The world has seen a drastic digital transformation in the past few years. Technologies are evolving at a
lightning-fast speed. What was once the age of traditional ecommerce is fast replacing by virtual retail and immersive shopping.
What is the reason for this fast change? Is it the technology that's driving global ecommerce?
The answer is NO. Technology is the mere medium, but the customers are at the heart of a dramatic digital
transformation.
What are the Consumers Expecting?
Customers want relevant content that relates to what they do anytime, anywhere. Their expectations have new benchmarks that need advanced tools. The world after the pandemic is the 'new reality that will remain in existence forever.
Businesses must accept that online retailis now a significant part of consumers. Shopping during the pandemic was a forced action. However, its impact was irreversible. Now customers want an always-connected approach from retailers.
Omni-channel
That's the demand of the masses. Mobile wasthe widely used device for information updates and shopping during the pandemic. It is now an integral part of a lifestyle.
Researches show that 94% of consumers seek information using their smartphones. Almost half of them place orders using phones only.
Buyers rely greatly on smart devices togather information. They use AR apps to visualize the product's look in a specific theme.
Shoppers want information on the go. They can't wait. Companies that fail to provide relevant details on all channels lose customers. Retailers have to combine all mediums of information exchange.
Like devices, they also have to stay updated on all platforms. Therefore, taking the brand to the virtual world is a wise choice.
Personalized Experience
Traditional ecommerce stores failed to add a personal touch that consumers get in a physical store. They want to touch and feel a product before buying.
73% of customers drop a product because they can't try it. Nearly 41% of shoppers want to interact with a sales representative to fetch real-time information.
29% of buyers say they want to experience the typical immersive shopping environment that online websites fail to provide.
With web and metaverse-compatible virtual stores, it is easier to give the shoppers a unique in-store-like feel. These virtual retail outlets provide a 3D immersive view of the store.
Customers can feel like they are walking in the store, able to pick items, can try them using the virtual try-on feature, and enjoy happy shopping while staying in bed.
Higher Engagement
During the pandemic, consumers missed retail therapy. Talking to a salesperson is essential for many buyers to get more real-time information. That's why they like shopping offline. They don't
want to scroll the ecommerce website, wait for product uploads, and still feel anxious if the product they buy would be good or not.
With sales avatars, you can give them that typical in-store experience where they can talk to the avatar to learn more about the product. Well-informed shopping satisfies them and can reduce the product return rate by 56%.
Retail gamification is another brilliant way to increase customer engagement. Offering credits, discounts, and gifts to play games in your virtual store can increase the session time by 200%. It will also increase brand recall. With superior experience, they will recommend your virtual store to others. Thus marketing is
also done.
Conclusion
Virtual stores, showrooms, and metaverse malls are the future of online retail. They are essential to delight consumers who will ultimately impact the economy. If your consumers are happy, they will
buy more from your virtual store and recommend it to others.
One of the remarkable virtual store creation platforms is Metadrob. This SaaS-based solution provides a fully customized virtual store. Retailers can manage their stores, get 3D molds of their products, and upload and place products anywhere in the store using drag and drop.
1000+ templates will make customization more accessible and exciting. Sales avatars, virtual try-on, and retail gamification are other fascinating and essential elements you can get with Metadrob. Register now to get a free virtual store now. It's limited to the first 10,000 registrations only.