Case Studies

Ecommerce Trends 2026: AI, Guided Selling & 3D/AR for Online Stores

The ecommerce industry is moving faster than ever. In 2026, three major trends are reshaping how customers shop online: Guided Selling tools, AI-powered chatbots, and 3D & Augmented Reality (AR).

These tools aren’t just “nice to have.”
They directly impact conversion rates, customer satisfaction, and return reduction—the metrics ecommerce teams care about most.

This article breaks down each trend, including the pros, cons, and how ecommerce brands can use them effectively.
And if your online store sells physical products, you’ll quickly see why 3D and AR are becoming essential — and why companies choose Zieny to implement it.

1. Guided Selling tools

Modern customers face decision fatigue. With thousands of products to compare, it becomes harder—not easier—to choose the right item.

Guided selling tools solve this by offering interactive quizzes and personalized product recommendations. They essentially function as a digital salesperson.

Guided selling tool on travel online store for choosing a suitcase

Example

Travelbags uses a guided selling tool that asks questions like:
• “How long is your trip?”
• “What’s your budget?”

Within seconds, shoppers get personalized recommendations—no endless scrolling or filter frustration.

Popular tools like Aiden are now used by major Dutch retailers such as Toppy, XXL Nutrition, Prénatal, and Kees Smit.

✅ Benefits of Guided Selling tools

  • Helps customers find the right product quickly
  • Reduces decision fatigue
  • Potentially increases conversion
  • Ideal for stores with large catalogs

❌ Disadvantages of Guided Selling tools

  • Setup and styling can take significant time
  • Often requires a large financial investment
  • Privacy concerns when gathering personal data
  • Not suitable for very small stores or low-traffic sites

2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Chatbots

AI is everywhere in 2025—and ecommerce is no exception.
AI-powered chatbots have rapidly improved, offering 24/7 support, instant responses, and personalized assistance.

They help reduce the workload for customer service teams and keep response times short, especially during high-traffic periods like Black Friday, Christmas, and seasonal sales.

But they’re not perfect.

Kees Smit Chatbot in action on online store with 3D and AR

✅ Benefits chatbot

  • 24/7 customer service, so customers can be helped at any time of the day
  • Instant replies → higher customer satisfaction
  • Cost savings on customer service staff
  • Can handle large spikes in traffic during Black Friday, Christmas and other holidays

❌ Disadvantages chatbot:

  • Chatbots can make mistakes or recommend the wrong products
  • Some customers still prefer human support
  • Complex questions can be difficult for bots
  • High-quality chatbots can be expensive

3. Augmented Reality (AR) & 3D — The Future of Ecommerce

Of all the trends, 3D and AR have the biggest impact on ecommerce performance in 2025.
Why?

Because shoppers want to see products in their own space before buying.

Imagine placing a sofa in your living room, previewing a coffee machine on your countertop, or viewing a suitcase beside your bed—accurately, in real size and color.

That’s the power of AR.

How AR Works

First, customers view the product in interactive 3D.
They rotate, zoom, and inspect details.
Then they tap View in AR and instantly place the product in their own home.

This dramatically improves confidence and removes the biggest buying barrier:
“I don’t know how this will look in my home.”

Perfect Use Cases

  • Furniture
  • Beds and mattresses
  • Garden sets
  • Pet products
  • Coffee machines
  • Lighting
  • Appliances

Brands like Samsonite, Tuinmeubelshop, Moccamaster, and Vetsend are already using AR-powered shopping experiences.

✅ Benefits AR and 3D

  • Higher conversions (up to +43% for many brands)
  • Fewer returns (customers know exactly what they’re getting)
  • Huge competitive advantage
  • Younger shoppers expect these features
  • Increases trust and brand perception
  • Very fast integration (10 minutes)
  • Affordable to start — even with only 1 product
  • Perfect for sustainability-focused brands (fewer returns = less waste)

❌ Disadvantages AR and 3D

  • Less relevant for tiny, low-value products (e.g., pens, cables)
  • Custom-made products may require a 3D configurator

Which ecommerce tools should you use?

There is no single “best” tool.
The strongest ecommerce brands combine multiple solutions to create a complete customer journey.

Example: Kees Smit Tuinmeubelen

  • Uses a guided selling tool to help visitors find the right product
  • Uses Zieny 3D & AR to help customers visualize the furniture at home
  • Result → higher conversion, fewer returns, and much higher customer confidence

If your online store is new or doing low monthly revenue, these tools may not yet deliver enough ROI.

But if your store is generating $2M+ per year, these technologies become game-changers.

Final Tip for Ecommerce Teams

Whatever you choose, make sure your tools integrate with major platforms like:

  • Shopify
  • Magento
  • WooCommerce
  • Lightspeed
  • WordPress
  • Custom ecommerce platforms

Both Zieny (3D & AR) and Aiden (guided selling) offer simple integrations and are used by leading ecommerce brands in the Netherlands, Europe, and worldwide.

Ready to stop losing sales because customers can’t visualize your products?

Zieny lets shoppers see your products in true size, true color, and real context—right inside their home.
The result:

✔ Higher conversions
✔ Lower returns
✔ More confident customers

Turn Shoppers Into Buyers With 3D & AR

Try Zieny free for 14 days. No credit card. No contracts. Cancel anytime.

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Moccamaster 3D preview yellow coffee machine
Moccamaster AR preview red coffee machine via Zieny