Zara, ASOS, Shopify Scale AI Fitting Rooms to Curb $849.9B Returns Drag

Generative AI virtual try-on goes mainstream as retailers fight a 15.8% return rate and 19.3% online return rate. ASOS reports a 160bps return reduction; Catches projects a 10% conversion lift for luxury partners including Amiri. Google, Perplexity, Shopify, AIUTA and Doppl are racing to power the stack.

— Filed Fri, 15 May, 2026, 07:50 IST · Source PYMNTS Commerce · Updated

Retailers including Zara, ASOS, Google, Perplexity and Shopify are scaling generative AI virtual try-on tools to combat $849.9B in returns; ASOS cut returns 160bps, Catches projects 10% conversion lift for luxury partners like Amiri.

Why this matters

Zara joins a widening cohort of retailers embedding AI into the omni-channel stack, shifting virtual try-on from novelty to a core tool for protecting margin against rising online return rates.

Omni-channel signals holding steady at 51 in the last 90 days, signaling sustained investment momentum.