TechNovus, a UK-based virtual reality company, has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) platform that lets shoppers match their body measurements with desired clothing items as they browse fashion web sites.

The Mezura AI body measurement app allows perfectly fitting garments to be sent to shoppers directly. The company also believes the measurement technology could serve the fitness and healthcare market.

Many fashion shoppers are deterred from buying online as it can be hard to get sizes right. Mezura AI addresses this by using the camera in mobile phones and AI technology to take detailed body measurements in seconds and match them with clothing items using international measurement standards.

TechNovus has also created a retail option via a hardware pod so retailers can offer customers the same accurate body measurements in shops, reducing exchange and return rates.

“We believe Mezura AI has the potential to transform the online and offline retail experiences, offering a quasi tailor service that allows customers to get an exact fit for clothing within seconds of taking a photo,” said Jamil El-Imad, CEO of TechNovus. “We also see applications for the health and fitness sectors, allowing gyms for example to scan measurements of members to track progress, or to swiftly assess BMIs for optimum health and fitness plans.”

The Mezura AI app allows users to find the best fit in garments for their body size and shape. With a one-off set up and registration process, shoppers can use a mobile or tablet to obtain their body measurements instantly from one photo. Measurements can be saved, deleted and retaken at any time. Shoppers can find out their international sizes in an instant, by automatic location identification or by selecting the country in which they wish to shop.

Shoppers can also find out their best size in specific brands and for individual garments. To ensure privacy, all data remain on the shopper’s device.

The company also has a software-as-a-service (SaaS) and hardware offer for retailers.Mezura AI’s Retail seamlessly provides the shopper’s body measurements in seconds, in the store using AI-enabled technology deployed in two ways:

• Stylish, 80cm high pods standing independently around the store allow shoppers to take a photo of themselves and, seconds afterwards, to send via Bluetooth detailed measurement information via the app on their mobile device, telling them about the best sizes in that store. Using Raspberry Pi, normal camera and AI behind the scenes, the pods are said to be inexpensive and easy to install and set up.
• Pods can be linked to a TV screen or mirror. screens can be digitally customised for bespoke branding and special features.

The measurements remain private, shared with shoppers via the Mezura AI app on their device. All wifi and internet connection interfaces are disabled on the Mezura AI Pod, preserving privacy. Updates to the AI and measurement modules will connect to the retailer’s back office systems seamlessly. Retailers can use Mezura AI’s SaaS platform, paying a monthly fee for licensing, installation and technical support.

TechNovus is also offering ecommerce retailers a Mezura AI plug-in, which seamlessly integrates with the retailer’s app and matches up with their garment database to suggest the best fit size for the customer, in their own homes. The customer can also indicate whether they want tight, regular or loose fitting for any garment and will receive a recommendation for the best size. Using the plug-in could lower return rates and attract online customers who will be able to buy garments that fit their body shape.

Mezura AI will be available as an app on all iOS and Android devices for consumers or as an integrated module in retailers’ applications or ecommerce web sites by mid 2021.

TechNovus was founded in 2018 by Halla Juffali and Jamil El-Imad to leverage AI, virtual reality, augmented reality, IoT and other emerging technology trends.