Imagine decorating your house, trying on clothes or makeup products and planning trips virtually by experiencing the places. This would not have been possible earlier, but now it is and that too because of the technology.
Sounds interesting, right?
This is the power of Augmented Reality technology (AR).
AR can let you see things virtually anywhere. You can place things accordingly and decide if you want to buy it or not or will it look good or not, so on and so forth.
AR has become increasingly popular for a very long time. It is being used by every businessman and entrepreneur which eventually helps them to grow their business and also provide customers with good experiences.
Utilizing AR as a tool for your business is a learning process, but it is based on understanding that you’re adding to the “real” world. You have the ability to shrink mountains to fit in a room, have airplanes float above desks, place things in your room and try on clothes and makeup without physically seeing them.
Companies always want more from the experience and showing just a 3D model is not all. Don't just focus on functionality, but try to create a visual for the ‘WOW’ factor from the experience. Consider how snapchat scans the face to overlay special facial features on users on their mobile devices. This is what users find interesting and love to use.
AR has its roots in the Fun and Gaming sectors, for which Pokemon go is the best example. While playing this game, you are able to see pokemon characters virtually which adds to the real world and you enjoy playing the game. But, the same AR technology has expanded to many other sectors as well.
Let’s take a look at the other sectors which have been using AR
Apart from the gaming sector, AR is being used in many others, like :
- Real estate
- Retail
- Healthcare
- Tech-industry
- Fashion and beauty industry
- Education
1. Retail
You can now decide which furniture will look good in which part of your house, this is what Wayfair uses AR for. Similarly, Sephora and Nykaa use AR to let you try on makeup products while using the app camera and see how it looks.
Any smartphone, tablet or ipad, can use the AR platform to provide a shopping environment to their customers. Retailers are prioritizing customer experience and digital . With this blurring of the lines between digital and physical shopping, AR will allow businesses to bridge the gap and introduce new and improved ways for customers to shop.
2. Industry applications
Remember NASA used Microsoft's hololens in constructing their new spacecraft and also Fieldbit used AR which allows remote experts to superimpose markings, messages and diagrams directly onto the engineer's field of view, and the use of smart glasses keeps the engineer's hands free to simultaneously perform fixes.
The use of AR in the field can improve safety, reduce confusion, and take the pressure off engineers who can't possibly be experts in all technologies and infrastructures. AR can empower a mobile workforce, linking workers to experts around the globe.
3. Design and creative
Imagine you have a manufacturing unit and with AR, you can make 3D models, check the specifications, and then start further production. It saves money and time, doesn’t it? Obviously, yes and it will also let you make changes that you want to try and see if that looks better or not.
AR is often used during the design process for items such as homes and cars. AR can also be used as an aid to early-stage product design and development, giving designers a precise view of product form and function.
4. Healthcare and training
Have you ever wondered how difficult it would have been for medical students to practice on dead bodies or dummies? AR has made that so much easier for them. They understand the minor details well and can practise as many times as they want.
AR helps empower medical experts to describe ailments and treatments more easily to patients and trainees. 3D visualizations of organs from different angles help surgeons make more precise stitches and increase success ratios.
AR allows companies to develop training that’s consistent for each employee and enables the employee to develop competence and confidence in their role. A company could develop an AR application to onboard employees, training them quickly with minimal risk to the employee or to workplace operations.
5. Education
Have you heard about Byju's ? It's the best example of AR in education. It helps the students to study virtually. They turn a boring class into a jaw-dropping experience and learn complicated concepts easily via 3D AR modeling. It empowers them to learn beyond the textbook material and satisfy curiosity. This way it helps teachers to give the right environment to the students to study and give their best.
AR technology is making a difference in the education business vertical in two ways. First, by engaging users. Second, by making the concepts interactive. By incorporating gaming elements into the classroom, AR provides an exceptional experience for both teachers and students.
How can you make your way to the customers through AR?
The future shown in science fiction stories is coming to reality with the advancements in technology. Also, consumers are involved more in AR because it's making things easy for them, due to which marketers are integrating AR more regularly and seamlessly.
In addition to that, there are a few things that are to be kept into consideration. Choosing the right strategy and understanding what your audience wants, is very important for the marketers to consider before finalising the product. It is totally based on how you incorporate it and help your consumers with the new AR technology.
1. Serving the right purpose
Just like the physical experience, the virtual one also has to be focused on serving the customers for the right purpose. Businesses should not be in this mindset that they have to use AR just for the sake of using it as a new technology because this might not help them in engaging and attracting more customers. They have to make their audiences feel the importance as well as the benefits of using such technologies.
2. Blend emotions with AR
The main aspect about this is to connect with your audience. Businesses should always keep in mind the emotions of their customers. Emotional touch is something that matters to them. You can use the emotional connect and show them virtually what their home, wedding venue, clothes, etc., will look like. It’s all about assuring your customers that it’s worth every penny.
How can AR be incorporated in companies and benefit them?
In the case of small office spaces, companies can use AR to make it multi-functional without huge investments. By using AR glasses, employees can see an extended room with whiteboards on the wall and can scribble and share their ideas. This can make the group discussions and brainstorming more fun and interactive for the employees.
In the retail or real estate industry, AR glasses can be incorporated as they play a huge role. The consumers can observe the products or their homes very closely, through AR glasses, and can help them experience and decide really quick.
Companies can use AR technology in their apps, which will eventually help them in future. Though AR is still not in it’s full boom, yet it has a lot to offer.
If you’re creating an Augmented reality app or incorporating the augmented reality technology into your current offering, always think about how to appeal to your audience and allow them to share the experience in a meaningful way.
The “You have to try this!” reaction is key for any AR. While thinking about incorporating AR, you cannot skip a single step, from concept and execution to excitement and experience sharing.
Technology has always revolutionised the way we work and live. Be it computers, smartphones, washing machines or anything else.
AR provides many key benefits to brands and businesses.
- It increases the perceived value of products and services.
- Well implemented AR activity conveys innovation and responsiveness from forward-thinking brands
- It increases engagement and interaction and provides a richer user experience.
- Detailed analytics helps you to understand your audience more closely.
- AR is mobile and personal and therefore, hugely accessible to the rapidly growing smartphone market.
Conclusion
AR is the next step in the journey of living easier and more efficient lives. It has many countless applications for businesses. It will be interesting to see what AR does in upcoming years and how businesses will incorporate this technology.
We, at illuminz, have successfully implemented AR technology in many above-mentioned business verticals.
To know more about the AR technology and ways to implement it, you can contact us through our website or can just drop a mail at business@illuminz.com .