Previously it was considered as just another type of entertainment and was more concerned with the computer games industry. It is now evident that Web AR is something much broader than this. It became clear that augmented reality is quite an effective marketing tool, which can actively and cost-effectively sell almost any product.
This became especially noticeable during the coronavirus pandemic. Potential customers lost the opportunity to come to the store in person to try on and touch a thing or jewelry, pick out a color. That's why new technology has come to the rescue. Now, with the help of Web AR, while sitting in front of your laptop or holding your smartphone, you can virtually try on a new dress or pick up a sofa in the living room. But the brands that sell skin care and decorative cosmetics have gone a step further in this direction. Using augmented reality technologies, their customers can now try out products in a digital form. For example, you can see if this lipstick looks good on you, if this foundation matches your face tone, or if this cleansing serum suits your skin type.
So in the present article, we will analyze which Web-based Augmented Reality technologies are the most popular among various brands, how to implement them and what the result of their active use can be. And we will also try to answer the question about the software based on artificial intelligence, which can be used to create such technologies for your product.
The Role of Web AR in Modern Business
There are more and more young companies in the market these days, which raises the level of competition. In order not to get lost among more experienced and well-known brands, it is necessary to build a marketing strategy and choose relevant and trendy tools. In this way it is possible to stand out from the competitors and get a larger audience of potential customers, increasing both the number of sales and profits.
It sounds simple, but how to implement this plan? That's where the technology of augmented reality can help. For example, the technology of virtual trying on today is no longer something special, but in fact it became a must-have service for any respectable firm. Although this method still grabs the attention of the public. In the beauty industry, artificial intelligence has made it possible to blur the boundaries of accessibility for people with different skin types and colors.
With AR background, the brand can personalize its services and offer a personalized approach, which attracts many customers. This makes it possible to make choices more accessible and broader for everyone. Salon customers can now use the online space to explore products from new and independent cosmetic brands without risk and maybe find even better options than they would have in-store from well-known popular brands.
Let's look at five examples of augmented reality and artificial intelligence software that have been integrated into the beauty industry and driven tremendous success for brands.
Banuba Web AR
Banuba is one of the best solutions for integrating augmented reality and artificial intelligence to increase sales in the beauty industry. You can create your own filters and virtual masks that will clearly and accurately depict beauty products on the customers' faces. The main advantages of Banuba Web AR are:
- user-friendly interface;
- possibility to create different masks with high resolution;
- function of integrating the solution into another software without the need to involve specialists;
- wide choice of filters, stickers and text fonts;
- realistic image.
With such a set of digital tools, you can create a unique and original software that will profitably advertise and sell cosmetic and other products. All possibilities of this software are limited only by the creator's imagination.
YouCam Makeup App
After many stores were forced to close their showrooms during the pandemic, the issue of allowing customers to continue to try new brand products became very acute. The best solution to this situation was, of course, to optimize online shopping. In this way, with the help of augmented reality technology, the YouCam Makeup App allowed customers to familiarize themselves with new products directly at home on their sofa.
Here, customers can not only get acquainted with new products or familiar cosmetics, but also virtually try them out on themselves. Customers can try out the colors and shades of the products in real time on their virtual copy as if they were doing it in the showroom. As a result, online cosmetics sales have significantly increased since the introduction of virtual try on technology.
In addition, the company has reduced the number of customer service calls. All this is due to the user-friendly interface of the software and the exact reproduction of the quality and color of the products on the virtual image.
Al Skin Analysis
The global coronavirus pandemic in 2020 had a significant impact on cosmetic brands that sell skin care products. The main problem was that customers did not have the opportunity to try out new skincare products and consult on their effectiveness for their particular facial skin type. This considerably reduced the level of sales, because regular customers bought cosmetics they had already tried, while new customers were not able to get acquainted with the products. The solution was the background changer technology. Al Skin Analysis gave customers the opportunity to virtually analyze their skin type. The software collects the following information from the client:
- skin oiliness;
- redness;
- texture;
- pore size.
Based on this information, clients have a recommendation for a suitable line of facial skin care. In this way the brand not only attracts new customers, but also successfully keeps them.
Salon Locator
Cosmetic manufacturers are not the only ones facing a decline in sales after 2020. The companies that specialize in hair dyes have faced the same problem. Fortunately, the popularity of masks with different shades of hair on social media inspired the developers of Salon Lokator to make the right decision. They created the software that allows users to realistically try out a new hair color on themselves. As a result, each client of the brand got a personal virtual stylist directly in his smartphone.
AR Background Technology for Marianna Naturals
The lockdown periods most affected the brands that represent natural skin care products. These products cost more than their counterparts, and the opportunity to attract new customers has also disappeared. Based on this request, the software was created, which allowed not only to make a virtual diagnosis of the condition, but also to follow the improvements. Using personalized information on the key elements of the skin such as texture, wrinkles, blemishes, dark circles, a full virtual picture of the face is created and the appropriate cosmetics are selected.
Virtual Try On Technology: Conclusions
Today, it is safe to say that augmented reality technology is already playing a key role in building a marketing strategy to sell many types of products. We've covered the ways it already works in the beauty industry, but Web AR will also be a great solution for other industries as well. It brings the customer much closer to the brand. In addition, due to the intensive development, such technologies do not require large-scale investments and time investments anymore.