Shopping in AR is the future says Overstock

Overstock.com, Inc. will be launching augmented reality (AR) within the retailer’s iOS shopping app. Shoppers using a cell phone or tablet with iOS11 can launch the AR experience directly from the retailer’s app, which features true-to-life-size 3D models, giving shoppers the most accurate representation of the product as possible so they can see exactly how it will fit in their room.

With the new technology, Overstock aims to continue to completely change the way people design and decorate their dream homes by making the entire process as effortless as possible. Customers can now place thousands of top products in an AR environment alongside their own furniture and décor to see how the size, textures, and colors match their current room’s design and flow. They can also share pictures of their design through direct messages or social media, and add products to their cart or purchase pieces with Apple Pay with one touch, all without leaving the AR screen.

“Augmented reality is changing the way people shop for furniture and home goods forever,” said Overstock.com President Saum Noursalehi. “Shoppers no longer have to guess how a piece of furniture will fit in their room, or if a pattern will match their existing design style. Instead, they can use their phones to see the exact product in their actual room, helping them make the most informed purchase decision.”

Today, shoppers can view thousands of products sold on Overstock.com within the AR feature, including top-selling furniture, rugs, home goods and décor from leading brands, and will offer each user personalized recommendations within the app to fit their unique style. Eventually the online shopping pioneer expects to have millions of products across all categories available for use within the AR technology, and will be able to use machine learning technology to offer recommendations based on a customer’s existing décor with no more than a simple scan of their room within the AR environment.

“AR is another nail in the coffin for brick and mortar stores, as it removes one of the last remaining advantages physical stores have over e-commerce and solves several major friction points of shopping for home goods online,” Noursalehi continued. “Customers now have the assortment of a home goods store with millions of products and the convenience of seeing how those products fit in their own home before purchasing. And with recent advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, soon you will be able to completely decorate an empty room just by mentioning a design style, or see recommendations of products that will match the actual pieces in your home all within the AR environment.”

The new app feature is currently available on the iOS version of the retailer’s shopping app, and utilizes Apple’s ARKit, which is included in the iOS 11 operating system update. Android app AR functionality featuring Google’s new ARCore technology will follow when that operating system is released.