A new report by London Research and visual commerce firm Fixtuur reveals that augmented reality (AR) and 3D visualisation are reshaping furniture retail, though implementation continues to lag behind growing consumer expectations.
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Titled The State of Product Visualisation in Furniture Retail, the study surveyed 100 senior UK and US furniture industry leaders. Despite 96% of respondents confirming that AR and 3D tools have increased sales, and 82% identifying a strong return on investment, only 58% have adopted AR technology.
The research highlights that "eCommerce Leaders", firms outperforming peers over the past year, are leading the charge. Some 64% of these leaders offer fully integrated AR experiences, compared to 45% of mainstream retailers, and 90% plan to expand their visual technology use in 2025.
David Thomson, CEO of Fixtuur, said: 'The future of furniture retail isn't about transactions, it's about confidence, experience and personalisation.' He added that brands gaining ground are using visual commerce to "inspire trust, build loyalty, and accelerate sales".
The findings also align with Gartner's concept of "phygital", the merging of physical and digital retail experiences. AR is increasingly central to this shift, enhancing both in-store and at-home interactions.
Seventy-one percent of retailers stated that AR and visual tools significantly improved in-store experiences. Additionally, consumer expectations are rising: 70% of retailers report that customers expect to customise furniture online, 60% to visualise items in their own space, and 61% to experience immersive journeys that rival physical showrooms.
Despite the clear benefits, challenges such as cost, integration complexity, and internal skills shortages remain key barriers to adoption. However, with no surveyed retailers dismissing future AR plans, visual technology is quickly becoming a fundamental retail standard.
Source: www.bigfurnituregroup.com