Online retailers bet big on 'virtual trial' apps

Virtual trial apps will let consumers redesign their homes online, check out travel destinations and apparels before they finally make a purchase

PTI | August 30, 2012



Online retailers selling interior decorations items and fashion apparel are betting big on 'virtual trial' applications to make it easier for customers to 'test' merchandise before the actual purchase.

According Rajat Nagrath, CEO, Kingschest.com, a home d?cor portal, virtual technology allows the consumer to fine tune their choice.

"We are just two months old and so far around 7,500 visitors of our site have used our virtual application where in anticipation you can imagine your future room by designing it in simple steps," Nagrath told PTI.

He said the number of visitors is expected to go up to 1,00,000 by the end of this year.

Online retailing in India is about Rs 4,500 crore and certain products have already reached 20 per cent of the overall product segment sales, according to experts.

"We expect that it would reach 45 to 50 per cent in the next five years. Travel has been the biggest segment of online sales and will continue to be the same," Nagrath said.

Another website Zovi.com has launched a virtual trial room called 'Zovi Eye.' The company said the technology will help buyers make a purchase decision as they view themselves in their desired apparel via an interactive web-cam application.

Monappa Nalyanda, marketing head, Zovi.com said on an average the site gets 70,000 visitors and 2,000 transactions daily basis with an average transaction value of Rs 10,000.

Zovi has lined up a couple of similar technological innovations for the near future, Nalyanda said adding slow Internet connectivity in India is a challenge for the growth of online retailing in the country.
 

Comments

 

Other News

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through

Development paradox: Falling poverty miracle and an inequality problem

India’s reduction in poverty over the past decade is a development achievement of considerable significance. The World Bank’s April 2026 ‘India Development Update’ estimates that the share of Indians living below the international extreme-poverty line of $3.00 per person per day i

In Arunachal, a river we call mother

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang is not just a river. For many of us, especially the Adi people, it is part of our family. Our grandparents fished in it. Children learned to swim in it. Our farms drink from it. When someone says a huge dam will be built on it, we do not hear the word "project".

A new retelling of the Mahabharata delves into key moments

In a time when every decision carries consequences and questions of ambition, power, loyalty, identity and moral choice continue to shape our lives, Dr. Arun Krishnan’s new book, ‘Mahakshana’ (Penguin India) offers a strikingly relevant retelling of the Mahabharata.  

Cabinet approves viability gap funding to develop grid-scale energy storage systems

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Development of Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems, with a total financial support of Rs.14,500 crore for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. The scheme aims to support the development o

Cabinet creates a pathway to absorb Agniveers in Defence Forces

An objective assessment in terms of organisational requirements and operational efficiency has brought out the outstanding performance of Agniveers in terms of skills, motivation levels, physical fitness and technological prowess. As envisaged earlier, based on merit, 25% of Agniveers will be offered reg

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter