EXTENDED REALITY WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN RETAIL STORES
Innovative platform that combines extended reality (XR) with artificial intelligence (AI) to create innovative retail experiences
WellAdvisedCo orchestrated the creation of an innovative consortium between a startup and the research institute INESCTEC, resulting in a € 400,000 approval to develop a pioneering intelligent extended reality platform that transforms the shopping experience. WellAdvisedCo analysed emerging trends in XR-AI technologies applied to retail, to ideate the XARPER RETAIL Project and to build a strategic consortium. Following this, we developed a comprehensive project application for the SIID – Research and Development Incentive System – Entrepreneurial R&D – Co-promotion Operations, which resulted in the approval of Norte 2030 funding.
The Challenge
The retail industry is facing accelerated digital transformation, where consumers are seeking increasingly personalised and engaging experiences. Xarp Reality Labs identified that traditional virtual try-on solutions lack contextual intelligence, limiting themselves to simple visualisations without truly understanding individual consumer behaviour and preferences. The challenge involves creating intelligent and immersive shopping experiences that enhance customer engagement, boost sales, and establish a new standard in consumer-brand interaction.
The Project
XARPER RETAIL develops an innovative platform that combines extended reality (XR) with artificial intelligence (AI) to create truly intelligent retail experiences. Through 3D reconstruction of clothing pieces and skeletal tracking of consumers in-store, the solution enables behaviour inference and real-time experience personalisation.
The project materialises an advanced technological ecosystem with four main components:
- XR Smart Mirror, Intelligent mirror that combines physical and digital reality for high-fidelity virtual try-on
- Behavioral Analysis System, AI engine that processes multimodal data to understand preferences and purchasing patterns
- Dynamic 3D Reconstruction, Real-time digitisation technology for products and body movements
- Personalization Platform, System that adapts recommendations and interface based on each user’s individual profile.
WellAdvisedCo’s Role
Our intervention was decisive from the project’s genesis to its approval:
Strategic Consortium Building
- Identification and scientific articulation with INESCTEC researchers specialised in computer vision and AI
- Collaboration motivation through demonstrating the disruptive potential of intelligent extended reality in retail
- Definition of technical complementarities between Xarp’s business vision and INESCTEC’s scientific excellence
Market Analysis and Positioning
- In-depth study of emerging trends in XR-AI integration and retail technology
- Competitive analysis of the European landscape for intelligent extended reality solutions in retail
- Development of go-to-market strategy for AI-powered XR technologies
Proposal Development
- Technical and financial proposal elaboration, aligning intelligent extended reality innovation with commercial viability
- Structuring the narrative of technological impact from XR-AI convergence
- Articulation between extended reality R&D objectives and real market needs
Impact
This pioneering project, resulting from strategic collaboration orchestrated by WellAdvisedCo, involves a substantial investment of nearly € 400,000 that develops an innovative intelligent extended reality ecosystem for retail in Portugal. Our ability to connect business vision with scientific excellence has transformed an ambitious idea into a funded reality, positioning the consortium at the forefront of European innovation in XR-AI technologies.
XARPER RETAIL demonstrates how WellAdvisedCo catalyses national technological innovation, creating bridges between disruptive startups and reference research centres to materialise the future of intelligent extended reality in digital retail.
Client: Xarp Reality Labs, Lda
Partner: INESC TEC – Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science
Industry: Intelligent Extended Reality, Retail Technology, Artificial Intelligence
