What: AR is quietly making its way in retail and could be as important as AI in the selling process.

Why it is important: AI tends to overshadow all other innovations these days, but some are extremely important to consider.

Augmented Reality (AR) is increasingly influential in retail, offering immersive experiences that blend digital and physical worlds. It's expected to revolutionize consumer-brand interactions, but widespread adoption is still developing. Current AR, like Wayfair's in-app feature, is seen as rudimentary. The industry anticipates more integrated AR applications soon, moving beyond gimmicks to core retail experiences.

Key AR technologies in retail include:

1. Mobile AR: Utilizes smartphones to overlay digital elements onto the real world. Major players include Meta, Google, and Apple.
2. AR Smart Glasses: High-end wearables for precision AR experiences, still largely focused on business applications.
3. WebAR: Offers browser-based AR experiences, though less immersive due to hardware limitations.

Mobile AR is the primary focus for retail, enhancing shopping with virtual product trials, reducing returns, personalizing experiences, and expanding customer outreach. Challenges remain, including clunky execution and consumer adoption hesitance, but AR's potential in retail is vast and transformative. As technology evolves, it's poised to redefine the shopping experience, making it more engaging and interactive.

The AR revolution in retail is (almost) here