The internet has fundamentally changed the way we shop. With the advent of online shopping, consumers gained access to a wider selection of products from around the world at competitive prices delivered right to their doorstep. However, finding exactly what you want online can still be a challenge. Searching by text keywords alone often yields unsatisfactory results. This is where visual search and image recognition come into play.
Powered by artificial intelligence and computer vision, visual search and image recognition are revolutionizing the ecommerce industry. Now, shoppers can find products online by simply uploading an image or taking a picture with their smartphone camera. Instead of typing text descriptions, they can search using the exact item they have in mind.
As visual AI capabilities advance, online shopping is becoming more intuitive, seamless and personalized. Consumers can virtually “try on” items like clothing and makeup. Retailers can provide tailored recommendations based on visual user data. The technology holds exciting potential to enhance customer experiences and boost sales.
The Evolution of Visual Search
In the early days of online shopping, consumers were limited to keyword text searches to find products. Search engines would attempt to match the typed words to product listings and web page content. However, sentences and strings of keywords have limitations. Shoppers were often presented with irrelevant items or had to sift through pages of search results.
Visual search aimed to solve this problem by adding images into the search process. Pinterest and Google Goggles launched some of the first visual search engines in the early 2010s. Users could upload or take a photo on their mobile device and the technology would scan it to identify objects and similar items to purchase.
From these pioneering applications, visual search and recognition have continued to advance. Artificial intelligence and neural networks now power the technology. Computer vision algorithms can analyze finer details in images like textures, shapes, and colors. Searches have also expanded from identifying single objects to understanding full scenes and contexts.
Today’s Leading Visual Search Innovators
A number of companies are leading innovation in AI-powered visual search and recognition for eCommerce. Their technologies provide the foundation for visual-based online shopping experiences.
Google Lens
In 2018, Google incorporated visual search capabilities into their Google Lens tool. Using sophisticated deep learning algorithms, Lens can identify objects in photos and provide relevant online shopping links. Users can also run searches based on real-time images from their smartphone camera.
Lens also has augmented reality features. For example, you can virtually try on makeup products by having the app overlay colors onto a selfie photo. Google continues to enhance Lens to be more conversational, intuitive and helpful for shoppers.
Amazon Rekognition
As an ecommerce giant, Amazon developed its own visual search and image recognition technology called Rekognition. It offers highly accurate object and scene identification. Amazon uses it to improve search results on their online retail site.
Shoppers who upload a photo of a product or search via their mobile camera will see purchasing options for similar items from Amazon’s catalog. Third-party retailers can also integrate with Rekognition’s API to provide visual search for their own ecommerce sites.
Snapchat Search
You can now search for products directly within Snapchat’s social media app. The startup Zeekit powers this technology through a partnership with Snap. Zeekit’s visual search has users take or upload a photo, then it will find shoppable clothes and accessories that match or are similar to the items in the picture.
This allows users to seamlessly discover and buy fashion products inspired by real-world images. Snap is bringing visual search to the next generation of young online shoppers within a social environment.
Syte
Syte offers an AI-based visual search and recommendation platform used by retailers like Farfetch and Marks & Spencer. Shoppers can click on any product image and Syte will find identical and comparable items from brands across the internet. It can match based on specific product details versus general similarity.
Syte also personalizes searches with its Infinite Recommendations feature. Users see tailored, ongoing product recommendations based on their visual browsing history and profile.
ViSenze
Asia-based ViSenze focuses on providing visual commerce solutions to online retailers and publishers. Their search algorithms can match images based on fine attributes like stitching, pattern, shape, and unique visual identifiers.
ViSenze can power visual search inside ecommerce sites and apps. It also enables publishers to tag images on their content with shoppable product links. Clients include Rakuten, HP, Uniqlo, and IKEA.
Benefits for Retailers
Visual search offers distinct advantages that are transforming ecommerce for businesses:
Increase Sales
Research shows that consumers are more likely to buy products after engaging with visual search. Enabling customers to easily discover and find what they want using images increases conversion rates and revenue. Visually guided shopping experiences also encourage larger order sizes.
Improve Search
Visual AI matches intent more accurately versus text. Convert abandonments into sales by letting shoppers search for abandoned items by image. Visual search sorts through product catalogs with far greater speed, precision and relevance.
Enhance Product Discovery
Powerful scene and attribute recognition opens up new browsing paths. Consumers can find visually similar products from the retailer’s entire inventory versus a limited text search. Lead shoppers to meaningful recommendations through hyper-relevant visual cues.
Personalization
Analyzing images provides a wealth of visual data from each customer to fuel personalization. Tailor search results, product suggestions, ads and other experiences to their visual preferences for a customized feel.
Expanded Reach
People-based marketing through platforms like Snapchat, Instagram and Pinterest allows brands to engage shoppers where they already spend time. Adding visual search gives users a direct path to purchase. Meet audiences beyond your own site.
Reduced Returns
Visual search reduces friction and uncertainty in the purchase process. Consumers can see how a product looks in different settings and confirm it’s exactly what they want. More certainty equals fewer returns.
Enhancing the User Experience
Visual AI takes guesswork and friction out of shopping. Consumers can rely on the technology to do the heavy lifting whether they have an exact item in mind or just a general idea of what they want. This leads to user experiences that feel intuitive, seamless and even fun.
Here are some of the ways visual search improves the shopping journey for customers:
Mobile Image Search
Using the camera on their smartphone or tablet, shoppers can snap a picture or upload an existing image to search for matching or similar items to buy. This augmented reality approach blends the digital and physical.
