Spatial Commerce

Spatial Commerce is revolutionizing the way we shop. Through the use of technology, an interactive and personalized shopping experience is made possible. Prospective customers explore and experience virtual spaces and products in 3D as if they were physically present. As a result, Spatial Commerce not only offers a new dimension to shopping, but also solutions for companies to differentiate themselves from the competition and deepen their customer relationships.

Table of contents

1. What is Spatial Commerce?

2. Spatial Commerce: The New Way of Shopping

3. The advantages of Spatial Commerce

4. The challenges of Spatial Commerce

5. Shopware: Pioneer for Spatial Commerce

6. Frequently asked questions

What is Spatial Commerce?

Spatial Commerce, also known as Spatial Retail or Spatial Shopping refers to the use of Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for an entirely new shopping experience. These technologies offer retailers and brands the unique option to present their products and services in an innovative and engaging way and to convince customers with an exciting and personalized shopping experience.

Spatial Commerce: The New Way of Shopping

2D is old news: State-of-the-art 3D shopping experiences are now replacing outdated images. With Spatial Commerce, customers can, for example, try on clothes virtually, place garden furniture on their own patio, and explore different options for furnishing their home. In addition, AR and VR technologies can be used to display high-priced products in different sizes and colors and customize them to individual needs and preferences.

Mixed reality tools enable brands to present users with further information on products directly on their end devices or a VR headset. Spatial commerce is also on the rise in the B2B sector: detailed images of machines can be displayed effortlessly.

GIS can also be used in spatial commerce to help customers find physical stores near them and get comprehensive information about products and services. Retailers tag their products with location data for this purpose to inform prospective customers which products are available nearby. In addition, a virtual shopping portal to the store around the corner provides new options for customers to explore.

Tip: For the B2B sector, Digital Sales Rooms[1] are ideal for presenting products or services. Potential customers can view 3D versions of the products on offer and make a better purchase decision based on this.

The advantages of Spatial Commerce

The benefits of Spatial Commerce are many and offer companies a springboard to gain a competitive advantage:

1. Retailers showcase their products in innovative and engaging ways, which can lead to

   stronger customer loyalty and increased sales.

2. Customers enjoy a personalized shopping experience tailored to their specific needs and preferences.

3. Using technologies such as AR, VR, and GIS, retailers can also expand the distribution of their products in new ways and

   reach new audiences.

Overall, Spatial Commerce offers a perfect opportunity for retailers to strengthen customer loyalty and increase sales by providing an exciting shopping experience that takes advantage of AR, VR, and GIS.

The challenges of Spatial Commerce

One of the biggest challenges of Spatial Commerce: providing the technology needed to deliver a personalized shopping experience. Retailers need to be able to collect and process data to create personalized offers. They also need the right AR and VR technology to offer customers an interactive experience.

It can be difficult to convince customers to abandon their physical shopping experience in favor of virtual and augmented realities. However, e-commerce (and social commerce[2] ) are on the rise, so this concept will certainly gain importance in the future.

In addition, the cost of implementing spatial commerce technologies often exceeds budgetary constraints, especially for smaller retailers. It is therefore important that retailers develop a comprehensive strategy for deploying spatial commerce that takes into account both the technical and financial challenges. This way, companies can ensure that they achieve the desired benefits in the end.

Shopware: Pioneer for Spatial Commerce

Shopware users can display their products from all perspectives or in a real environment. This reinvents product worlds and minimizes returns. Whether you want to see a car from all perspectives, place a piece of furniture directly in your living room or try on clothes directly - the possibilities of Spatial Commerce are endless.

Shopware, in cooperation with its technology partner[3] Rooom, shows what potential lies dormant in the topic of spatial commerce. Using just a few images, Rooom's AI model is able to create appealing 3D visualizations. These can then be placed effortlessly in the customer's own store. If the prospective customer then visits the product page, he can look at the products in detail and turn and rotate them in all directions. Once this Shopware extension is installed in the store, companies are a big step ahead of their competitors with classic 2D images. But Rooom's technology includes much more: It is possible to manage the store inventory (colors, accessories, etc.) via its own in-store portal.

Frequently asked questions

What is Spatial Commerce?

Spatial Commerce refers to the use of geospatial data, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) to create an interactive and personalized shopping experience for customers. It is a subset of e-commerce that aims to enhance the shopping experience by allowing customers to experience and purchase products in a virtual or augmented reality environment.

What is the impact of Spatial Commerce on retail?

Spatial commerce has revolutionized retail by bridging the gap between online and offline shopping. By integrating location data and augmented reality, retailers can send personalized offers that attract customers to their physical stores.

What types of retailers can benefit from Spatial Commerce?

Spatial commerce can be beneficial for all types of retailers, especially those that have a strong online presence and want to provide a personalized shopping experience. Furniture, apparel and home furnishings retailers are particularly well-suited, as customers can experience products in their own environment before making a purchase.