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A Practical Guide to Trying on Eyewear, Virtually

You have eyewear  that you’re trying to sell online, and you’ve discovered the existence of virtual try on software. 

You’re on the right path. 

But there’s still more to find out before you can get started –  how much does it cost,  how does it work and  how should I go about implementing it? 

All excellent questions. 

At the heart of this mystery lies a superpower with the potential to launch the eyewear industry into the stratosphere. 

And it would be such a shame if your company wasn’t on board, wouldn’t it? 

This article will answer your burning questions about Virtual Glasses Try-On and give you all the information you need to begin your journey of implementation. 

You’ll learn: 

  1. What Virtual Glasses Try-On is
  2. The technology behind Virtual Glasses Try-On software
  3. Virtual Glasses Try-On software selection criteria for eCommerce needs
  4. The benefits of implementing Virtual Glasses Try-On 
  5. Examples of companies using Virtual Glasses Try-On 
  6. The best Virtual Glasses Try-On software: a mini comparative guide

What Is Virtual Glasses Try-On?

In short, the software enables customers to examine how well a pair of glasses would look on their face without having to go to a retailer. This gives them a solid enough preview for them to click “add to cart” without hesitating about what to do if the glasses don’t suit them.

And this nifty bit of tech has solved one of the trickiest aspects of selling glasses online — convincing people they don’t need to physically try them on.

Marketing materials used in the past have done their best to focus on the quality, the design, and even the social value of a good pair of glasses. 

But all the photoshoots and the videos and commercials haven’t been able to overcome customer hesitancy. It’s not surprising when you think about it. 

A company’s website can show the world’s most beautiful product photos and showcase their eyewear in the best possible light. But it won’t do much to persuade buyers that it’s the pair for them. 

When people talk about the perfect glasses, they’re not only referring to the glasses but how those glasses look on the person wearing them. It’s a collaboration. 

And that is where Virtual Glasses Try-On software comes into the picture. Because the technology allows customers to examine how well the glasses look in collaboration with their face. 

We’ve all seen Leonardo DiCaprio sport a pair of stylish glasses. And perhaps we were impressed by how good he looked. But that doesn’t mean we felt a strong urge to go out and buy the glasses in question. 

That’s because we all recognise that eyewear is one of the industries where influencer marketing isn’t worth much. You can wear the same glasses as Leonardo DiCaprio, but it doesn’t mean you’ll look like him.

It’s not because you’re not Leonardo DiCaprio, as much as it is that people are simply different. 

Eyeglasses are a more personal product and the online retail industry needs to provide its customers with a chance to examine glasses on that personal level. The same way they could do so in a brick-and-mortar store, standing in front of the mirror, examining the glasses from every angle, and taking selfies to ask their friends for opinions. 

Virtual Glasses Try-On is a solution that delivers that exact result, designed to offer online retailers of eyewear an answer to the challenges of consumer hesitancy and low conversion rates.

The technology behind Virtual Glasses Try-On software

1. How does Virtual Glasses Try-On work?

Let us say that the user has triggered the AR experience online or opened the app on their phone. They’ve found the pair of glasses they liked and decided to try them on. 

Virtual Glasses Try-On will access their camera and open the selfie camera. The user then has to face the camera, as though they were taking a picture. 

The software scans and measures the dimensions of the user’s face and then superimposes the glasses onto their face so the customer can see how they work. 

The measurements ensure that the size ratio between the glasses and the user’s face is in direct proportion. 

Users can then examine how the glasses look from every angle and switch between different glasses at will if they want to compare. 

They can also take photos of the looks, share them with friends and ask for opinions – just like they would if they visited a store. 

2. Technical requirements

The requirements for the use of Virtual Glasses Try-On is not particularly demanding.

Whether a company is using WebAR, or app-based virtual try on solutions, the basic technical requirements for users are the same. 

The user needs to have a smartphone. In the case of iPhones, it’s any model more recent than iPhone 5. In the case of Android, it’s Android 7.0 or better.

And with that smartphone, of course, they need to have a working back camera and full access to the internet. 

3. Practical implementation

The answer depends mainly on the choice a company makes in how they wish to create Virtual Glasses Try-On experiences. 

They can be either app-based or web-based. 

In the case of app-based eyeglasses virtual try-on experiences, the user has to download the app. Then they can trigger the Virtual Glasses Try-On experience with a tap of their finger once they’ve found the glasses they like. 

In the case of the experiences on websites, customers also scroll through product pages until they find the glasses they like. Then they can scan a QR code that starts the virtual try-on experience on their phones.

Virtual Glasses Try-On Software Selection Criteria for eCommerce Needs 

1. Fit 

The first question, of course, is how well the glasses fit the face of the user. It is the foundation for everything that follows and AR platforms that can’t provide a high-quality solution should be taken out of consideration immediately. 

Virtual Glasses Try-On software must have automatic detection of pupillary distance – meaning  it must be able to measure how far apart the user’s eyes are in order to show how the glasses will look on the user’s face in real life. It means the size ratio is accurate and the user doesn’t look into the camera to discover this: 

2. Tracking

When we talk about tracking, we’re essentially referring to the next required step after ‘Fit’. Because the software has to ensure that the glasses remain in place even as the customer is moving about in front of the camera, turning their head. 

