10127637Interactive AR-based Building Materials Retail and Ordering System for Home Improvement Projects (IBM-ROS)ClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UK**PUBLIC DESCRIPTION** The building materials retail sector lags significantly in online sales, with only 9% of products purchased online compared to 38.1% in other online retail markets valued at £152 billion. Despite the existing -257,000 building Product Information Models (PIMs), home improvement clients still rely on physical visits to retail centres due to inconsistencies between PIMs and actual suppliers' products. Currently, 87% of trips to building material retail centres are for non-purchasing activities such as gathering ideas, seeking expert advice, and verifying specifications. This inefficiency highlights the need for an integrated solution that bridges the gap between online and in-store experiences. By leveraging augmented reality (AR) technology, IBM-ROS aims to unlock a potential £27 billion market for online building materials retail. Existing solutions fall into two categories: PIM Visualisation Platforms and E-commerce Immersive Product Visualisation. PIM Visualisation Platforms, like NBS Library and RevitCity, require specialised knowledge and software, making them inaccessible to private buyers. E-commerce Immersive Product Visualisation platforms, like Amazon 3D Viewer and IKEA Room Planner, offer limited interaction, primarily focusing on general and furniture products rather than building materials. IBM-ROS will revolutionise the retail sector of building materials by making AR-based visualisation and ordering mainstream and accessible. This innovative solution aims to increase the online sales percentage from 9% to 38.1%, translating to a £27 billion increase in the market. The solution will reduce retail centre congestion and space requirements through in-store AR-based product visualisation. IBM-ROS will have three main components: 1. AI-enabled Product Information Modelling System for Retailers (AI-PIMS): Utilizing Generative-Explainable AI, AI-PIMS will enable retailers to create accurate product models from textual descriptions and images. 2. AR-based Retail Environment for Product Interaction and In-Store Visualisation: Simulating actual retail environments, this component will engage users with interactive AR product visualisation through unique AR markers or QR codes. 3. AR-enabled Product Ordering and Tracking System: This system will facilitate seamless ordering and tracking within the AR environment by linking AR-based product models with supplier databases via existing product APIs. The primary market for IBM-ROS is the UK building materials retail industry, valued at approximately £73 billion. Target customers include 6,400 building materials retailers, 399,124 construction trade contractors, 42,547 architectural services firms, 5,980 DIY and home improvement retailers, and approximately 347,500 home improvement clients across the UK. IBM-ROS represents a transformative approach to building materials retail, promising significant market growth and enhanced customer experiences through advanced AR technology.