How retailers are using gaming technology to engage customers

Gaming has become such a big part of our everyday lives that even retailers are using the techniques found in video games to attract customers. You may wonder what gaming has to do with retail; well, the answer is that the techniques used in gaming can help keep us engaged and loyal to a brand.

Whether a retailer is using a strategy like gamification or has integrated augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) into its lineup, when used correctly, gaming technology can change the shopping experience into something interactive and immersive instead of customers just going through the motions scrolling through pages and clicking on links to find the items they want.

In this article, we look at the different ways retailers are using gaming technology to reach their target customers.

Given the success of gaming technology, it probably comes as no surprise that retailers are looking for ways to partner with established gaming platforms through collaborations and initiatives that give them a way to reach a diverse gaming audience. For example, if you've ever played a game and seen a storefront with the name of a popular brand, you've experienced how these partnerships work. Another way retailers reach the gaming audience is by sponsoring in-game events or offering exclusive virtual merchandise through the gaming platform. It's a great marketing tool that gives retailers another avenue for increasing their brand's visibility.

Gamification Strategies in Retail

Integration of Gaming Technology in Retail

One of the most creative ways retailers have incorporated gaming technology into retail is through the use of AR and VR. With AR, digital information is displayed on top of the real-world environment, making it possible for customers to get a sneak peek of how the items they're thinking about purchasing would look in their own space.

For example, if you're shopping for a sofa online, AR allows you to imagine how it would look in your home, making it much easier to decide if it's a good fit or not. VR works a bit differently; it lets you be fully immersed in a retail experience, interact with virtual representations of products and walk around virtual stores.

Retailers aren't the only ones looking for new ways to use technology to improve the customer experience. We can look to the gaming industry, specifically online casinos, for an example of how technology is being put to use to change our approach to entertainment. Not long ago, bricks and mortar casinos reigned supreme.

If you wanted to play slots or card and table games, you'd often have to plan a trip to one of these facilities. All of that has changed in recent years, and the iGaming industry is already planning the future of online casinos and how to make the experience even more realistic.

Most of us would agree that we enjoy a good game. Retailers have picked up on this and have begun embedding game-like features into non-game contexts to keep potential customers entertained while visiting their websites. Gamification makes the shopping experience more fun than it would otherwise be, with loyalty programs, challenges, and interactive experiences giving customers a reason to spend more time on a retailer's website.

A popular example of how retailers use gamification is through a point-based system where customers can earn rewards for buying things, interacting with the brand on social media, or participating in brand related activities. They can later redeem these points for discounts or use them to buy exclusive products, a marketing strategy that businesses use to increase customer satisfaction and encourage repeat purchases.

Retailers also organise time limited challenges and competitions during holidays and special events to increase excitement among their customer base and keep them engaged with the brand.