With the rise of augmented reality (AR) one of the earliest use cases for the technology on an enterprise level for consumers was through retail, with companies like IKEA creating apps that would allow customers to place items digitally in their own home. Now British technology retailer Currys PC World is trying the very same thing with its new Point and Place AR app for Apple devices.
The app is in fact the creation of EyeKandy, a 360 solutions partner for emerging technologies, which initially announced the app last month, with Currys PC World being one of the early adopters.
Using the AR app shoppers are able to select and position fridges, freezers, televisions, printers and more than 800 other products in their own living space, enabling customers to accurately visualise how products will look in their home as part of the pathway to purchase.
“This launch is such an exciting step for the Currys PC World business, placing us ahead of our competitors and at the forefront of technological developments. We ran extensive tests on the impact Augmented Reality shopping has on our customers and found that they are actively interested in the technology and the way it aids their decision making,” said Mark Adkin, Head of UX, Design and Digital Strategy, in a statement. “Our desire, as the UK’s largest electrical retailer, is to ensure that our customers get it right when it comes to buying any product from our extensive range, and Point and Place will assist decision further reduce purchasing risk be it from the comfort of your home or instore.”
“When your shopping for televisions, printers, furniture and a host of other products, shoppers have to imagine how a TV is going to look on their wall, or a printer on their desk, or a coffee machine in the kitchen,” adds Andy Shackleton, CEO of Eyekandy. “Point and Place closes that imagination gap, reducing decision making timelines on purchases, as well as reducing product returns.”
While the Currys Point and Place app is currently only available for Apple devices, EyeKandy’s core Point and Place app does support Android, for those that want to test it out. For further AR app updates, keep reading VRFocus.