Smart Glass for Retail Windows and In-Store Advertising

Not only the needs of customers are changing but also their expectations with an instore shopping experience are getting higher. In the present era, when online shopping booms up, online markets are growing tremendously, physical stores still have an advantage of providing shoppers a captivating shopping experience.

One way of doing so, is to utilise smart glass technology. Create a seamless and interactive shopping experience by visual marketing that interacts with customers and provide them a dynamic advertising and increase their engagement.

Changing room privacy and hygiene is also a major consent of customers which can also be addressed by incorporating smart glass technology.

First of all see some research based insights on how sales of retail stores increased with proper usage of smart glass solutions. Here is a clear analysis of how usage of smart glass increased over last years and will grow further in years from 2018 to 2030.

Here are some ways to incorporate smart glass technology in retail shops and advertising to enhance customer experience and return on investment ratio.

Dynamic Window Displays:

On-site stores are continually looking for ways to enhance their space into one that is keeping up to meet the current market requirements and trends. Smart Glass, or say, opaque and electric glass, or switchable glass allows you to transform your storefronts into transparent displays which results in increasing brand awareness and attractive for walk-in customers.

When glass switch off to its opaque state, it can be used as an High Definition projection screen for attention-grabbing and dynamic ads, at the same time having the option to create complete privacy. When it’s turns on and becomes transparent, shoppers can view inside the windows with an open view.

This glass can also be used to engage customers by using it as an interactive advertising solution that provide shoppers a memorisable shopping experience and provide them with an opportunity to interact with digital content right inside the store.

Enhanced Storefront Aesthetics and security:

Smart glass can also be used to elevate your store’s exterior look with sophisticated smart glass solutions that enhance visual appeal and create a polished, modern look as well as it functions as a security measure too, as it hides theft prone items when turns off. Smart glass is also made durable so that all your merchandise will be theft safe.

On an advantage, the glass can also protect your store in the event of a fire, because the glass is made of two glass layers then two sheets of the interlayer material, and a liquid crystal film which is packed in between. All these layers give it a remarkable reliability, strength, durability, and for an extra layer of safety.

Privacy Screens for Exclusive Areas:

One of the main advantages of brick-and-mortar stores over online shopping is the facility to try clothes on before purchasing. Customers find changing rooms far away at the rear end of the shop, less maintained dark and unwelcoming. Sadly, research shows that poor lighting also has a negative impact on how the customer feel, and will or will not buy the article.

Switchable privacy glass provides the solution for it. With prompt opacity on demand, smart glass fitting cubicles don’t need to have unhygienic curtains and maintenance trouble.

Switchable glass also addresses the problem of lighting because it passes light even when it is opaque. In this way the glass is more energy effective.

From high-end boutiques to high-street giants, changing rooms with switchable privacy glass partitions provide a graceful and easy to maintain clean solution.

Flexible Product Showcases:

Unlike static displays that are time and effort ineffective to replace, switchable glass facilitates dynamic product showcases with customized content that can appear and disappear at your command, smart glass displays offer a high return on investment.

You can control what you wanna display depending on weather conditions, new arrivals or to provide tailored customer experience.

Switchable glass gives your shoppers always a reason to come in store by viewing it from the window real estate, enabling retailers to maximize return on investment.

Switchable point of sale displays:

Elevate your brand-new arrival’s value by switchable point of sale displays and display cases. The concept of display cases is well known to put the light upon the importance of the item and grab attention of visitors.

If a store wants to make a portable solution for a dynamic switchable display the case can be backed by a battery at the bottom offering the reveal when touched or pressed by a button or it can be connected by a remote controller or a voice assistant.

Real-Time Promotional Content:

Updating promotional content instantly when needed with smart glass, ensures that you are always displaying current and relevant content to your customers. By increasing your customer experience keeps you ahead of the competition.

These screens can be used to display different types of visuals such as videos, images, or texts that customers can interact with. If you wish not to block the customers’ view of the shop, you can dim the screens according to your need. This is the way by which potential customers from outside the shop can still see what’s inside.

