Virtual Try-On: Live Video v. Uploading a Photo
Virtual Try-On has become an online shopping experience staple, allowing customers to visualize products on themselves. This feature helps to increase conversions and reduce returns. Many online retailers have implemented this solution including Fossil, Lucardi, Goldsmiths, and more.
There are different ways that VTO works. Some VTO solutions allow customers to upload an existing photo or take a photo directly within the solution and then place the jewelry accordingly. Other solutions allow customers to take a live video of their hand and the jewelry is automatically placed on the hand within the video.
Live Video is Unrealistic and Jittery
VTO with live video can be extremely jittery and finicky. For example, if a customer is trying to visualize a ring with live video they will place their hand within the frame and the solution will try to place a ring on their finger. However, often the ring doesn’t truly look like it is on a finger.
It is evident that the ring is unrealistically “placed” on the finger. Additionally, when a customer moves their hand around the ring does not adjust accurately. The product starts to jitter or shake back and forth. This makes it nearly impossible to get an accurate picture of what the ring will look like in real life.
This type of solution also has an incredibly long load time. When activating the solution it takes almost 30 seconds for it to load. This can be a major deterrent to consumers who don’t want or have time to wait.
Uploading a Photo for the Most Realistic Visualization
Another option for VTO is to allow customers to upload a photo or take a photo within the solution. Once the photo is taken or uploaded the item can be placed on the hand accurately and create a very realistic image.
This image is much clearer and the ring truly looks as though it is on the finger. The solution loaded right away. The customer is asked to scan the QR code with their mobile device and position their hand in frame. Their photo is automatically captured in a matter of seconds and instantly loaded onto the desktop for visualization.
Taking or uploading a photo generates the most realistic experience. There is no jittering or misplacement. The customer is also able to move the ring from finger to finger.
Numbers Don’t Lie
A survey was conducted with Medallia UK to analyze customers' experiences with different VTO solutions. Survey respondents were asked to use the VTO experience on an online jewelry store and then answer a multitude of questions.
One of the questions asked the respondents their preferred method of VTO: live video or upload/take a photo. Out of 831 participants, it was found that 2X of respondents prefer to take a photo compared to using live video. This statistic could be viewed as surprising; however, once analyzing the live video feature as we did above it isn’t surprising at all. Consumers aren’t going to want and interact with an experience that proves unrealistic and jittery.
Additionally, 42% of participants stated that they were encouraged to browse and try on products that they weren’t originally looking for. This can lead to an increase in revenue per visitor.
The numbers don’t lie. Customers enjoy interacting with VTO and not only that, they prefer taking or uploading a photo. Interested to learn more about VTO with auto-capture schedule a free 15-min live demo here.