Usually “try before you buy” has only really applied to shopping in physical shops, but you can now virtually try on digital versions of shoes before you buy them on Amazon. Amazon on Thursday rolled out a new virtual shopping tool that uses augmented reality technology to enable users to try on shoes before they buy them. The feature won’t help users figure out how the shoes fit, but it will give them a sense of what they look like.
What The Feature Is Called And In Which Countries Is It Available?
The feature, called Virtual Try-On for Shoes, is available for iOS users in the U.S. and Canada on the Amazon shopping app. The feature has been added to “thousands of styles” from brands like New Balance, Adidas, Reebok, and Puma, Amazon said.
How Does It Work?
To use the tool, shoppers tap the “virtual try-on” button on a footwear product page, then aim their smartphone camera at their feet, and a pair of virtual shoes will appear on their screen. Shoppers can scroll through different colors while the feature is still active and it will automatically adjust on their screen.
Amazon’s Other Virtual Shopping Tools
The feature builds on Amazon’s existing virtual shopping tools, many of which use augmented reality, a technology that overlays the real world with virtual objects. In 2017, Amazon launched “AR View” which lets users visualize a product in their home using their smartphone. It then introduced another tool, called “Room Decorator” that allows users to place multiple virtual items in their home at the same time.
What Is The Amazon’s Goal Here?
“Amazon Fashion’s goal is to create innovative experiences that make shopping for fashion online easier and more delightful for customers,” said Muge Erdirik Dogan, president of Amazon Fashion in a statement.
Other Companies Using Augmented Reality Feature
Amazon is not the only online shopping company to experiment with augmented reality. L’Oréal, Zara, and Nike have also launched similar augmented reality features.
