Shopping for furniture from Ikea can be a serious source of friction in a relationship, but a new app could make choosing the right sofa that bit easier.
The new augmented reality application lets people experience, experiment and share what bits of furniture might work in a room.
From sofas to armchairs, developers say all the products in Ikea Place app are 3D and true to scale – meaning customers might not need to go to the store at all.
The new augmented reality application lets people experience, experiment and share what bits of furniture might work in a room
In addition to digitally placing Ikea products in a room, the app allows people to share images or videos with friends if they need a second opinion.
Users will need to make sure they have upgraded to iOS11 and can download the app from the Apple App Store.
Customers will need to scan the place they are thinking of putting the piece of furniture and then browse the list of products available.
After selecting the product users want to test, they can move it around the place to find out what works.
Developers say it can work out dimensions with 98 per cent accuracy and is so precise users can see the textures of the fabric as well as different lights and shadows.
At launch, 2,000 products will be available in the app.
The number will grow continuously as Ikea aims for all future product launches to be released in the app.
The products in the first release will focus on larger furniture products for the living room: all sofas, all armchairs, all footstools, all coffee tables and top-selling storage solutions that can be placed on the floor.
‘Ikea Place makes it easier to make buying decisions in your own place, to get inspired and try many different products, styles and colours in real-life settings with a swipe of your finger’, said Michael Valdsgaard, Leader Digital Transformation at Inter Ikea Systems.
Customers will need to scan the place they are thinking of putting the piece of furniture and then browse the list of products available
After selecting the product users want to test, they can move it around the place to find out what works – and use the website to make a purchase
‘Augmented reality and virtual reality will be a total game changer for retail in the same way as the internet. Only this time, much faster,’ he said.
The app will be available to US customers in the Apple store on iOS 11 from late-September.
The company has not said when it plans to roll it out elsewhere.
This is not the only original idea from the Swedish company in recent months.
Last month it was announced the furniture company would be selling supersize rechargeable batteries for the home.
In addition to digitally placing Ikea products in a room, the app allows people to share images or videos with friends if they need a second opinion
Users will need to make sure they have upgraded to iOS11 and can download the app from the Apple App Store
Developers say it can work out dimensions with 98 per cent accuracy and is so precise users can see the textures of the fabric as well as different lights and shadows
These will be linked to solar panels, which will run everything from the lights to the washing machine.
The batteries, which use the same technology as those powering mobile phones, are small enough to fit on a kitchen wall and start at £3,000 ($4,050).
Installing both a battery and a simple solar panel system on the roof will start at £6,925 ($9,350).
The store giant claims the new system could cut a household’s electricity bills by as much as 70 per cent.
At launch, 2,000 products will be available in the app. The number will grow continuously as IKEA aims for all future product launches to be released in the app
The products in the first release will focus on larger furniture products for the living room: all sofas, all armchairs, all footstools, all coffee tables and top-selling storage solutions that can be placed on the floor
The app will be available to US customers in the Apple store on iOS 11 from late-September. The company has not said when it plans to roll it out elsewhere