A new video-based shopping app to give consumers an actual feel
Google is experimenting with a new video-based shopping app called Shoploop to bring an interactive shopping experience to customers. Created by the company’s research and development team at Area 120, Shoploop shows new products to consumers in the form of short videos.
Unlike traditional e-commerce platforms, Shoploop allows users to watch videos where creators demonstrate and review the products being sold. Lax Poojary, General Manager of Shoploop, in her blog said that the experience on Shoploop is more interactive than just scrolling through images, titles, and descriptions on a traditional e-commerce site. All videos are shorter than 90 seconds in length. Google is trying to give consumers an actual feel of what they’re shopping for without visiting a physical shop.
The video shopping platform isn’t an entirely new idea for Google, seeing as it tested showing product recommendations along with their prices under YouTube videos last year. Shoploop is now live, although it’s available only via mobile devices. Google says it’s working on a desktop version, launching soon.
Google says it’s starting with products in the beauty category like makeup, skincare, hair, and nails. Shoploop is meant to provide creators, publishers, and store owners in this industry a platform where they can help consumers shop from their videos.
Shoppers can save a product they want to buy later or proceed to checkout on the merchant’s website. There’s also an option to follow creators and share their content.
Interestingly, in early July, Flipkart in India had already rolled out a similar product. Flipkart had announced its foray into social commerce with 2GUD, which was the platform’s independent platform for refurbished goods. 2GUD offers a video-based social experience that involves curating content from influencers on fashion, gadgets, and more.
But Google and Flipkart aren’t the only ones shopping for users. Facebook’s Instagram has finally officially rolled out the feature Shop and has also integrated Facebook Pay for purchases and donations. Through the ‘Shop’ tab on Instagram, users can browse through images and then click on it to directly go to the seller’s website.
