Learn How Augmented Reality Creates Better Experiences

Augmented reality is going to be a clear player in the digital marketing space. It essentially combines traditional business promotion methods in a novel way to create fully immersive experiences both online and offline.

Increasingly, brands are realising the potential of augmented reality and are integrating it into their daily operations. AR is transforming sales and customer relations. Investing in AR can give companies a competitive edge in an otherwise crowded market.

By overlaying digital information with the real world, AR has the potential to enhance businesses' interactions with their customers. Our latest article explores the possibilities of augmented reality in business and how it can be used to create better experiences.

How augmented reality works

Once thought of as a distant technology, AR is no longer too complex or expensive to be used by most. Now it's ready for implementation to boost sales and provide better experiences. 

AR is where real and virtual connect. Unlike virtual reality, AR is not a simulation of reality. It adds value to the real world by overlaying images, text, graphics and objects on a user's screen for interaction.

A common example of how this works is when shopping online for glasses. As you're not in a real store, you cannot physically try on the glasses. However, through augmented reality, you'll be able to superimpose them on your face with to get a better idea of how you'll look wearing them.

Examples of current AR technology

Augmented reality applications have reached many sectors within various demographics. Here are some examples of how AR apps are being applied to various industries:

• Classic social media apps like Instagram and TikTok utilise augmented reality filters for their customer base. Pokémon Go also allows players to capture creatures through immersive AR experiences whilst interacting with the world around them.
• Various innovative technologies are being developed in the world right now. One example includes the metaverse, which will mix VR and AR. The metaverse is expected to dominate businesses and provide more engaging online experiences.
• The hospitality industry is using augmented reality QR codes that provide customers with a more visual experience when ordering menu items. It can make it easier for customers to view and add nutritional or ingredient annotations.

How AR is being implemented into business

There are several ways augmented reality can create better experiences, for example the retail industry is utilising AR to provide better customer after-care and encourage them to return. 

Augmented reality is also used as a marketing tool to create more engaging experiences. By bringing products and services to life, customers can easily understand what businesses offer and how they could improve their lives.

Brands like Wayfair are using augmented reality apps that offer customers the ability to see how items will look in their homes before purchasing. This aims to create better customer satisfaction and fewer returns.

AR is also being used to provide simpler and interactive instructions to customers. For example, Hyundai became one of the first mainstream automakers to launch an AR owner's manual back in 2015. Using a smartphone or tablet, consumers could access information simply on their vehicles' repairs, maintenance and features. The app contained guides and 3D overlay images that would highlight when users scanned various areas of their vehicle.

If you're considering building an AR solution for your company, then there are various potential uses. With today's cutting-edge apps, augmented reality can be integrated into virtually every industry to drive conversions. This innovative tech creates visual connections between customers and the product, encouraging them to buy. So companies that adopt AR will reap a lot of benefits.

Here are some of the other ways we're currently seeing industries implement AR:

• Medical professionals no longer require human bodies to train fellow doctors and explain diseases to patients. Now AR can enhance our understanding of the human body.
• As well as creating more interactive shopping experiences, augmented reality is also used within internal operations to improve customer service. By providing employees with access to AR, businesses can provide customers with relevant information and assistance. This can be extremely useful within retail, where employees can help customers locate items throughout the store.
  
• Augmented reality in manufacturing industries is providing workers with real-time instructions to improve efficiency and safety on the factory floor.
• The travel and tourism industry provides visitors with virtual tours and contextual information about their surroundings for a more immersive experience.
• In the education sector, students can explore virtual simulations of real-world scenarios, such as historical events and scientific experiments. Immersive experiences provide learning that's generally more effective than traditional methods of textbooks and presentations.