Zalando Tests Mobile Clothing Recognition App
- Sunday, August 31st, 2014
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Berlin-based onling clothing retailer Zalando is testing a new image recognition feature for its mobile app that would enable users to take pictures of outfits they liked and get recommendations for similar clothing.
The feature has begun testing on the German version of the iOS app, with an Android version to follow in the next few weeks, and has already registered several thousand search requests in the first few days of testing.
The algorithm uses colour and pattern as the basis for its suggestions, and provides Zalando, one of Europes largest online retailers, with another channel to reach shoppers. Amazon and fashion tech app Asap54 have similar image-recognition and product recommendation tools that have recently launched.
“The Zalando photo search provides our customers with a new and very convenient way of online shopping – when they see a style they like on friends or on the high street, they can directly choose from corresponding products in our shop and buy them without a lengthy search,” said Daniel Schneider, head of onsite customer journey for Zalando. “With this innovative tool, we specifically pay attention to the context in which our customers visit Zalando: online shopping is no longer taking place at home exclusively but is increasingly moving outside where trends come to life and are highly visible.
“Moreover, we are able to extend our inspirational approach as customers often recognise what they are looking for only when they see it.”