According to its patent applications, Walmart wants to go virtual. Even if the novel technologies are years from being functional, these early signs give good insights into where the company plans to devote its efforts. A recent patent application describes how shoppers could strap on their virtual reality (VR) headsets to access a showroom of products. Scanning through the three-dimensional VR store, they could select products; if they also have VR-enabled gloves, they can pick up and examine individual products. Adding them to their virtual cart would prompt an order, which Walmart would process through an automated system and deliver to the customers’ doors. This futuristic notion is actually an extension of a concept that Walmart already makes available: Consumers currently can shop through a virtual house to review furniture available at Walmart, using their VR sets or their computers. Even with these strong signals though, it may be too early to guarantee that VR will become the retail reality. The technology remains somewhat unwieldy, including bulky gear and risks of headaches and nausea when people use it for too long. But if innovators can solve these VR problems, Walmart wants to be ready.

 

Source: Matthew Stern, Retail Wire, August 31, 2018