Virtual Try-On in Eyewear Ecommerce

Benefits of eyewear virtual try-on

Can you describe what are the main benefits you're getting out of Fittingbox’s Virtual Try-On on SmartBuyGlasses’ website for e-commerce initiatives?

We feel it’s easy to add touchpoints across the funnel and test different approaches. We’ve added the tool directly to each digitized frame product on our product listing pages. The modular approach (for example, the face shape flow) offers flexibility to implement ad-hoc experiences where relevant.

We’re planning to test the Fittingbox Lens Simulator feature soon. Since we offer a wide range of tinted and photochromic lenses, we hope to see a conversion and revenue uplift in the relevant funnels and product segments.

What specific goals did SmartBuyGlasses aim to achieve with the introduction of Virtual Try-On technology?

We’ve actually migrated from our legacy recorded Virtual Try-On technology to Fittingbox live VTO. We had a few objectives while operating this migration:

- Increasing the try-on coverage in our wide online catalog.

- Upgrading the user experience from a recorded try-on flow to a best-in-class live try-on that feels like a virtual mirror, making the shopping experience simpler and more intuitive for customers.

- Improving conversion rates by helping customers visualize frames more accurately and make purchase decisions with greater confidence.

- Adding new digitized SKUs faster to our online catalog, leveraging not only the Fittingbox Database module, but also Fittingbox 3D Studio Boxes. The 3D Studio Boxes enable in-house digitization workflows in our warehouse, making it faster to activate Virtual Try-On on our collections of private-label items and niche designer brand products.

- Leveraging a variety of features from the FBX ecosystem (face shape, photo mode, etc.) with the opportunity to pilot their new products.

- Building a mutually beneficial long-term partnership, sharing data and best practices.

The choice of Fittingbox's digital solution

Can you tell us what feedback you've received from customers regarding the Fittingbox’s live Virtual Try-On experience?

Customers consistently highlight that the glasses they receive match their expectations in terms of fit and appearance, which reflects the reliability of the Virtual Try-On tool. Many mention that frames “fit perfectly” and “look just as expected,” even when purchasing eyewear online for the first time.

Several reviews emphasize how the glasses “look just like they did on the website,” which reassures new buyers who are often nervous about ordering without having tried them on in person. Others note that they were “pleasantly surprised” by how well the frames suited them, reinforcing the value of a realistic try-on experience.

What were some of the biggest challenges that you faced when implementing Fittingbox’s virtual try-on and how did you overcome them?

We had some initial challenges while customizing the UI. Our designers and developers worked closely with the Fittingbox team to ensure we could implement the feature while still maintaining our brand and visual identity. Fittingbox virtual try-on enables a huge range of customizations, but we were certainly challenged in making the most of these to accommodate our desired look and feel.

Still on the technical side, we went through a few iterations before finding the right approach that balances page load speed and VTO seamlessness. There’s a sweet spot between optimizing the overall page performance and making sure that the VTO module is loaded when the customer engages with the tool. Fittingbox’s team was there and provided useful feedback along with their recommendations to make sure we were able to achieve the goals we had in mind.

As we’ve enabled Fittingbox VTO on over 40 web domains across more than 30 countries, both on desktop and mobile versions of our websites, we had to pay special attention to the setup of our API keys and the structure of the analytics data that Fittingbox BI team aggregates for us. After careful consideration and advice from our partners, we found acceptable trade-offs between the high dimensionality of our tracking data and the BI system’s limitations.

Setting up the Studio Boxes was a rewarding process that pushed our team to think creatively - it was certainly a significant addition to our photo studio! Our first step was reconfiguring our studio to accommodate the full setup. From there, we tackled the technical setup, fine-tuning the settings, all while upskilling our team to capture photos that meet Fittingbox’s standards. We had ongoing support calls with Fittingbox, tweaking everything remotely until it worked.

How did our teams support you in the implementation of our solutions and how long did it take to implement them?

The Fittingbox team provided support via email and conference calls whenever we requested it, demonstrating a solid understanding of their technology and offering adequate solutions. 

They continue to provide support and recommendations whenever we ask, which aligns very nicely with our culture of continuous improvement.

The initial implementation took us about two weeks, including the time spent on investigation and demo, covering not only the live try-on mode but also the photo mode, the “take picture” feature, frame & size selection, and the face shape flow.

Some advice and AI perspectives

What advice would you give to other companies in the eyewear space that will be considering similar technologies?

At SmartBuyGlasses Optical Group, we believe that virtually trying on eyewear in a click has become a must for most online shoppers. Customers buying online today expect this level of convenience and interactivity in their transactions. When engaging with your catalog and comparing it with your direct competitors, our website visitors want to be convinced: they need that extra little nudge to transform their purchase intent.

I’d recommend that any product owner in the eyewear industry keep an eye out for innovation, both in well-established technologies (where a disruptive change may be around the corner, such as performance, convenience, or cost) and in entirely new experiences.

How do you see the role of Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality evolving in the eyewear retail industry?

AI has catalyzed the development and optimization of key technologies in the online eyewear retail sector. It multiplies the energy and scope of R&D and product teams. By doing so, AI contributes to commoditizing some tech, but it also opens new possibilities with frictionless experiences, reduced cost, and new insights.
Combined with AR, AI is simply becoming an essential part of any customer journey, especially in the fashion & apparel segments. In the eyewear vertical more specifically, this formidable technology enablers will assist more and more online consumers in finding the right pair of glasses, with the right prescription, at the right price, in a few seconds, and with no effort.