By 2023, the number of Augmented Reality users around the globe is expected to reach 2.4 billion. In 2021 in the United States alone, AR users will amount to 85 million consumers.
What makes AR so popular and why is it used across various industries, from online shopping and stationary trade to social media platforms and print advertising?
Experienced app developers have revealed the secrets of this phenomenon in new technologies.
Let’s see what AR is, how it differs from virtual reality, what benefits it can bring to your business and how it is used in marketing.
What Is Augmented Reality?
Augmented Reality is a technology trend that involves augmenting, i.e., adding desired elements to the real-world environment, live and in real-time. The aim is to provide an engaging and unique user experience and drive sales.
It is typically used by consumers who want to test how a product or service looks when shopping online.
It provides a new perspective featuring the product characteristics and explains the ways a product can answer consumers’ expectations and demands.
Let’s look at some examples to illustrate how Augmented Reality works.
Imagine you need to buy a new sofa for your living room, but the availability on the market is so big that you cannot make up your mind. Or, your child is sick and you cannot go to examine the sofa’s particular features at the store.
In this case, you could experiment with IKEA Place App to see how exactly each different sofa will fit in your home and whether the style would match the colors of your walls, curtains and other furniture.
Another example: Say you are heading to an important event and would like to buy new makeup. Your choice is difficult due to the practically endless selection of colors and hues offered, and you’re not sure which shade would match the best.
You can use an Augmented Reality tool like L’Oréal Makeup App to essentially try on different shades of makeup from the comfort of your home, virtually, of course, and determine which shades match best.
From gaming and fashion to the automotive industry — AR reconsiders the traditional shopping experience.
Augmented Reality vs. Virtual Reality
A consumer reality touched by new technologies is engaging, vibrant and fascinating, ready to absorb you in its beauty, mystery and the promise of an enriched experience.
Both Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality bring together the real world and the virtual one. This is one of the reasons why they are often mistaken for one another.
Let’s break down the differences between the two.
Augmented Reality presents a vivid visual world made up of colorful virtual pictures projected by the camera on your phone or video screen.
It adds elements to real-life experience and turns it into a unique and powerful journey.
AR enhances the real as well as the virtual world and the users are in control of the entire experience.
Virtual Reality, in contrast, presents an artificial computer-generated simulation. To do this, it uses special equipment like headsets, computers, gloves and sensors.
VR enhances an imaginary environment where the system controls VR users.
The Benefits Of Augmented Reality
AR is on the rise because it offers a number of benefits to companies across a wide range of industries.
Augmented Reality:
- Gives a bouquet of solutions for every industry
- Provides attractive ways to engage audiences and target groups
- Enhances interaction between consumers and brands
- Implements a practical approach to products and services and shows consumers how these can benefit or change their lives
- Allows more customers to interact with your brand
- Creates the feeling of ownership
- Drives sales
- Enhances brand value
- Offers easy application without the need for expensive equipment and endless instructions
- Makes an engaging user experience possible in any browser
- Adds to other marketing aims such as proposals and presentations
5 Ways To Use AR in Marketing
AR can bring a real revolution in your marketing strategy.
- Implement A ‘Try Before You Buy’ Principle
Testing a product before spending your money on it has been a common and unchanging requirement. The way you look, feel and present your image to the world has been a driving mechanism to make a purchase.
The understanding of this consumer need has resulted in car test drives, fitting rooms, sample distribution, open-door events and various types of demos.
Using AR for your business will make a difference for your customers or clients. Present them with the opportunity to interact with your product or service at any time of the day, from the comfort of their sofa, unaffected by weather, time or other limitations.
AR provides excellent marketing opportunities for industries like cosmetics, fashion, cars, furniture and more.
While your customers enjoy a unique AR experience, you will also reap benefits. Benefits include a reduced need to maintain large amounts of physical inventory, less staff to cater to your clients at your shop, a decrease in returns and lower bills for storage.
- Provide AR Touring And Assistance
This AR Marketing mechanism can support industries like sports, cinemas, restaurants and cafes and more.
In this case, AR uses physical locations and products and adds a digital component to it.
Encourage your users to virtually visit your business locations, select their seats or table and receive additional information or a brand-related customer experience.
- Create AR Branding Materials
Your branding materials can acquire a new life using AR features by adding a virtual element. The aim is to bring a custom dynamic and increase engagement.
Allow your customers to scan your brochures and business cards and get access to more information and ways to interact with your brand.
The process is a modification of the QR code, but in this situation, the link does not lead to a website. It enhances your marketing efforts by combining digital and printed displays.
- Generate Brand Buzz
Though different from the above direct sales tactics, creating noise about your brand can become an interesting and attractive part of your marketing strategy.
Use the novelty and fun element so that users like, comment and review your products and services. These reactions can grow like an avalanche and attract even more consumers.
Engaging and delightful moments drive traffic, create a long-term relationship with your consumers and differentiate your business from your competitors.
- Add A Spark Of Interest To Your Product Guides
AR can make any boring topic appealing and understandable. This can refer to product guides, instructions and training.
Use consumer survey data and identify your customers’ pain points.
Launch AR manual apps that give simple instructions and turn your customer journey into a personalized and memorable experience.
When using AR for training, add gaming elements and show virtual examples to create an interactive and extraordinary educational environment. This will make the learning process easy, fast and fun.
Augmented Reality: Can It Change Your Business?
Although the best web design company can give you an amazing website as a must, AR provides endless possibilities to present your company products and services and attract a new audience.
As a digital alternative to physically trying products, it offers an innovative and fresh approach and jumps over time and geographical limitations.
AR creates a completely new and personalized user experience that complements other marketing tools and promotes your brand value.
Research your industry insights and study what your competitors are doing.
Based on your findings, consider how to implement AR for your particular business.
This is one of the new technologies on the rise and contacting experienced app developers is highly recommended.
Author’s bio:
Ellie Northcott is a long-time marketer, currently working as a freelancer in Miami, Florida. Editor at Digital Strategy One. She is also a passionate writer and loves to explore new, innovative and digital news. In her spare time, she is an eco-activist.