Augmented Reality
Walmart has acquired virtual reality (VR) company Spatialand, which will act as the centerpiece of the retail giant's VR efforts. Spatialand makes software tools that let creators transform content into immersive VR experiences. The startup worked with Walmart’s technology incubator, Store No. 8, on a project last year, and has now been acquired by that group,…
The retail industry is undergoing a major transformation as e-commerce disrupts traditional brick-and-mortar store models and gives rise to new modes of “experiential retail.” The experiential retail trend is being driven by a number of factors, including the increasing popularity of e-commerce, the decline in traditional department store traffic, and the proliferation of mobile devices.…
In episode 122 of Total Retail Talks, Jaime Wilson, senior director of products, apps, augmented and virtual reality for Overstock.com, details how the online retailer of designer furniture and home goods is using augmented reality (AR) within its mobile application to improve its customers’ shopping experiences. Wilson discusses Overstock's goal for its use of AR,…
Furniture and kitchenware giant Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (WSI) is acquiring augmented reality (AR) startup Outward in an all-cash deal for $112 million. The furniture brand, which operates stores including Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, West Elm and others, will be using the startup’s 3-D imaging tech to “enhance and extend its high-touch customer service platform,” the company says. Outward, founded…
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) bring the potential for entirely new shopping experiences and new kinds of added value. They are the gateways to “v-commerce,” a blend of brick-and-mortar retailing and e-commerce. L.E.K. Consulting recently surveyed 1,000 consumers who were aware of AR and VR technology. The results offer an initial look at…
Lowe's is expanding its "Smart Home powered by b8ta" connected-home shopping experience to 70 stores nationwide. The store-within-a-store concept, which was developed in partnership with software-powered retailer b8ta, features a curated selection of smart home products — e.g., security systems, thermostats, cameras, lighting equipment, speakers — that shoppers learn about and try before making a…
Artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled sales technologies have made predictive selling a reality by combining data and analytics to drive sales success. AI can help salespeople prioritize leads and make relevant product or service recommendations using data science to provide guidance. This frees sales teams to focus on the art of sales and build relationships that lead…
The inaugural Shoptalk Europe brought hundreds of speakers and thousands of delegates to Copenhagen to debate the future of retail. The huge diversity of ideas and discussions reflected the fundamental changes and challenges facing the industry, and how the retail experience is evolving to be smarter, easier and better. Smarter: Artificial Intelligence and the Smart Commerce Revolution…
It’s been 10 years since a man in a black turtle neck, jeans and sneakers showcased what was then an odd-looking, white, mobile device — the first iPhone. Since then, the mobile landscape has changed more than consumers and retailers could have ever imagined. The question today is whether the most advanced iPhones to date,…
Virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) have come a long way in a short while. Businesses across the world are embracing the use of AR/VR technology by tailoring their products for the virtual sphere. Within the next four months, it's possible that over 8,600 brick-and-mortar stores will shut down due to the rise of e-commerce. V-commerce…