Visual search in retail is growing to be more important today. But what does it mean for the sector and why is it very helpful?
Many may have already heard about visual search. Or even made use of it once, or not.
So, let us start by seeing the definition of this feature. Then, let us see why it is vital for online retail.
Keep on reading to know more.
Visual Search Meaning
Visual search is what you would expect based on its name. Instead of using text, it uses imagery to search for an item.
Many search engines, social media, and e-commerce sites have this feature. Thus, making this very helpful to find very specific items. Or items we do not know the name of.
For example, you see a plant at the airport that looks very nice. You want to know more about the plant or even buy one for yourself.
But the problem is, you do not know its name. You may use keywords but as time pass by, you are still not seeing what you are looking for.
So, this is where visual search comes in. You can take a picture of the plant, then viola! The results are more accurate and you found them fast.
But what powers this feature? Yep, AI! Artificial intelligence has come a long way.
So, what does this mean in retail?
Visual Search In Retail
The perks of visual search are most enjoyed by the retail sector. That is why it is growing to be more and more important.
Imagine, looking for clothing, for example, hasn’t been easier. You can look for those cute shoes you found with only a picture.
Then, you will be directed to the e-commerce site that sells the same shoes. Pretty easy, right?
You will not need to see any irrelevant results from typing in text. Like finding the shoes that are not even similar.
There is no room for confusion. The search is easy. The results are fast.
Also, by using visual search, it is easier to find discounted items.
So, what does this mean for brands? It is easier for them to get discovered by potential customers.
Discovery is the first step towards a sale. So, being able to reach more potential customers is vital.
Once they reach more audiences, they raise their chance of higher ROI. That is what all brands want to happen, right?
So, how can they make full use of this? For one, they can take and post as many images as they can. Then, making sure they have different angles of the same image.
This can raise the chance of customers finding them. Not all take a picture of the same item at the same angle, right?
Conclusion
There are still many strategies brands can use. But what is important to note is they take full advantage of visual search.
Think of this, around 75% of shoppers today do a visual search before buying an item. So, retailers should jump into the visual search train soon.