Virtual Try-On
From clothes to makeup to hair colors, shoppers can virtually try on products. Computer vision technology overlays the digital product onto a photo the user uploads or takes. Users can visualize the item themselves.
Visual Browsing
Shoppers can visually explore and refine searches through image attributes. For example, selecting color swatches or patterns to find variations of an item. Visual browsing opens up more possibilities versus keyword searching.
Scene Recognition
Identifying objects within full scenes allows for context-based visual searches. Users take or upload a real-world photo from their daily life containing multiple objects. The technology detects items they may want to purchase.
Lens Mode for Camera Shopping
Shoppers can enable a AR lens/filter mode where products are recognized in real-time as they use their smartphone camera. Pointing at items automatically brings up purchasing options and related recommendations.
Personalized Recommendations
Visual AI distills a unique user profile based on image browsing history. With user permission, retailers can suggest relevant products catered to their visual taste and style.
Immersive Augmented Reality
Some mobile apps allow users to virtually place a 3D model of a product into an existing environment. Shoppers can view furniture, appliances and decor in their actual living space before buying.
Trend Analysis
Retailers gain data on rising visual trends by analyzing image searches. They can respond quickly to consumer demand by stocking hot items and updating marketing.
The Future with Product AR
A startup called Product AR demonstrates the immersive possibilities of augmented reality-driven ecommerce. Their mobile app lets users visualize 3D product models in their environment. Shoppers can interact with lifesize digital versions of furniture, cars, electronics and more.
Users can smoothly move items around, change colors and configurations, and view from every angle. It brings an experiential, gamified feel to online shopping. Product AR plans to add social features for getting others’ opinions in real-time and shared AR shopping.
The company’s technology highlights how visual search will increasingly blend the digital and physical worlds. Shoppers will be able to virtually try-on, test, and interact with products before purchasing with just their smartphone camera.
Visual Search Builds Loyalty
Personalized visual search strengthens brand loyalty in key ways:
- Memorable experience leaves a positive impression on shoppers. They remember the retailer who helped them easily find what they were looking for.
- Frictionless purchasing through visual search tools like camera shopping builds consumer confidence in the retailer.
- Customers feel understood thanks to tailored visual recommendations matching their preferences.
- Exciting immersive technologies like AR shopping differentiate retailers and keep customers engaged.
- Visual search saves shoppers time. The efficiency means they will come back again and again.
The Importance of Ethical AI
As visual search capabilities grow more advanced, it also raises concerns around data privacy and ethical AI practices:
- Retailers must be transparent in how visual user data is collected, stored and leveraged. Provide clear opt-in consent.
- Allow shoppers full control over their visual data. Easy opt-out at any time is essential.
- Limit data collection strictly to the minimum needed to power visual features.
- Assess visual search algorithms to ensure fairness and prevent unintended bias.
- Implement robust cybersecurity measures to protect user images and data.
- Clearly communicate to users how visual search results are generated or filtered.
- Avoid over-personalizing experiences or making assumptions based on visual data like race, gender, age.
When users feel their privacy is respected and the technology is trustworthy, they will more fully embrace visual search.
Key Takeaways on the Future of Visual Commerce
- Visual search eliminates friction in online shopping by allowing image-based product discovery and exploration.
- Retailers should prioritize incorporating visual AI like products search, recommendations and virtual try-on.
- Mobile-first visual search is reaching new demographics and enabling seamless in-the-moment purchasing.
- Advanced technologies like augmented reality will create immersive, personalized shopping experiences.
- Visual AI provides rich intent and preference data to drive conversion and sales.
- Ethical use of image data and AI transparency will build consumer confidence.
- Shoppers gravitate toward brands that allow them to shop visually on their own terms.
Visual search aims to revolutionize ecommerce not by replacing the human act of shopping, but by augmenting it. The technology removes pain points and empowers people to shop freely on their own visual terms. As computer vision continues to progress, it will reshape consumers’ relationships with brands and transform commerce into a visual-first experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How does visual search work?
A: Visual search uses AI algorithms to analyze the contents of an image and identify objects, textures, shapes and context. This visual data generates relevant search results and recommendations from a product catalog. Users can upload existing photos or search using their mobile camera.
Q: Is visual search the same as augmented reality?
A: Augmented reality overlays digital elements onto the real-world. For shopping, AR enables users to virtually try on makeup or view furniture in their home with a mobile app. Visual search and AR are complementary technologies that create more intuitive shopping experiences.
Q: What are the benefits of visual search for shoppers?
A: For shoppers, visual search makes finding desired items online faster and more convenient. They can search hands-free using camera phones instead of typing keywords. Visual search also leads to more relevant results and reduces returns from ordering the wrong products.
Q: How does visual search increase sales?
A: Visual search increases sales by making it easier for shoppers to discover and purchase products. People are more likely to buy when they can visually explore and find exactly what they want. It also generates data to improve recommendations and personalize shopping experiences.
Q: What kind of visual data do retailers collect?
A: Retailers may store images users upload for visual searches and browse sessions. With user permission, they can also access visual profile data like colors and styles the user gravitates towards. However, retailers should limit data collection only to what is required for visual features.
Final Thoughts
AI-powered visual search and image recognition are transforming the ecommerce landscape. These innovative technologies are making online shopping mobile, intuitive and visually-driven for consumers. To enhance the artificial intelligence capabilities of an autonomous car, manufacturers must prioritize eliminating gaps through continuous advancements in computer vision and visual AI technologies. Similar to how visual search revolutionizes retail by offering personalized experiences, autonomous vehicles can benefit from robust visual processing to ensure efficient navigation, safety, and a seamless user experience, all while maintaining transparent privacy practices in line with evolving consumer expectations.