Beauty and travel are among the luxury industries strengthening their digital presence and embracing the latest in technology to engage with customers. From virtual makeovers to mobile hotel room keys, here are four ways revolutionary technology is impacting the lifestyle of the affluent consumer.
Virtual Beauty Counter
Shopping today is not just confined to brick and mortar stores and websites. Fashion companies are adopting virtual reality (VR) into their business operations, widening their reach and making window shopping, a thing of the past.
In December 2016, the Prada x Prada VR experience was unveiled offering a 360-degree platform that takes visitors through a sensorial journey to the exciting abstract world of Prada Fragrances. It fuses spatial audio, stereoscopic 3D and interactivity to showcase a kaleidoscope of collages, reflections and optical illusions, which would then reveal Prada’s La Femme and L’Homme fragrances.
Interactive Mirror
The world of makeup has taken the high-tech route with an interactive “magic mirror” as an active selling tool. Charlotte Tilbury introduced the concept of the magic mirror in its Westfield London store to help simplify the decision-making process in purchasing makeup. While sitting on a plush burgundy seat, users can select from any of the 10 looks available and the image is superimposed on their faces, courtesy of the augmented reality technology from Holition. So in real-time, not only can shoppers can have their eyes, lips and skin transformed, they can compare up to 10 looks side by side in less than a minute. This is a significant time-saver for anyone unsure of which look to try, thus inspiring them to buy new products that they might otherwise not have considered.
Mobile Room Key
Traveling has gotten increasingly tech-savvy too. Aside from the convenience of checking-in using a smartphone, hotels have now rolled out mobile phone keys so guests can simply walk straight to their rooms with just a single tap on their phones. Starwood Hotels have already tested the technology via their Starwood Preferred Guest mobile app. On the day of their stay, SPG member guests will receive an update on the availability of the hotel room along with a room number. Guests can then skip the front desk, head directly to the room and open their door using the phone via a Bluetooth connection.
Hilton Hotels and Resorts have also introduced their own Digital Key program and, unlike Starwood, Hilton provides guests the privilege of selecting the room they want via the app's mobile check-in function.
Smart Luggage
Packing for a vacation has gotten increasingly more efficient, thanks to smart luggage options. RIMOWA unveiled the first fully-integrated digital suitcase: RIMOWA Electronic Tag. This revolutionary technology allows travellers to check-in their luggage from their home using their smartphone, and then simply drop it off at the airport and bypassing long lines.
The TravelPro Crew 11, is not just one of the lightest carry-ons available on the market. At only 7 lbs, the innovative luggage packs smart features such as an exterior USB port to charge your cell phone and a RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification)-blocking interior pocket that prevents identity theft.
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