Users must be able to examine the glasses from every angle. It’s an essential element of the attempt to bring the brick-and-mortar experience to their living rooms. 

So when you are choosing Virtual Glasses Try-On software, make sure to check if it can track the movements of the customers. 

3. Realism 

Have you ever seen a movie with an explosive action scene? And during one of those scenes, was there a moment when the quality of the CGI failed and reminded you the entire thing was made-up? 

Kind of ruined the experience, didn’t it? 

Virtual Glasses Try-On software runs the risk of the same problem if it doesn’t offer a realistic experience.

An AR platform like Plattar, for example, has a custom process to cut off the glasses’ arms to create a realistic experience of arms not being visible because of the customer’s ears or hair. 

It’s exactly the type of detailed process companies should be on the lookout for.

Then there is also the question of photorealistic renderings. If the glasses don’t look photo-realistic, it takes away from the user experience and doesn’t inspire as much confidence. 

3D models must look so real that when customers are examining themselves in the selfie camera, they must feel the urge to reach up and pat their faces, fooled for just a moment into thinking they might actually be wearing the glasses. 

4. Configuration in AR

One of the best parts about virtual try-on experiences is that they provide the next step in the evolution of 3D configuration. Before, customers could merely customise products, but now they get to try them on afterwards as well. 

An AR provider must offer companies the chance to adopt product configuration in conjunction with Virtual Glasses Try-On so their customers can examine the modifications in real-time. 

They have to be able to change frame types, the colours and designs, and the shades of the lenses. 

5. Cost

Companies must consider two options when it comes to the creation of Virtual Glasses Try-On experiences: 

  1. In-house, or
  2. Partnership with an AR platform

In-house AR experiences can cost upward of $300,000 and come with significant risks and problems. Often, companies develop their experiences only to discover their technology has fallen behind the market-leading solutions before they even got a chance to launch. 

AR platforms, on the other hand, guarantee experiences that have been tried and tested and offer end-to-end solutions for a low monthly subscription. 

6. Load time

Another aspect to keep in mind is the ‘load time’ of the AR experiences and their overall performance across all platforms. 

You can get the best Virtual Glasses Try-On software on the market but if it does not load quickly or if the software keeps glitching as the customer uses it, you’ll never see the benefits.

Every company must find a certain balance between quality and performance. If the AR requires too much data, then WebAR experiences won’t run as smoothly as they should, meaning the user experience will get worse. 

But if a company strikes the right balance, users go through a seamless experience. 

It’s at moments like these that AR platforms become attractive since they’ve performed that balancing act hundreds of times.

7. Scalability 

Creating a Virtual Glasses Try-On experience for an entire catalogue is challenging.

A company that wishes to build these experiences in-house but hasn’t established the necessary work process will inevitably find itself swamped. 

But a partnership with an AR platform means that companies get to create, manage, and publish their AR experiences, all from a single platform. 

This solution makes problems of scalability a thing of the past as companies find an easy way to distribute their Virtual Glasses Try-On experiences across a range of touchpoints. 

8. Ability to adapt or customise UI

It’s important for every brand to have the ability to customise their user interface in order to ensure the look and feel of the experience matches their overall branding strategy. 

AR platforms should allow their clients to make these modifications so the added AR solutions fit seamlessly into the overall brand experience. 

9. Ease of integration of the solution into existing systems

Finally, every AR solution has to integrate easily into the existing systems. That means eCommerce websites, business systems, and sales applications. 

The sign of a good AR partner is if their solutions are designed to integrate with existing systems and if the AR platform offers help during that process to ensure a smooth transition.

Benefits of implementing Virtual Glasses Try-On

1. Reduces returns

By offering customers the chance to experience products in the same way they might have if they visited a brick and mortar store, customers inevitably become far more likely to choose the correct product, both in terms of size and design. 

That means when the package arrives on their doorstep, it’s far less likely that customers will find an unexpected (and unwanted) surprise waiting for them when they open the box. 

That’s why, with the use of virtual try on software, companies have seen product returns go down by up to 64%. A very important step forward, especially if one considers that product returns have the power to drastically cut into a company’s profit margin. 

2. Increases confidence to buy

By allowing customers to overcome their hesitation and doubts through the use of Virtual Glasses Try-On, companies gain a powerful tool that drives consumer confidence and increases conversion rates. 

Some companies have seen conversion rates go up by as much as 500% through the use of virtual try on technology. 

3. Ability to create an endless aisle

The advantage online retailers have is that they have the opportunity to create an endless aisle because customers can order a product and only then the company manufactures it. 

Of course, there will also be a need for stock, but the need isn’t as pressing as it is in retail. 

Companies merely need to create 3D models of their products, build Virtual Glasses Try-On experiences, and allow customers to decide which product they like best. Companies get to have an incredibly wide array of products without the accompanying stocking costs. 

4. Ability to showcase all product variations

If the company’s products come in many variations, then Virtual Glasses Try-On experiences are the perfect solution. Customers can try on a product and then work their way through every variation of that product until they find the option that fits them best. 

