Farfetch rolls out visual search tool

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Dec 18, 2018

Farfetch has teamed up with Syte, a visual AI startup, to help customers search through its products using a screenshot or a photo and offer a more cohesive shopping experience.

The new “See it, Snap it, Shop it” feature, available on the e-tailer’s iOS app, aims to encourage a new way of interaction with consumers, allowing them to engage with all of the day-to-day style inspiration they come across.

Screenshots from social media, images of styles seen on the street or inspiration from friends and social influencers can be used to find the most visually similar products from the Farfetch website.

“By implementing the visual search feature we want to offer customers more options for enhanced fashion discovery across all our touch points and our customers have responded really positively so far,” commented Sara Wood, VP of product at Farfetch.

“Visual search is the ultimate connection between on and offline inspiration. By allowing our customers to show us what they are interested in we gain a deeper understanding of their needs, are able to inspire them with fashion based on what they are looking for, and enable a more personalised shopping experience.”

Other online retailers such as Asos, eBay and Forever 21 have also launched similar tools.

Speaking about the partnership with Farfetch, Syte co-founder Lihi Pinto Fryman commented: “We share a very similar vision. It is amazing to work with a company that understands that customer experience- and the technology that enables amazing customer experience- needs to be a retailer’s number one priority in order to differentiate and survive.”

Ofer Fryman, Syte co-founder and CEO added:  “We have seen a direct correlation between accuracy and user satisfaction. If a user uploads their first image and finds exactly what they are looking for along with a selection of other similar items, they are immediately aware of the value and become loyal users of visual search. Technology like this has the potential to improve experience exponentially.”