Walmart uses AR to appeal to shoppers this holiday season

Many retailers have turned to technology to be most the appealing and convenient shopping location during this year’s holiday shopping season. Target now offers mobile checkout for a quicker shopping experience, and now to stay on top of holiday shopping competition, Walmart has introduced an augmented reality scanner to its iOS app. The AR scanner allows shoppers to make product comparisons while making purchase decisions.

The scanner can scan multiple items at a time, allowing shoppers to pan their mobile devices across a shelf and them view customer reviews, pricing information and other product details. “When a customer launches the scanner, they get a direct connection between the digital and the physical world that their screen and camera lens creates for them,” Tim Sears, senior engineering manager for Walmart Labs wrote in a blog post.

The new AR product comparison feature allows Walmart’s customers the easy comparison convenience of online shopping for the in-store experience. Omnichannel features such as this have been popular amongst creative retailers; Nordstrom is offering curbside pick-up at early hours and in some locations, 24 hours, to combine the immediacy of in-store shopping with the at-home benefits of online selections.

For an added convenience to its online shoppers, Walmart has already provided free two-day shipping on millions of products during this holiday season.