New Balance recently opened a concept store in Singapore, featuring a Volumental 3D foot scanner in the fitting area.
Since partnering with Volumental in 2017, the retailer says that it has scanned the feet of more than one million shoppers worldwide.
The scan, which takes less than five seconds, provides employees with detailed information about a customer’s feet, helping them find a shoe that’s sure to fit.
Volumental claims that the solution helps brands and retailers to: reduce return rates by 18%; increase footwear sales by 20%; achieve email capture rates of 71%.
Earlier this year, Volumental launched a new self-service version of its AI-powered foot scanners.
Specifically designed for an in-store experience, customers can take their own foot measurements at the click of a button and receive their best-fitting footwear recommendations on their phones.
Volumental said it expected to launch this globally starting with select stores in the sporting goods industry, outlet malls and brand warehouses in 2023. This followed a beta test with Under Armour.
“Our new self-service scanners will bring the same technology that specialty footwear retailers have enjoyed to many more retail segments,” said Alper Aydemir, CEO, Volumental.
“Having worked with footwear retailers across different store formats, service environments, and staffing models, we realized the need for a self-service enabled shopping experience that is both innovative and easy to use for shoppers.”
“This solution takes the guesswork out of the whole fitting experience and helps shoppers make smarter and faster purchase decisions with better-fit outcomes.”
“The personalized recommendations create a more engaging customer experience, allow retailers to manage inventory in a much smarter way, and help solve the huge returns issue facing the industry.”
Volumental’s self-service scanners will be placed in dedicated co-branded spaces in-store.
Touchscreens will provide the customer with instructions on use as well as nearly instant personalized size recommendations on their perfect fitting brands and styles.
Volumental was highly commended at the 2022 RTIH Innovation Awards last month, after impressing our judging panel in the Omnichannel Retail Initiative of the Year category.
Our 2022 winners and highly commended entries were revealed at a sold-out event in central London on Tuesday, 6th December.
RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, said: “Innovation and technology play a critical role in the success of the retail sector, so it is great to recognize standout examples through our awards.”
“Thanks to all those who entered the 2022 event. We received a record number of submissions and many fantastic examples of the continued resilience and dynamism of the retail space during hugely challenging times.”
“Congratulations to our 2022 retail technology hall of fame entrants.”