Leading global retail bank, payments and shopping service, Klarna has launched its Virtual Shopping offering, bringing the best of in-store to the online experience.
Virtual Shopping by Klarna enables consumers to browse and buy online by connecting them directly with in-store experts through live chats and video calls to receive product advice and inspiration.
For retailers, Virtual Shopping empowers in-store teams to bring their expertise to millions of shoppers online. By using the new merchant facing Klarna Store app, in-store teams can share photos and videos of items and demo products live directly from the store floor, from home or emerging dark store concepts.
The launch builds upon the successful acquisition of social shopping platform and leader in virtual shopping services, Hero, last year.
Klarna’s Shopping Pulse Report found that consumers favour shopping in physical stores because of the social interaction and level of customer service they offer. Consumers today are looking for the same level of assistance when shopping online, with over three-quarters (79%) of Australian shoppers believing that retailers need to invest in new technology, while more than one-third of those think that offering more personalised services (40%) and product recommendations (45%) are a priority.
Klarna’s Virtual Shopping tools are live with over 300 brands across different regions, including Levi’s, Hugo Boss and Herman Miller, transforming online stores into a true omnichannel experience. Consumers can shop anything from sneakers to sofas without stepping foot in-store, but still receive expert guidance from in-store teams.
Through live video and messaging, consumers can view photos and videos of items up close and watch live product demos directly from the store floor, demonstrating everything from how a piece of clothing fits off the rack to the colour of a cosmetic product or the size of a piece of furniture.
Klarna chief marketing officer, David Sandström said, “At Klarna, we want to provide the world’s best shopping experience – whether that is online or in-store. In the past, online shopping has been missing a key element: human interaction. With Virtual Shopping, we replicate the brick-and-mortar experience of receiving personalised advice from an in-store expert and bring it to the online realm. This will empower our partnered retailers around the world to bring their online stores to life and build customer relationships that last.”