Bodi.me: Where Fashion Meets Technology

Have you ever shopped for clothes online and felt utterly confused about picking the right size for yourself? You find the perfect shirt, choose a color that usually looks good on you, and then when it’s time to choose the size, you click on the one that approximately seems like it would fit you. But, more often than not – the proportions end up being not quite what we expected.

Here’s a fun fact: incorrect size ordered is the top reason for returned merchandise purchased online.

Is it because of our poor estimation? Well, while the possible reason behind this could be the fact we’re not ready to accept we are not size 6 anymore, you might want to blame the retailers, too. There are significant variations in different brands’ clothing sizes. Just think about it: even when you go on a shopping spree in the offline world, the sizes displayed on the labels often don’t seem right.

Despite this, most of us cannot resist the convenience of shopping with just a few clicks, right from the comfort of our homes. It is just too tempting to miss out on, since there are no crowds or waiting lines. With simple browsing and ordering, the purchased pieces get delivered straight to your doorstep. This is all neat, but have you noticed something else missing?

Yep – fitting rooms.

Up until now, the only way you could explore the look of a certain fashion piece is with the zoom-in tool, and of course – by reading the product description in order to find out what type of material is in question, does it stretch or shrink after washing, etc. Then you would probably squint your eyes and slightly tilt your head in an attempt to figure out how you would look wearing it. You hoped for the best and purchased the damn thing.

Of course, not all online shopping end in a disaster. But with Bodi.me and its technology, the way we buy clothes online is about to get transformed. Heck, it’s already happening as we speak.

Bodi.me Salutes All Body Shapes and Sizes

Have you ever heard of vanity sizing? This phenomenon implies nominal sizes getting bigger over the time: brands shift their metrics to make shoppers feel skinnier, which basically implies labels being meaningless. We’re not talking about different countries’ measurement systems, but the fact sizes have become too open to interpretation.

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That’s where Bodi.me stepped in. Founded in 2014 in London as a B2B product (i.e. SaaS clothing solution), Bodi.me set out to disrupt the clothing industry. The team worked hard on coming up with a unique algorithm that predicts the actual fitting size of the user once it gets loaded with data. That makes the experience of online clothes shopping easier and more enjoyable because users can determine their exact body size.

Bodi.me functions as a mediator as well, given the fact it connects shoppers with supported brands, creating a win-win situation for both sides. Shoppers will be more satisfied with what they’ve purchased, while brands will generate more revenue and be recognized as the ones supporting the tech-fashion revolution.

There are three ways users can determine their true body size via Bodi.me:

• Manual measurement (using the guide provided by Bodi.me, shoppers can manually measure different body parts in order to find out their true size)
• Compute measurement (an announced feature not yet available, via which users will be enabled to get their measurements by filling out a simple questionnaire)
• via 3D body on-site scanning (3D scanning technology captures all your body measures with a single depth sensor camera)

When customers know their exact size, it has a much broader impact than just a pleasant shopping experience. It also reduces the number of returns and encourages first-time buyers. Bodi.me is supported by major global brands (Burberry, Mango, Desigual, Lacoste, to name a few), and it enables users to shop directly after registering.The exact body data can be used to receive size advice from thousands of brands.

Great thing about Bodi.me is the conversion tool that enables you to determine your size worldwide. It’s good to know you can always save new body measurements and track the changes over the time. At any given moment, registered users that already went through the measuring process, can see their recommended size in the top right corner. With a wide choice of renown brands, shoppers can browse through their offers and choose the appropriate size, hassle-free.

Opportunities for Fashion Brands

It’s not that hard to see that Bodi.me is all about personalization. It allows users to create their own digital body passports, with the highest respect to the uniqueness of their bodies. Fashion brands can benefit from the set mission of Bodi.me, especially because for now – their 3D scanning services are completely free.

There are several solutions to choose from that are currently available for brands, and they differ depending on the type of platform and the end goal. For instance, Style.me offers the ultimate virtual styling experience for online stores, via proprietary technologies and 3D scanning. It is easy to implement and it helps brands ensure uninterrupted shopping experience.

Via Style.me, customers can create their own 3D avatar to try on different outfits in order to find the best fit for themselves. With a clearly defined size, customers will move through different stages of the sales funnel easier. In addition, Style.me has a sharing option. By gamifying the process of shopping and including the social moment, it also supports brands in their marketing efforts. Customers can share their favorite looks on social media, which practically means they become evangelists for your brand: you have a precious opportunity to tap into different channels and reach a broader audience this way. In the end, this solution provides bigger value for buyers, and therefore – bigger profit for businesses.

In short, utilizations of the Bodi.me as a tool lead to increased interactions with brands and a more engaging way of displaying products in your online store. This means e-commerce can expect an increase in cross-sell and upsell activities, while giving their company’s image a push and reaching out to the potential buyers by communicating just how agile their business is, keeping up with the changes technology is bringing us.

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Giving the fact all of this has to do with personalized shopping experiences, every solution listed has .ME as their online home, and we pride ourselves with that fact. Startups and their software solutions can truly give their brands a genuine feel this way, as it all starts with a cleverly selected domain name that will align with their mission perfectly.

What Lies Ahead

When it comes to retail, personalization is truly everything. And it’s not just about tracking online behavior and putting the right offers in front of the buyers. It’s about focusing on an individual and his or hers unique needs. All research show basically the same data: personalization is the key of every successful business. Direct business benefits of becoming a supported brand within Bodi.me include:

• Better conversions (by offering site visitors to measure themselves and register to the website, they are more likely to shop with boosted confidence)
• More purchases (by knowing they are purchasing the right size, visitors are free from the dilemma that usually pushes them away from making a purchase)
• Reduced returns (the shopping experience is more delightful and even fun, without the danger of purchasing the wrong fit)

Bodi.me also plans on developing new features for registered users. The next logical step includes health and fitness plugins within the user account, which will allow them to track their fitness progress and shop new clothes with pride of their transformed bodies.

The goal of Bodi.me is certainly to make shopping as pleasant as possible, while taking in mind the convenience as well as the downsides of making a purchase without ever entering the fitting room. Given the fact visit conversion rates for ecommerce are fairly low (just look at the data provided by Smart Insights, it’s around 2%), this solution might turn some tables around.

However, not everyone is fully convinced. For example, Giovanni Luigi Bordone from Scabal thinks 3D avatars will never be able to fully replace fitting rooms, as there is a lot more to trying out merchandise than just finding the perfect size. The materials count, the feeling that comes with wearing a fashion piece too. But people already buy things online, so having a little help on the way can only support their shopping experiences. The fast-paced world we live in has certainly taken the toll on the consumer behavior, making them value time as a resource more than ever. This is why fast and convenient purchases are the way to go, and Bodi.me certainly recognized the potential behind these changes.