Business / Technology

E-shopper experience to go high-tech with Buy+

By MENG JING (China Daily) Updated: 2016-08-04 08:17

E-shopper experience to go high-tech with Buy+

Zhuang Zhuoran, senior director of Alibaba's mobile platform, wears a VR device to show the "Buy+" program of Alibaba. It reveals how the future shopping experience will be with VR devices and 360 degree videos offering customers a panoramic view during the shopping process. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Buy+ users need to wear a VR headset and maneuver two hand-controllers to enter a virtual shopping environment with 360-degree views. They can chat with a shopping assistant named Xiaoyu and browse through products. Bags, shoes, even lingerie-all are there to hold and feel, so to speak.

Shoppers can even see virtual models in the apparel catwalk right in front of their eyes.

The Hangzhou-based Alibaba is yet to announce the public launch of Buy+, which is still under beta testing.

VR is still at a nascent stage in China. Much of the VR revenue comes from the gaming and entertainment industries. But an unfazed Alibaba is betting on VR-driven e-commerce.

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