UK vendor Outdoor & Cycle Concepts (O&CC) is using AI-powered foot scanners from Swedish firm Volumental for more accurate fittings for shoes and boots.

From trail running to hiking, the right footwear can be the difference between an enjoyable adventure, or one that ends in blisters and twisted ankles.

O&CC has partnered with fit-tech platform Volumental to improve the fitting experience. The collaboration has already reduced product returns during a pilot phase in participating stores.

O&CC owns recreational brands Cotswold Outdoor, Runners Need and Snow+Rock. Recognising that footwear plays a crucial role for virtually all outdoor sports and activities, the retailer has chosen to make Volumental’s foot scanners available in all its stores. By harnessing technology and AI-powered data, these scanners identify the shoe style and size that best suits each customer.

During the pilot phase conducted in five O&CC locations, the integration of Volumental’s foot scanners resulted in a 28% reduction in product returns compared with the same period in the previous year. In contrast, stores without scanners experienced only an 8% decrease in returns.

Buoyed by the pilot’s success, O&CC has now rolled out Volumental’s foot scanners to 28 stores and is planning for additional scanners. This expansion ensures a broader range of outdoor enthusiasts can benefit from fitting technology.

O&CC (www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/outdoor-and-cycle-concepts.html) stores offer customers free footwear fitting appointments tailored to their needs. For hikers and walkers, the outdoor footwear fitting service helps find walking shoes or boots. Runners can benefit from the gait analysis service, which analyses their running style on a treadmill, enabling in-store experts to make recommendations for road or trail running shoes. With the integration of Volumental’s scanners, these services gain a dimension, allowing for more precise recommendations and personalised fittings.

Volumental’s foot scanners provide detailed 3D scans of feet, accompanied by in-store recommendations. These data become a resource for future purchases, both in-store and online.

Volumental’s research reveals that approximately 40% of shoes do not align with the size charts provided by brands, often resulting in costly and wasteful returns. By leveraging technology encompassing computer vision, purchase data and AI algorithms, Volumental says it improves accuracy and provides personal sizing recommendations.

Alper Aydemir, CEO of Volumental (volumental.com), said: “Volumental is thrilled to become part of O&CC’s superior customer experience to enhance their omnichannel capabilities with an in-store wow factor that also helps their shoppers find the perfect fitting outdoor footwear, even when shopping online.”