Before You Shop Online, Do a Body Scan for the Perfect Size

Did you know that approximately 20 per cent of clothing bought online gets returned? That's because people are still unsure how to calculate their exact size. There are apps that can make shopping quicker and more convenient like Shopcastr, ShopWise, and ShopCatch but they can't measure you to help you find the perfect fit. Enter the body scanner, currently available in some US malls and stores but not yet available in Canada.

Canada is getting competitive in the retail industry with more and more US retail stores entering the country but according The Bottom Line, published by the BMO Financial Group, Canada needs to look at technology to stay competitive and keep customers happy.

So back to body scanners, which sounds like the booths you step into in US airports. The report says the body scanning machines allow customers to step into the booth (fully-dressed) and wait as the scanner "takes about 200,000 measurements in 360 degrees using low-power radio waves." Once your measurements have been calculated, you get a list based on your size, style or brand. That way, you know where to shop and retailers pay a fee each time they show up in a list.

Macy's (which ships to Canada) uses the Magic Fitting room in their Manhattan store. You can stand in front of a webcam/tablet mirror, get a photo taken and you can virtually try on all the clothing in the store. This eliminates customer frustration and can help stores tailor their stock for their customers.

You don't have to cross the border to get a body scan, you can do it at home. UPcload3 is a German start-up that has created a home-based body scanning device that lets you wear tight, dark clothing and use your webcam to scan you. The theory is that you scan yourself, get your measurements and shop at participating retailers. By shopping with your measurements it will eliminate most, if not all, fitting issues and you will get clothing that fits you perfectly.

I tried Upcload3 and as said on their site, it only takes 10 minutes to scan yourself. You may not like the numbers you get but they're said to be almost as accurate as a tailor-made outfit. The only problem with web-based body scanners is that there aren't many participating retailers. The good side is that you can keep those measurements and use them whenever you're shopping online.