Zolak Vision

A virtual try-on app is a technology-enabled software that allows users to test models of clothes, furniture, makeup, new shoes, jewelry, and other things using AR or VR technology. Customers can do it with the help of mobile apps, desktop plugins, smart mirrors, and other devices.

It depends on the type of reality (i.e., AR or VR) and the device used by the customer to try on something. Such apps also frequently differ in combining computer vision, artificial intelligence, and recommendation algorithms to deliver an immersive user experience.

For instance, letting customers try-on products in real time at home using their smartphone. As the camera launches to record the space, augmented reality and artificial intelligence enhance it with a realistic virtual version of the products directly over the real-world image to show how the object would appear in real life.

Some virtual try-on apps like Zolak Vision also provide an option to diminish natural life objects in order to try on new things more easily.

Dressing an avatar is another alternative for virtual try-on. In this way, customers can use scanners to rapidly and precisely construct 3D avatars of themselves with accurate body sizes, which they can then dress in the clothing they are considering purchasing. 

If customers want to quickly try-on outfits in stores without undressing, they can do it by using a virtual mirror. The technology allows consumers to simply change their clothing, colors, and patterns.

All websites and mobile applications on the Internet, whether it be social media, banking apps, or virtual try-on apps, collect data about users somehow. Most computers of users have already been hacked.

Furthermore, there is always a risk of leaking some data, but virtual try-on apps pose no additional risk. So, it is up to consumers whether they should be concerned about their data being collected.

There are 2 ways you can build a virtual try-on app:

• By an in-house development team

If your company has developers, you can create the app yourself.

Since developing try-on technology from scratch is difficult and costly, most businesses purchase a ready-to-use software development kit (SDK) that already includes the proprietary try-on algorithm.

Such SDKs are produced and sold as products. This means that someone else has already completed the difficult research and development phases. So, all you need is to develop the frames of the app and integrate technology into it.

• By a software development vendor

If you don't have an in-house development team and don't want to create one, you can outsource work to a nearshore or offshore development team that will handle everything based on your requirements.

These would include industries where clients want to touch or feel a product before purchasing it. Fashion and beauty brands are key beneficiaries as AR technology almost perfectly recognizes the facial features of customers.

Some other prominent industries for which this is appropriate are the furniture industry, home improvement, and jewelry.

No. A virtual try-on experience can take place not only in virtual reality, where the user is fully immersed in a new reality using glasses, but also in augmented reality when a smartphone is used in conjunction with a real-world setting.

One of the great examples of companies that have taken advantage of try-on technology is Build.com—the biggest online-only retailer of home improvement products in the US.

In order to meet their customers' needs, they’ve added a virtual try-on feature in their app.

How does the feature work?

While exploring the app, users read about the products they prefer. Some products have a “See in a room” feature. To see, for example, faucets, in a room, users must first scan their room. Then they can place it where they wish and even interact with it by turning on and off the water and altering the water temperature.

This innovative feature allowed build.com to achieve significant business results. The percentage of returns of items with try-on feature was reduced by 22% and the average order value for such products increased by 61%.

Despite the benefits of virtual try-ons and their increasing popularity, there are 2 challenges:

Poor quality of the apps
Due to the advanced technologies involved in the app's work, developing an exceptional virtual experience can be very difficult. For instance, an inaccurate fit of the furniture can discourage customers from buying a product; therefore, investments in the development process must be significant.

Data privacy
There are 2 problems with data privacy:

First, with the growth of cybersecurity attacks, you need to pay additional attention to securing clients' sensitive personal data, like photos and videos of their homes.

Secondly, people are increasingly aware of the data collection process each year and want to know how retailers collect and secure their data. So, if you won’t secure their data enough, and won’t show it to customers, they might think twice before using the app.