Augmented reality: take your store to the next level
Imagine a customer eyeing a new carpet — instead of guessing, they pull out their phone and place it virtually in their living room. AR is no longer futuristic. It’s now a Shopify feature.
Augmented reality lets shoppers visualise products in their own space before buying. It’s especially powerful for furniture, decor, jewellery, fashion accessories and any product where ‘how does this look on me / in my home’ is the buying question.
How AR works on Shopify
Shopify supports AR via 3D models (GLB or USDZ files) attached to products. When a customer views the product on a phone, they tap an AR icon — the product appears in their camera view, anchored to a real surface.
Real conversion impact
- Stores with AR see up to 94% higher conversion on AR-enabled products (Shopify data)
- Return rates drop 25-40% for furniture and home decor when buyers preview in-room first
- Time-on-site increases meaningfully — customers love playing with AR
How to add it to your store
- Get 3D models of your products — either from your manufacturer or from a 3D scanning service
- Upload GLB and USDZ files to your Shopify product
- Shopify automatically displays the AR button on supported devices
- Test on iPhone (USDZ) and Android (GLB)
We have built 400+ online stores for South African businesses since 2014. Read more about Shopify development in South Africa.
