Recommending the right shoe is no easy task.
Consumers step into shoe stores every day and are overwhelmed by countless styles, brands, and models to choose from. And most of the time, when sales assistants approach the shoppers asking whether they need any help, the answer is negative as they believe they can decide based on the shoe display in front of them. This approach, combined with everyone’s unique foot anatomy, prevents people from buying shoes that can bring them comfort and protect them from injuries.
To tackle this challenge, global retail brands like INTERSPORT, Decathlon, Sport 2000, and others have started using 3D foot scanning technology to provide the best shoe recommendations.
For Safesize, retail innovation starts with a 3D foot scanner where consumers receive an analysis of their foot dimensions. This data is then used to assist sports enthusiasts in finding the most comfortable and best-performing shoe.
What is a 3D foot scanner?
A 3D foot scanner analyses the foot anatomy and gives insights into your unique walking/running pattern, your weight balance, foot biometrics, and much more. With some foot scanners, the capabilities stop there. But in our case, this is just the start of a fully personalized shopping experience.
In the beginning, customers step on the scanner and fill out all personal information (such as age, gender, weight) as well as their favorite sports, brands, and intensity of exercise (from amateur to pro).
Within a few seconds, consumers receive a detailed foot analysis on the screen. Safesize offers unique matching of the foot characteristics with the largest shoe database in the world, meaning that it only takes these few seconds for a consumer to virtually try on thousands of shoes at once.
The result? With a tap on the screen, sales assistants see the best shoe recommendations for their customers – fully connected with the store’s inventory and entirely adapted to the shoppers’ personal preferences.
Why Is It a Necessity For Shoe Retailers
The benefits retail stores can enjoy with a 3D foot scanner are multidimensional and apparent across all touchpoints.
Everything starts by transforming your store into a stage. Creating a unique personalized experience captures the attention of shoppers and inspires them to come to a physical store rather than just shop online, and the 3D visualization of foot anatomy creates an opportunity to engage with the sales assistant in a meaningful, data-driven, and personalized interaction.
This unique shopping experience can result in higher conversions and cross-selling opportunities in-store. In fact, people feel more confident buying shoes and additional accessories (e.g. insoles) based on this personalized approach rather than Googling “The best running shoes” and then deciding to buy the cheapest option online.
“This new technology just enables conversation and a personalized product recommendation.” – Ian Watson, CEO Hotter Shoes (Forbes.com, September 2021)
Diving into the operational benefits, the 3D foot scanner will enable shoe retailers to provide their sales team with a digital sales assistant on the shop floor. This acts as a constant re-training of sales assistants, increasing the level of expertise and transforming even a novice salesperson into an expert – all with just a few interactions with the SafeSize 3D foot scanner.
By capturing consumer profiles, the physical shoppers are no longer invisible to the retailer. Leveraging the foot profiles and past purchase data, the sales approach can be further adapted to fit their specific needs.
Last but not least, through this process, the shoe retailer ensures a uniform and highly knowledgeable sales approach across all stores and all sales assistants.
Perks For Consumers
Retail innovation is all about creating a unique and elevated shopping experience. With a pinch of excitement, a dash of entertainment, and a spoonful of expertise, 3D foot scanning technology creates the recipe for a shopping experience you don’t want to miss!
By using a 3D foot scanner, within seconds consumers receive better shoe model recommendations based on biometrics and functional characteristics, rather than just deciding based on their favorite brand, color, and price. At the same time, they can rest assured that their feet won’t be in pain anymore or prevent them from enjoying their favorite sports – no matter the level of expertise!
What’s more, through their personal profile, consumers can access their foot analytics and previous purchases. Based on that, they can easily make the right purchase again in the future – either online or in any other store of the shoe retailer.
