Technology is constantly evolving and as marketers, we must evolve our strategies to adapt to the changing marketing landscape. Augmented and Virtual Reality are two of the pioneering technology right now. Statista projects worldwide that AR/VR spending will rise considerably through to 2024, reaching 72.8 billion U.S. dollars. Most of this spending is expected to happen in the commercial sector.

So, what is Augmented Reality?

Augmented Reality is a “technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user’s view of the real world, thus providing a composite view.” Nintendo’s Pokémon Go App or Instagram filters are the perfect examples of augmented reality.

Does your business even need Augmented Reality?

There is a wealth of data that is created by the digital world, which isn’t necessarily used in the most effective way when it comes to applying it to the real physical world. Bridging this gap is where augmented reality comes in.

Converging the physical and digital realities using innovative technologies such as AR, virtual reality and mixed reality can reveal new opportunities for businesses. Augmented reality is not just limited to superimposing data onto physical worlds but it can equally be about taking input from the physical world and analyzing the received data.

For example, using AR in a supermarket to keep stock of inventory is a use case where data is processed and analyzed. It unravels new ways of monitoring and visualizing data.

These use cases are applicable across industries such as manufacturing, hospitality, services, transportation and more. As a business, you must weigh the impact of AR on your customers, product capabilities and value chains.

How to benefit from Augmented Reality in business?

If the customer cannot come to you, take your store to the customer enabled by Augmented Reality.

AR is being leveraged by many businesses and big brands to offer their customers the ability to experience firsthand how their products would suit them. There by accelerating their decision-making power.

1) Sephora & AR Enabled Makeup Trials

The beauty company Sephora introduced the AR enabled makeup trials for lipstick, blush, lashes, eyeshadow, and more in their app. This app was originally designed for online shopping and this tool enables the prospective customers to buy their products when they can’t visit the stores. The customer tries on the products virtually on their faces in real-time. This makes the app fun and offers a new experience to the audience.

2) IKEA & the Customer Experience 

IKEA uses AG in a similar fashion, where it lets the customers experience how IKEA’s furniture would look in their homes. Customers are fascinated to see a virtual piece of furniture in their homes and see what it would look like if it were there. For many this is even better than going to a store because they can see immediately how that piece works with the rest of the décor.

3) Converse AR Shoe Sampler App

The shoe company is offering an AR enabled Shoe Sampler app. The app lets customers visualize how Converse shoes would look on their feet.

Apps in the past required to drive the customers to the market. These apps deeply engage with their customers. The immersive experience will reduce the time taken for buying decisions and ultimately boost conversion and overall sales.

As more businesses become digital-first, augmented reality will play an increasingly important role in creating tailored solutions for customers, and improving your business productivity.

AR Enables a Unique Immersive Reality

AR-based social network is a thing now. Millions of users are creating AR videos and location-based messages and sharing them in their network. Snaappy is one such platform that offers its users to create and experience location-based AR throughout their own cities with other Snaappy members. WallaMe is an interesting concept that which encourages you to hide messages in real world. Like Pokemon GO, it allows people to leave messages based on AR anywhere and on anything like a wall or window. The WallaMe-using friend is shared with a location which will show him where to look and view the message live.

Enhanced Customer Experiences with AR

AR can engage customers because it offers a new experience. Companies using AR have already reported their ROIs. The versatility of the technology permits businesses to use it in the most advantageous manner. This can involve HoloLens or Magic Leap goggles or simply incorporating it in the mobile apps. There are many ways of using AR with the goal to increase sales, enhancing customer experience, offering workplace training, or offering immersive and interactive encounters.

Augmented Reality is a boon for Manufacturers

Manufacturing businesses have a lot to gain with augmented reality. From product development to better troubleshooting and cost optimizations, AR is here to stay when it comes to manufacturing. Let’s take a deeper look into the benefits of augmented reality in manufacturing business transformation –

Better Product Development

Computer-aided designs are the most common tool in manufacturing and product development. While these are great for creating schematics, they don’t give a true 3D representation of the product itself.

Using augmented reality-enabled wearables, manufacturers can project 3D images onto reality, giving a much more true-to-life representation of how the final product would look in a given environment.

Troubleshoot errors quickly

It’s very common in the manufacturing business for equipment to break down on the shop floor resulting in a complete stop to production. If the issue can’t be found easily and in time, this can lead to a loss in revenue as well.

Using augmented reality, maintenance docs and equipment repair instructions can be superimposed on top of the machinery to guide operators in making quick repairs.

Collaborate more effectively

The ability to digitally interact with the equipment remotely and securely brings in seamless connectivity like never before. Off-site engineers can collaborate a lot more effectively with operators to fix issues and make optimizations.

Reduced operational costs

All the benefits mentioned above lead to much lower production and operating costs. It also reduces wastage of time and material, while increasing productivity, thus saving costs. This is especially relevant in today’s world of IoT (internet of things) devices that are always connected.

And the benefits are not limited to the above. Things such as employer training, guided operator workflows, setup procedures, changeover processes, and a lot more can be made a lot better with the use of augmented reality in manufacturing.

Businesses continue to identify new use-cases for augmented reality. As processes are made more efficient, augmented reality will become more commonplace in manufacturing facilities.

AR is New and Exciting

AR in 2022 is considered advancing and unique and thus a prominent technology to be utilized by businesses. By adopting AR in your business early-on you can offer ground-breaking customer experiences.

We have clearly established that AR in business offers better customer journey as well as better understanding of your products and services. We want to motivate you to take the first step in understanding AR and how it can strengthen your business.

Hungry for more on Augmented Reality & Digital Marketing and curious about Virtual Reality & Digital Marketing. Book a free consultation to explore how VR may benefit your brand, build customer value, increase brand awareness, and grow your business.