THE virtual store is among the hottest topics in the metaverse economy, which allows customers to experience the online shopping trend like how they would in a brick-and-mortar store without VR glasses.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, customers have switched heavily to online purchases, and the trend has encouraged physical store owners to migrate online to the point of constructing a virtual store which merges online and offline shopping, to the delight of customers.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs (R.O.C) has recently entrusted the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) to push the virtual store of the smart digital service plan abroad.
The plan’s principal purpose is to assist the virtual store in constructing an OMO – online-merge-offline – marketing strategy for the industry overseas and to build 3D versions of brick-and-mortar stores to provide customers with an immersive experience in online shopping.
Meanwhile, the 3D technique can combine real-time customer service, interactive products and digital coupons to elevate the customers’ interactive experience.
In Malaysia, for instance, ITRI has recently assisted the JOY & PEACE store in the Gardens Mall in Kuala Lumpur and MOODBOARD in Sky Avenue Genting Highlands in taking panoramic photos of their shops and launching their online platforms.
The companies can set up the virtual store in 3D versions by only providing the information and purchase links of their products.
The smart digital service plan also offers a unique domain and customer activity report, with the function including BOPIS (buy online and pickup in-store), coupons, virtual shelves, online customer services and online shopping carts in virtual stores.
The virtual store of the smart digital service plan belongs to the intellectual circulation services promotion plan by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, R.O.C.
ITRI will provide the photography and platform for free to industries overseas until Dec 31, 2022, and industry players would only have to prepare information about their products such as words, photos or videos which can be combined with social media or digital coupons for marketing.