover all the ways Virtual Try-On technology can revolutionise your business.