Showrooming and webrooming are both big consumer trends that are changing the retail landscape, as alternative channels of purchase proliferate. The first one refers to checking out a product in-store and then buying it online, such as on eCommerce sites like Amazon, for a better price. The latter is the opposite; it’s about researching products online and then heading to a store to complete the purchase.

According to a Harris poll, 46% engage in showrooming. That means that almost half of in-store visitors leave the premises without buying on the spot. That is a huge revenue loss for both online and offline retail sectors.

Product scanner apps have played a major role in m-commerce during the last few years. They allow users to engage and interact with products, catalogs, print ads or in-store signage seamlessly, providing them with valuable content and experiences in milliseconds, with no need for QR codes or special print markers.

Mobile is already influencing almost 1/3 of all in-stores sales made.

• 82% of shoppers say they consult their phones on products they are about to purchase in a store.

Why? Because these people want to make faster and smarter decisions when shopping. Augmented Reality and Image Recognition technology can be used in retailers' mobile apps to cater to these needs.

Welcome to the second chapter of our 2-piece series about how you can create exciting mobile experiences in industries like Beauty Retail with Augmented Reality and Image Recognition.  

How does these technologies work? As a Cosmetics brand or retailer, what kind of experiences can you create with it? How can you use it in your apps and projects? These are some of the questions we address in our quick guide.

Last time, we were talking about Augmented Reality, and as we promised, it's time to talk about Image Recognition, a technology that's just as – if not even more – exciting. (Part 2 of the two-pieces series.) 

There's been quite a lot of buzz around Beauty brands experimenting with in-store Augmented Reality experiences these weeks. But there's another related technology that gets way less attention in the media, even if it's just as exciting. It is called Image Recognition and if you are a brand or retailer, you'd better get to know it.

What are these technologies good for? As a Cosmetics brand or retailer, what kind of experiences can you create with them? How can you use it in your apps and projects? These are some of the questions we will answer in our quick guide. (Vol. 1 of the two-piece series.)