The augmented reality enters also in IKEA, marking an important milestone in its digital transformation. The Swedish multinational presented an application in AR that allows users to experience the products of the company and transform their spaces, share the result with friends by means of images or videos and finally use the website to buy them (in anticipation of an advanced version from which you can directly order it).
Based on the new technology ARKit by Apple, the app – “IKEA Place” – presents in 3D over 2000 products, automatically scaling them according to room sizes, with an accuracy of 98%.
The technology is really accurate: it grants a realistic view of the fabric texture and the effect of lights and shadows on furniture.
“With IKEA Place, deciding what to buy is really easy: by simply touching the screen of the devices, customers can try many different products, styles and colors in a real-world environment. The augmented reality and the virtual one are the new retail revolution; just as it was the Internet, but this time everything will be faster”, Michael Valdsgaard explains, the Digital Transformation Leader of Inter IKEA Systems, a company that owns IKEA Concept and is world franchisor.
In the future, the app will also play a key role in launching new series. Some of the must haves of the company are already available: the sofa VIMLE, the armchair STRANDMON and the coffee table LISABO.
“Technology is now in line with our ambitions. The augmented reality allows us to redefine again the experience in furniture retail industry, always with the aim of creating a better daily life for everyone, throughout the world”, Valdsgaard concludes.
