Facebook Messenger and Augmented Reality: The Future of Online Shopping

Sephora Facebook Messenger Augmented Reality.png

Picture this.

Imagine waiting for your flight at the airport and flipping through the latest issue of Vogue.

As you're sitting there, you stumble upon a full-page ad featuring Rhianna's hot new cosmetics line, Fenty Beauty. 

The ad features a group of women from diverse backgrounds getting dolled up for a night out.

One of the models catches your attention - her makeup *flawless* and that lip color she has on... you've been looking for that shade everywhere.

You pull out your smartphone, snap her photo with the Messenger app and 💥BOOM!💥

Suddenly, your smartphone becomes a portal to a Sephora's cosmetic counter where you can try on different shades of Fenty Beauty lip gloss.

That's dope!!!

Thanks to augmented reality, you've just stepped up your lip gloss game and with just a few taps, that lip gloss is going to be delivered right to your door. 

Doesn't that sound amazing?

Well guess what, that technology is already here.

Facebook Messenger and augmented reality is

the future for online shopping.

Earlier this week at the Facebook F8 conference, Mark Zuckerberg announced the newest features of the Messenger app, among them is a way for brands to use augmented reality to flip the game on how consumers shop online. 

Sephora is one of the first companies to test drive augmented reality in the Messenger app, giving customers a chance to try on different makeup looks. 

Here's a sneak peek at how it works: 

I don't know about you, but when I was done playing around with Sephora's augmented reality experience, my brain was swimming with ideas! 

Look, I'm a mom of a threenager - I'm short on time.  

I rarely have time to head to the mall and try things on so I buy things via Amazon Prime.

Sometimes the dress I ordered doesn't fit the way that I want it to and it ends up getting sent back.

With this new technology, I could "try on" a new dress or earrings to see how it looks then decide if I want to buy it. 

And you know what?

This technology isn't limited to the beauty industry. 

Nike created an AR experience where sneakerheads could look at a pair of limited-edition sneakers up close, share it with friends and then purchase it right then and there. 

👏🏽TAKE 👏🏽MY 👏🏽MONEY

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Oh and did I mention that Kia is using augmented reality in Facebook Messenger too?

After the conference, I summoned the Kia Stinger and told hubs we had a new car in the driveway. 🤣

Facebook Messenger Kia Stinger.jpeg


Seriously, I think this is badass and I'm curious to see how brands will embrace this new technology.

What do you think of AR in Facebook Messenger?

Tell me in the comments below. 

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Facebook Messenger Augmented Reality Sephora.png
 

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Stephanie Garcia

Stephanie Garcia is the founder of Captivate on Command™ and the host of Lights, Camera, Live® where she helps brands succeed on camera. As a Master Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner, Trainer, and ad agency veteran, Stephanie combines her marketing experience to help individuals communicate with confidence so they can ignite their ideas and be brilliant for prospects and customers alike. Named as one of the Top 50 Digital Marketing Thought Leaders by University of Missouri St. Louis, her work has been recognized and awarded by Forbes, Online Marketing Media And Advertising, PR Daily, Forrester, and Gartner 1to1 Media.

Stephanie is the host of Lights, Camera, Live and the co-founder of Leap Into Live Streaming Bootcamp. She has spoken at Social Media Marketing World, VidCon, Podcast Movement, and many more. Stephanie is the co-author of the forthcoming book, The Ultimate Guide to Social Media, due out on bookshelves in August 2020 by Entrepreneur Press. She lives in San Diego, CA.