Dimensional Shopping Could Be The Digital Shopping Experience Of Tomorrow

IKIN is always looking for new ways to improve digital experiences through holographic applications, which is why the realm of digital shopping is such a ripe area to elevate to dimensional shopping. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, online shopping was already on the rise, but with global-wide lockdowns becoming the norm in early 2020, many have seen their digital shopping habits increase over the last two years. And, according to many economic experts including CNN Business, the digital shopping boom is here to stay.

Show Me The Money

According to Statista, 62 percent of U.S. adults reported going to physical shops less during the pandemic and another 52 percent reported shopping more online. Digital Commerce 360 has estimated that these shifts from in-person to digital shopping have resulted in a $218.53 billion increase in U.S. e-commerce sales over the past two years. Though, Digital Commerce 360 recognizes the impact inflation has had on these increased sales numbers and notes that not all goods categories have increased in lockstep through digital shopping sales spikes.

Trending Upticks In Digital Shopping By Category

Recreational Equipment And Home Furnishings

The shuttering of physical retail stores in 2020 forced consumers online for their purchases. One area in particular that benefited from increased digitals shopping was the sales of recreational equipment and home furnishings, which enjoyed an 18% increase in 2020. With gyms and offices closed, this area of uptick should come as no surprise. The increase in both categories can logically be interpreted as purchases related to home gyms and exercise needs as well as furnishings for home offices. Many believe that the increased digital sales numbers of this category will not maintain as more find their way back to gyms and offices outside of the home. In January 2020, exercise equipment manufacturer Peloton, whose product demand skyrocketed through 2020, announced it was halting production of its stationary bikes and treadmills as consumer interests waned, perhaps signaling confirmation for projections of decline in this category.

Online Purchases Of Groceries And Food

Food is another area that has experienced notable surges in digital shopping sales. Specifically, consumers have discovered the online appeal of curbside groceries and home-delivered foods, such as door side groceries, food boxes, and restaurant orders through apps like DoorDash. Unlike exercise equipment and home office furnishings, interests in digitals shopping of food items have remained strong as physical locations have continued to reopen into 2022. Forbes noted a steady 15% increase in online grocery shopping in the U.S. that initiated in 2020 and remained through 2021, signaling that this is less a trend and potentially more of a newly adopted shopping practice.

Developing The Digital Shopping Experience

At the outset of lockdowns, Forbes noted that “companies need[ed] to re-evaluate their digital offerings and embark or continue on a digital transformation” in order to meet the growing demand for digital shopping. Companies with well-built e-commerce infrastructure were better positioned to meet consumer needs and capitalize on growing online avenues of profitability. Two years later, with the world finding its footing once more, companies are taking steps to ensure that consumer interest in digital shopping does not go away anytime soon. Thus, companies in all industries are continuing to build out and improve their online stores and digital marketing footprints. Many are turning to mobile commerce (or m-commerce) and social commerce, two corners of the digital shopping marketplace that have seen impressive increases in popularity as of late. Yet, other forward-thinking companies may be looking to new media for ways to improve their digital shopping user experiences.

Dimensional Shopping

Currently, online stores allow consumers to view many of their products. Traditionally, this is accomplished using a 2D image, maybe even a series of 2D images captured from various angles to give the prospective purchaser a better idea of the look of a given item. With recent advancements in dimensional technology, companies like IKIN are applying next-gen holograms in a variety of industries to tackle modern challenges and improve on dated practices. Dimensional shopping is just one of those industries that could benefit instantly from the true dimensionality of holograms.

Why Apply Holograms For Dimensional Shopping?

Holograms offer a number of improvements to current digital shopping UX. The nature of holograms as a true 3D medium means products can be presented without alteration and viewed from endless perspectives to give consumers a clearer idea of products’ physical forms. Volumetric holograms can allow shoppers to scale up products to observe minute details. By combining holograms with other dimensional tech, like LIDAR, which can be used to digitally scan a room, holographic renderings of products could be placed convincingly in real-world spaces to give consumers better ideas of how these products may look and fit in their homes. The metaverse is pushing to make all online experiences 3D. IKIN holograms could be your entry point into metaverse retail bringing the benefits of true 3D to this emerging digital space. And, lastly, IKIN’s holographic RYZ device for mobile is uniquely positioned to make m-commerce a holographic experience.

Dimensional Shopping Technology Is Here

Hologram technology is emerging anew to provide today’s businesses and consumers with a next-level dimensional experience. In the months and years to follow, holograms will continue to be applied to any number of industries. The on-the-rise world of digital shopping, in particular, is ripe for holographic improvements as the application of holograms to the current digital shopping experience maintains its basic mindset. The addition of holograms simply elevates a familiar online interaction into a dimensional experience that looks and feels more like real-world shopping. How else may holograms alter dimensional shopping experiences? Only time will tell. But holograms are assuredly here, meaning it’s only a matter of time before digital shopping becomes dimensional shopping.

To learn more about IKIN’s ongoing developments in holographic technology and hologram applications, please visit the IKIN Blog. And, remember to follow IKIN on social media.