As we mentioned in a previous post, the Shopify Fulfillment Network wasn’t the only exciting announcement that Shopify made at their z last June - Shopify shared that they’ve got loads more of cool updates and new features in store for users. At the Shopify Unite Conference, they discussed plans to improve upon the experience that their Shopify Admin’s product section offers by adding a video and 3D update. The additions are expected to work in tandem with the company’s Augmented Reality (AR) tool.
The Appeal Of Augmented Reality
Augmented reality is a relatively new type of technology that dramatically enhances a user’s interpretation and interaction of the real world, bridging the gap between what is real and what isn’t.
Already incorporated in other types of technology such as smart glasses, AR fuses the real world with virtual reality (VR) via live video imagery in order to provide you with additional information about your environment that you would not have otherwise been privy to.
AR is not synonymous with VR - the latter figuratively immerses the user in a fictitious world whereas the former simply supplies the user with more information about the real world.
Shopify Takes on Augmented Reality
Unsurprisingly, Shopify saw the appeal of AR as a technological feature that would have improved their users’ experience with their products: therefore, they saw it fit to incorporate it into their software - specifically, their users’ shopping experience.
The AR element of their shopping experience facilitates an inclusive and wholesome shopping journey for customers as it enhances a user’s ability to interact with their products. That way, customers can better gauge their products’ size, shape, and aesthetic appeal, thus helping to eliminate the usual expectation versus reality dilemma that many shoppers find themselves in.
Shopify saw this technological enhancement as a great marketing tool which would help to brand them as a modern solution-oriented company. What’s more, the technology can potentially boost their conversion rates and generate more income.
The software has to be enabled via the Shopify Apps’ page accessed through Shopify Admin. Check out this guide for more information on how this software works.
Updating Their Software
At the conference, Shopify indicated that they were going to be incorporating a software update that would have supported both 3D model and video components of their products.
This is a major update planned by Shopify that is poised to better the overall shopping experience for all parties involved - developers, suppliers, and potential customers.
Although details are sketchy, it’s believed that managing media via the Storefront API and Shopify Admin API is one of the perks that suppliers will enjoy.
The update is also expected to help merchants market their products and media via the Shopify AR and Shopify Video Player, both of which will feature new viewers. This will, of course, mean that Liquid, Shopify’s language template for themes will also be updated.
Editor applications is another feature that will be introduced and will allow merchants to create and edit media through Shopify Admin and also develop apps that enable them to edit video and image.
Details on the nitty-gritty of the updates are still sketchy, but as more information is revealed, we will keep you updated in a future post. In the meantime, you can look at Shopify’s guide here for more information on the plans they have. Don’t forget to check out our blog to sign up for our newsletter - stay connected, always!
