As our world settles into an unprecedented time of social distancing, the importance of digital connections has become stronger than ever. With limited contact to the outside world, our screens are quickly replacing the once physical experiences we had grown so accustomed to. One of the most highly impacted industries during this transition to ‘stay home’ quarantine is retail shopping. Online shopping has quickly become the ONLY retail reality of the moment, challenging brands to re-think their e-commerce consumer journey.
E-commerce has been common practice since the millennium, but with a screen as the only touchpoint between brand and consumers, companies must reimagine the experiential in-store shopping journey through a digital—and interactive—lens. For beauty and fashion brands, this means giving shoppers the opportunity to try before they buy, using virtual try-on technology like those offered by Perfect Corp.’s YouCam for Web self-service web plug-in, and YouCam’s Web Consultation Mode custom enterprise solutions.
Thanks to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), and facial recognition technologies, YouCam’s virtual beauty try-ons have matched a level of accuracy that rivals physical try-ons. The hyper-realistic digital effects so closely mimic those of a physical product try-on that consumers have become increasingly confident in relying on this type of technology to make purchase decisions. In fact, the use of YouCam’s virtual try-on technology for brand partners has proven to boost sales by up to 2.5 times and decrease return rates by more than 8%. Furthermore, a hyper-realistic digital beauty try-on lends itself to something a physical one does not: the opportunity for consumers to try more products, in a fraction of the time. This simple concept has translated into more than doubled sales figures for brands, as the notion of “the more you try, the more you buy” continues to ring true time and again.
As we’re forced to lean into our digital connections more than ever, experiential online shopping experiences are becoming an essential way for brands to deliver a consumer journey that resonates long after they leave a brand website. By integrating virtual try-on technology into the e-commerce store, consumers are engaged in a new virtually connected way that invites discovery and experimentation, bringing the brand to life through an interactive try-on. Brands must embrace the power of digital connections and virtual try-ons to deliver on the touchless experiential beauty journey that our current global landscape demands.
To help alleviate some of the challenges faced by brands in the wake of COVID-19, Perfect Corp. is offering a free YouCam for Web subscription through July 31st, 2020 (subject to extension) to help brands quickly adapt to a digital-first strategy. This self-service web plug-in, allows brands to seamlessly integrate virtual try-on technology into their e-commerce experience. Custom enterprise solutions are also available through YouCam’s Web Consultation Mode (Web CM) and are priced upon request.
