E-shopper experience to go high-tech with Buy+

Zhuang Zhuoran, senior director of Alibaba's mobile platform, wears a VR device to show the "Buy+" program of Alibaba. It reveals how the future shopping experience will be with VR devices and 360 degree videos offering customers a panoramic view during the shopping process. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Buy+ users need to wear a VR headset and maneuver two hand-controllers to enter a virtual shopping environment with 360-degree views. They can chat with a shopping assistant named Xiaoyu and browse through products. Bags, shoes, even lingerie－all are there to hold and feel, so to speak.

Shoppers can even see virtual models in the apparel catwalk right in front of their eyes.

The Hangzhou-based Alibaba is yet to announce the public launch of Buy+, which is still under beta testing.

VR is still at a nascent stage in China. Much of the VR revenue comes from the gaming and entertainment industries. But an unfazed Alibaba is betting on VR-driven e-commerce.