What Is Lowe's: Helpful Or Harmful?

A company may benefit from the technology presented in the case with the use of virtual shopping as a testing platform (O’Brien & Marakas, 2011). This would allow the tracking of the customer’s eyes and body language in response to the surrounding environment simulated in the virtual world. The collected data can provide retailers with better marketing skills such as placement of the product and the packaging of the product.

The placement of the product is coveted by all retailers (O’Brien & Marakas, 2011). In addition, there are many similar products on the shelf. Therefore, it is up to the retailer to create the desired brand that stands out and has a standard that a customer is accustomed to receiving upon the purchase and use of a product

For example, Lowe’s offers a virtual experience for their customers which allows them to customize a room with a particular color palette, lighting and plumbing fixtures, and tiling with the use of “Holorooms” (Greenwald, 2016). The use of this allows the customer to see everything in place and determine if it is the desired concept before committing to potentially years of use.

It will be the responsibility of the retailer to find ways that will amplify their products with the use of social media and promote their brand with the use of new technology (Greenwald, 2016). Another example is Mercedes that engaged Kelly Lund to create a virtual world with a 360-degree view of using their product on a trip to Colorado while sharing her outdoor experience. This allowed the everyday person to see themselves in the lifestyle of having a Mercedes.

The virtual reality (VR) has also created a new marketing medium just as with placing a product strategically in a movie or sitcom (Johnson, 2017). The product could be placed within a virtual app or game that would familiarize the consumer and create the potential for making a purchase. This would create revenue for the creators of the app or game. In addition, “VR gives viewers much more perspective and makes it easier to understand what they are purchasing” (Johnson, 2017, p.

However, this new technology opens the door for businesses to be the first to capitalize on the use of virtual reality marketing. In addition, the combining traditional marketing with the virtual world that would bring together opportunities for the creators and the advertiser (Johnson, 2017).

Reference

Greenwald, M. (2016, June 15). 6 Of The Best Marketing Uses Of Virtual Reality. Retrieved January 21, 2018, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/michellegreenwald/2016/06/15/6-of-the-best-marketing-uses-of-virtual-reality/#472db5b265cf

Johnson, C. (2017, November 15). Virtual Reality Is Here And It's A Huge Opportunity. Retrieved January 21, 2018, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescommunicationscouncil/2017/11/15/virtual-reality-is-here-and-its-a-huge-opportunity/#45403a287f41

O’Brien, J., Marakas, G. (2011). Management of Information Systems. New York, NY. McGraw-Hill Irwin. Retrieved January 21, 2018,