Energy-Efficient Glazing Solutions:

Smart glass imposes a great impact on retail businesses by improving energy efficiency. For example, In hot weather, the Sun’s light coming through windows, cause the interior of store very uncomfortable and stuffy for customers. This puts a negative shopping experience and restrain customers from visiting again. However, smart glass can help blocking the heat and light entering the building, creating comfortable shopping environment, a smart glass helps regulate the store’s temperature and significantly reduce the need for air conditioning, which can result in remarkable energy savings.

On an advantage, smart glass also helps to reduce the need for artificial lighting by allowing natural light through it. This saves energy costs and also provides a more inviting shopping experience to your customers.

Comparison Analysis of Ordinary Glass and Smart Glass

Property	Ordinary glass	Smart glass
transparency	Transparent or tinted but only one at a time	Can switch its transparency according to need
cost	cheap	Expensive
privacy	Need unhygienic high maintenance curtains	Need unhygienic high maintenance curtains
Theft secure	Products displayed in transparent window glass appeals Bulgars	Can be switched off and hide object behind it
Fire secure	Can break easily during a fire and delivers a damage	Durable and resistant glass can provide fire and smoke isolation.
Intruder resistance	Cab be break easily	More durable because of interlayers
look	Old classic look	New trendy look
management	Needs high management for window advertisements.	Can be managed easily by using a projector.
Energy efficiency	Static glass is not energy efficient.	It switches to opaque to filter sunlight and reduce cooling costs.
Technology integration	Just a physical barrier, can not be integrated with technology	Can be used to design automated systems
flexibility	Not flexible, static design.	Flexible with any design need and easy to manage.
applications	Used as a transparent barrier in windows and doors.	Can be used as a transparent doors and windows as well as dynamic billboards, window displays, interactive screens, tinted glass, security glass, privacy blinders and dividers and more
installation	Easily installed	Needs a professional like https://ifsmartglass.com for installation.

Benefits of using smart glass in retail shop windows

Limitations of smart glass.

Here are some limitations of smart glass which should be kept in mind before starting your project to make sure that whether the smart glass is right option to meet your needs or not.

Cost: As we know its cost-effective solution because of its features and durability but initially it costs a lot more than a standard glass, making it less economical for house owners and businesses with tight budget.
Installation: It requires professionals like https://ifsmartglass.com to install it and might have cost a little more.
Its not a blackout option: For the people who are searching for a complete black out option must understand that it is a good privacy option but still allow some light and is good for the reduction of artificial lighting.
It uses electricity: as we know that its an energy efficient option by filtering uv rays entering the building but itself it uses energy to operate, although it operates between 3–6 watts per square meter per hour which is less than an incandescent lamp.
Smart glass can be damaged: Smart glass is known for its durability and security. It can not be broken so easily, but it can be damaged when hit by a heavy or sharp object. Its interlayers may protect it from shattering completely but still it sustains some damage.

Conclusion.

Smart glass improves retail environments by renovating storefronts and in-store advertising. It creates dynamic displays, advances changing room privacy, and elevates store aesthetics while offering energy efficiency. Despite its higher cost and need for professional installation, its benefits in customer engagement and store functionality make it a valuable investment for modern retail spaces.

FAQs

Does smart glass installation have additional costs?

Yes, the installation of smart glass does have additional costs. This is because installing smart glass is not that easy and requires hiring professional staff.

Is smart glass better than curtains and blinds?

Smart glass is a more reliable option for shading and privacy than curtains and blinds. This is because it allows two-thirds of natural light even in a frosted state. Moreover, it’s easy to clean smart glass as dust cannot penetrate the glass surface.

How can we clean switchable glass windows or doors?

Switchable glass can be cleaned the same way as ordinary glass. Use a non-abrasive soft cloth after applying glass cleaner on it and gently rinse the surface of the glass window.

What is the lifespan of smart glass?

The lifespan of smart glass can be different based on many factors, for example, the type of smart glass, usage, and the environment in which the glass is installed. However, their lifespan ranges from 10 to 20 years on average.

How smart glass is cost effective?

However smart glass is an expansive technology, but it is cost effective in many ways like management costs and static advertisement costs. It is secure and attract more customers by providing clean look and comfortable and hygienic environment.

Smart Glass Information