It used to be that customers would have to sift through product photos, guess which variation would fit them best, and accept the risk. 

With Virtual Glasses Try-On technology, they can try out every variation until they reach the perfect option. 

5. Ability to personalise products

Offering customers the chance to personalise products is the best way to drive sales and increase engagement. Virtual Glasses Try-On technology plays an important part. 

Interactive 3D leads to 40% higher conversion rates and 35% lower return rates. 

Whereas interactive 3D customers only get to customise, with Virtual Glasses Try-On technology, they get to try out their customisations as well, which further drives sales and engagement. 

Companies Using Virtual Glasses Try On Software

1. Bailey Nelson

Bailey Nelson is a leading eyewear company that operates all around the world. 

The company entered the market in 2012, offering high-quality eyewear at reasonable prices. Due to the excellence of its products, the company has grown quickly to almost 80 stores around the world. 

But when the health crisis of 2020 forced the company to close most of its stores, Bailey Nelson set to improve the online shopping experience for their customers.

They turned to Plattar, asking us to provide them with Virtual Glasses Try-On that could help them overcome these challenges. 

The results have proven to be overwhelmingly positive. Bailey Nelson saw conversion go up by 400% for AR-enabled products and visitors viewed 3 times as many products online with AR. 

2. Zenni Optical

Zenni Optical is an eyewear company founded in 2003 and based in California. In 2019, the company announced the launch of its Virtual Try-On feature, designed to drive engagement and improve the digital shopping experience. 

Their technology asks customers to take a short, five-second video with their phones or their desktop cameras and hold a card to their faces so their technology can capture the correct size ratio of the customer’s face. 

Since the launch, the campaign has seen great success, capturing over 1.5 million try-ons.

And while it’s hard to assess exactly how many glasses the company has sold as a result of its Virtual Glasses Try-On experience, these numbers prove the campaign’s effectiveness: 

  • The company was founded in 2003, and by the time of its virtual glasses try on launch in 2019, it had sold over 25 million pairs of glasses.
  • By the end of 2021, that number surpassed 40 million

3. Clearly

Clearly is a leading Canadian online eyewear store. Their Virtual Glasses Try-On feature has played an important role in securing that position. 

With their AR experiences, Clearly customers get to try out different glasses quickly and easily, as the virtual eyeglasses try on software scans the faces of the customers, allowing them to immediately see how their chosen pair of glasses might look on their faces. 

The company used Virtual Glasses Try-On technology in its ad campaign which reached 3,3 million Canadians. People who interacted with AR were 93% more likely to visit the company’s website and 99% more likely to search for a product once there. 

The best Virtual Glasses Try-On software: a mini comparative guide

Plattar

Plattar is an AR platform provider offering companies a range of AR solutions including: 

  1. Virtual environments
  2. Preview placement
  3. 3D viewers
  4. Interactive 3D 
  5. Virtual AR Try-On

The platform offers its clients the chance to upload, manage, and publish their AR experiences, all from the same platform, and deploy them across a range of touch-points. 

It offers all these benefits for a small monthly subscription fee. Their clients have four different pricing packages available: 

PackagePrice
Starter$149/month
Professional$599/month
Business$899/month
EnterpriseCustom

You can learn more about Plattar’s pricing plans here.

Luna

Luna is an AR platform specialising in eyewear, aiming to provide companies with the opportunity to improve the shopping experience with AR solutions. 

The features the company offers include: 

  • Virtual Try-On
  • Online lensometer
  • Online pupillary distance tool

Luna offers customised pricing. You can learn more by requesting a demo.

Sayduck

Sayduck is a 3D an AR platform that aims to boost online sales, drive user engagement and provide companies with the opportunity to take their online business to new heights. 

The company’s offer includes: 

  • 3D viewers
  • 3D configurators
  • Virtual Try-On
  • Photorealistic rendering

When it comes to the company’s pricing, they offer three different packages: 

PackagePrice
Premium $99/month
Business Pro$299/month
EnterpriseCustom

Summary: Pros & Cons

Here’s a handy table to help you compare the three solutions at a quick glance.

PlattarLunaSayduck
ProsQualityPriceSpeed of deliveryPerformanceEnd-to-end processesExclusively focused on virtual try on glassesRealismPerformancePupillary distance toolPhotorealistic 3D modelsEnd-to-end processesPrice
ConsDoesn’t exclusively focus on virtual try onFocuses mainly on WebARDoesn’t offer any other AR solutionsDoesn’t exclusively focus on virtual try on for glasses3D viewers and configurators the company’s main focus

Virtual Glasses Try-On Software is the Future

As we have examined in this article, Virtual Glasses Try-On technology is an asset no company can do without. 

Its benefits are too important to ignore: 

  • Increased buyer confidence
  • Increased conversion rates
  • Reduced return rates
  • Increased user engagement

With the shift to digital selling gaining steam, companies should do everything in their power to adopt the solutions that will prepare them for the shifts in the market and future-proof their business processes. 

So with that in mind, contact Plattar today to request a demo and discover that the adoption of Virtual Glasses Try-On technology might be easier than you ever imagined!