Executive Summary

  • Client: A global retail giant headquartered in Europe.
  • Challenge: Declining in-store engagement and difficulty in visualizing products before purchase.
  • Solution: A Native mobile application (Android & iOS) integrating Augmented Reality (AR) for interactive in-store shopping.
  • Results:
    • 3x increase in in-store engagement.
    • 40% higher conversion rates for AR-assisted product trials.
    • 25% reduction in product returns.

“American Chase revolutionized our retail experience with AR, bridging the gap between digital and physical shopping.”

 – Chief Digital Officer

Client Background

Who They Are

One of the largest global retailers specializing in furniture and home décor, with thousands of stores worldwide. Their mission is to create an immersive and seamless shopping experience.

Pre-Challenge State

  • Traditional in-store shopping lacked digital interactivity.
  • Customers struggled to visualize products in their homes before purchasing.
  • High return rates due to buyer uncertainty.

“Customers often hesitated to buy because they couldn’t imagine how the products would fit in their space.“

 – Head of Customer Experience

The Challenge

Pain Points

  1. Low In-Store Engagement: Shoppers found browsing overwhelming without digital assistance.
  2. Visualization Gaps: Difficulty in picturing furniture and décor placement before purchase.
  3. High Return Rates: Customers returned items due to sizing, color, or style mismatches.

Business Impact

  • Lost sales due to uncertainty in purchase decisions.
  • Increased operational costs from frequent returns.
  • Missed opportunities to engage tech-savvy shoppers.

Client Goals

  • Enhance the in-store experience with AR product visualization.
  • Increase purchase confidence through interactive trials.
  • Reduce product return rates by improving buyer decision-making.

The Solution

Approach

  • Built a Native mobile application for Android and iOS with AR-powered product previews.
  • Integrated a scan-and-visualize feature allowing customers to see how products fit in their space.
  • Implemented in-app navigation for finding products within the store.

Key Features

  1. AR Product Preview: Customers scan a product’s barcode and see a 3D model in their space.
  2. In-Store Navigation: App guides users to product locations within large retail stores.
  3. AI-Powered Recommendations: Suggests complementary items based on selections.
  4. Virtual Try-On for Home Decor: Allows customers to preview furniture and wall art in their rooms.
  5. One-Tap Checkout: Enables quick in-store or online purchase via the app.

Implementation Process

Technology Stack

  • Mobile Application: Native development for Android (Kotlin) and iOS (Swift).
  • AR Framework: Apple ARKit (iOS) & Google ARCore (Android).
  • Backend: Cloud-based infrastructure for seamless data syncing.
  • Database: Scalable cloud database for product catalogs and AR assets.
  • Analytics: In-app behavior tracking for customer insights.

Platforms

  • Android (Google Play Store)
  • iOS (Apple App Store)

Timeline

  • Phase 1 (Research & Design): 5 weeks to analyze customer behavior and define AR use cases.
  • Phase 2 (Development & Testing): 16 weeks for app development, AR asset creation, and testing.
  • Phase 3 (Deployment & Optimization): Phased rollout with in-store testing and customer feedback integration..

Team Structure

  • Mobile Developers (Kotlin, Swift), AR Engineers, UX Designers, and Retail Consultants..

Overcoming Hurdles

  • Optimized AR Performance: Ensured smooth rendering of high-quality 3D models on mobile devices.
  • User Education: Designed interactive tutorials to help first-time users navigate AR features.

Results and Impact

Quantitative Metrics

0

3x Increase

in-store engagement.

40%

Higher Conversion Rates

for AR-assisted product trials.

25%

Reduction

in product returns.

Qualitative Benefits

  • ✅ Enhanced Shopping Experience: Customers found it easier to make confident purchases.
  • ✅ Improved Brand Perception: Positioned the retailer as a leader in tech-driven shopping.
  • ✅ Higher Revenue Per Visit: Increased basket size due to cross-selling recommendations.

“American Chase helped us merge the physical and digital shopping worlds, making in-store experiences more interactive than ever.“

  – Chief Digital Officer

Project Snapshot

  • Client: Global Furniture & Home Décor Retailer
  • Project Duration: 5 months
  • Platform: Native Mobile App (Android & iOS)
  • Key Metric: 40% increase in AR-assisted conversions

Summary

Created an AR-powered retail app that improved in-store engagement by 40%.