Snap has introduced Catalog-powered Shopping Lenses, which aim to make augmented reality (AR) shopping simpler and more engaging for consumers, and easier to build, scale, and optimize for brands.

The launch includes a simplified, AR try-on shopping interface. Shoppers can quickly see product information such as real-time, dynamically-updated prices and colour details, descriptions, and unique URLs to buy with new Lens Product Cards as they try on products. including Brands get instant feedback on which products users are drawn to. In addition, Snap is also expanding its Lens Web Builder to enable beauty brands to create Shopping Lenses in just a couple of minutes.

Snap said that one brand, Ulta Beauty that has beta-tested the platform, running Catalog-powered Shopping Lenses around the clock, has generated $6m (£4.4m) in incremental purchases on Snapchat, and has seen over 30m product try-ons within a two week window.  

“Augmented reality is changing the way we shop, play, and learn, and transforming how businesses tell their stories and sell their products,” said Snap Chief Business Officer, According to Jeremi Gorman. “Starting today, our revamped AR Shopping Lenses will mean a more engaging experience for our Snapchat community, and enable a faster, easier way to build Lenses for businesses, directly linking Lenses to existing product catalogs for real-time analytics and R&D about which products resonate with Gen Z and Millennial audiences.”