Walmart and Unity team up for an immersive shopping experience
Taking it to the Next Level:
Walmart's latest move, partnering with 3D content powerhouse Unity, lets developers integrate Walmart's shopping APIs into their games and apps, as declared on Thursday. This exciting new venture allows creators to peddle tangible merchandise within 3D experiences across more than 20 platforms, with Walmart testing integration within popular games like House Flip, Avakin Life, and Zepeto.
Developers eager to join this shopping revolution can now earn a commission on select physical purchases from Walmart. With over 1.1 million developers using Unity's editor each month and apps being downloaded 3.6 billion times, the potential reach for this groundbreaking service is impressive.
Getting Geeky:
Walmart's collaboration with Unity signifies their ongoing exploration of interactive shopping experiences and technology. The retailer's Unity Software-Development Kit enables creators to integrate Walmart's Commerce API into their projects, making it possible for players to buy real-world goods inside games and applications – all without leaving the game.
Tom Kang, vice president and general manager of Metaverse Commerce and Walmart's Store No. 8, shared, "We have a unique chance to tie together the physical and digital worlds, offering our customers and members immersive experiences where they naturally hang out. By opening up Walmart's commerce APIs to Unity's development community, we're giving developers the power to introduce a new way to boost user engagement and make it easy and effortless for players to complete transactions for tangible items without leaving the game."
In the past year, Walmart made headlines with the launch of Supercampus on Roblox, a back-to-school themed game users could explore with supplies from brands like Crayola, Bic, and 3M. Following suit, they unveiled another Roblox experience, Walmart Discovered, where players could browse virtual departments like pets, beauty, and sports.
Walmart has also experimented with artificial intelligence and augmented reality to enhance its search functionality, help people prioritize product features, and enable shoppers to browse review summaries. Last year, the retailer declared plans to use AI and AR to streamline the shopping experience.
- This partnership between Walmart and Unity doesn't just stop at games and apps, they aim to integrate artificial-intelligence into the mix, as announced last year.
- As Walmart delves deeper into the world of technology, they've also been experimenting with integrating AI and AR into their sports departments, allowing users to virtually try out equipment before purchasing.
- In the realm of art, Walmart has been exploring ways to use AI to summarize product reviews, helping customers make informed decisions more efficiently.
- Moving forward, Walmart is keen on integrating AI and AR not only into their physical stores but also their online environment, aiming to revolutionize the shopping experience.
- With the integration of AI and AR, Walmart is also looking to assist users in prioritizing product features based on their needs, further enhancing the shopping experience.
- The integration of AI and AR in Walmart's environment signifies a significant step towards a future where technology seamlessly merges with our daily lives, from sports gear to household items, all at the tap of a smart gadget.
