Computer vision has several interesting applications in the retail and e-commerce sectors. A Spanish startup has effectively leveraged this artificial intelligence technology to help shoppers purchase certain items without having to visit physical stores and by getting the sizes right. For online merchants, to whom it provides its measurement tool for integration into their e-commerce platforms, it allows them to increase sales and reduce returns, which can result in significant cost savings.
At Neosmart, we had the opportunity to speak with the CEO of this emerging company, Paz Vega, who closed a funding round of 635,000 euros at the end of last year.
How did Aitaca come about as a company?
Aitaca was born from an academic inspiration and a humanitarian need. While deciding on the topic for my master's thesis, my goal was clear: to apply artificial intelligence to new horizons and increase its impact on society.
A conversation with my sister, a humanitarian worker, about the process of detecting child malnutrition, gave me the final push to create a technological solution that optimized body measurement. This initial focus transformed into the foundation of Aitaca, whose purpose is to improve accuracy and efficiency in various applications through AI and AR, thus establishing itself as an innovative company in the market.
What was that first body measurement algorithm you had like?
The first body measurement algorithm we developed at Aitaca used a video-based approach. It started with a video of a person's entire body and, using advanced computer vision and machine learning techniques, we reconstructed a three-dimensional model of the body. This method allowed us to obtain precise body measurements, ideal for health applications such as detecting child malnutrition.
However, this approach proved to be computationally heavy and impractical for the retail sector, where speed and efficiency are crucial. To adapt our solution to the needs of retail, we developed an optimized version of the algorithm that used photos instead of videos.
This new approach not only significantly reduced the computational load but also allowed for faster and more efficient implementation, maintaining the necessary accuracy for size recommendations and other commercial applications.
How does your artificial intelligence work today?
Our solution works as a SaaS that brands can easily integrate into their e-commerce platforms. We are currently very focused on solutions for jewelry stores and companies selling technological rings: with a simple photo of the hand, our system analyzes the image and makes a ring size recommendation for each finger in real-time. We use advanced computer vision and machine learning techniques to identify key points on the hand and calculate the precise dimensions of each finger.
In addition, we offer brands the flexibility to choose their own size charts, allowing personalized recommendations that perfectly fit their specific products. This solution not only improves the user experience, which ultimately translates into increased sales but also logically reduces returns, increasing overall customer satisfaction. No more printing size charts or requesting plastic sizers to get the perfect fit.
Mastering Copilot for business efficiency
What competitive advantage does your proposal offer?
Our proposal offers several key competitive advantages. First, our recommendations are based on precise user measurements, along with a detailed analysis of the product's fit based on those measurements. This ensures greater accuracy and satisfaction in purchases. Additionally, our onboarding process is extremely fast, with very easy integration and a customization process that allows brands to personalize recommendations according to their specific products.
We recognize that products can size differently, so we facilitate that the same user, within the same brand, gets different sizes depending on the product they are viewing. From the user's point of view, the experience is intuitive and easy to use, increasing confidence and comfort when making online purchases. These features significantly differentiate us in the market, providing added value to both brands and consumers.
Are you considering expanding your technology to other areas or products? What other verticals or sectors do you offer your tool to?
Our algorithms and technology have direct applicability to any use case where body measurement is crucial. In addition to ring size recommendations, we have analyzed adapting our algorithms for the footwear sector, allowing precise recommendations based on foot measurement.
Likewise, our solutions can be applied in other sectors such as orthopedics, providing personalized adjustments for orthopedic devices, and in the field of medicine, where accuracy in body measurement can improve diagnostics and treatments. These adaptations reflect the versatility of our technology and its ability to address a wide variety of needs in different industries.
Do you use generative artificial intelligence in any way?
We rely on tools that can streamline and improve our processes, with generative artificial intelligence being present in our daily activities. Furthermore, we continue to explore new ways to complement our solutions with the latest technological advances.
In particular, this type of artificial intelligence can help us simulate different scenarios that may arise, continuously optimizing our recommendations and ensuring they adapt perfectly to the unique characteristics of each user. On the other hand, it will also be present in the virtual fitting rooms we are working on, allowing the user to enhance their online shopping experience, as it will improve personalization levels, thus increasing customer satisfaction.
How is your solution integrated into your clients' websites or e-commerce platforms? What limitations are there?
Our solution is integrated into our clients' websites or e-commerce platforms through very easy-to-implement APIs and widgets, allowing for smooth and quick incorporation. The widgets are customizable to fit the client's website design, and brands can configure their own size charts to offer precise and personalized recommendations.
Users access the recommendation process, take a photo of their hand, which is analyzed in real-time, and receive ring size recommendations for each finger. The integration is compatible with any e-commerce platform, such as Shopify, Prestashop, Salesforce, WooCommerce, etc.
What has the support of the AI-specialized fund Brain VC meant for you?
Brain VC entered at a very early stage, providing us not only with the necessary capital to accelerate the development of our technological solutions but also access to a valuable network of industry contacts.
What can we expect from Aitaca in the medium term? Is there any new feature or functionality you can reveal to us?
At Aitaca, we are continuously developing and launching new features that respond to our clients' needs and requests. One of the most notable new features we are working on is a size recommendation solution that uses an existing product of the user as a reference, instead of the hand. This function is particularly useful for "gift-giving" brands, where the buyer is not the same person who will use the product, thus facilitating the choice of the correct size.
Additionally, we are developing advanced virtual fitting rooms that will allow users to realistically visualize how the products will look on them before making a purchase.
Unlike generalist fitting rooms, our solutions have the measurements of both the person and the product, achieving a hyper-realistic effect. These innovations reflect our ongoing commitment to improving the customer experience and our dedication to offering cutting-edge technological solutions.
