Have you heard of Augmented reality? If yes, then did you know that online businesses are refining it as a means of marketing their products and services and getting an edge on their competitors?
For many of us digital marketing means a bunch of keywords, analytics and ads. We donât often hear about applications that can show our customers, who arenât in the market right now, things they actually want to buy and them try and get more information about them until the advent of AR.
The pace at which Augmented Reality (AR) is moving the technological world is incredible. Businesses are embracing the technology and incorporating it into their marketing activities, and they are now aware of this market opportunity, especially technology giants like Apple, Google, and Facebook. They are making huge investments in AR industry.
Augmented reality is the future of marketing. Find out why AR is going to the next level, when and how can businesses use it in this article.
Table Of Contents
What is Augmented reality?
How does it work?
Augmented reality vs Virtual reality
The goals from using AR as a marketing strategy
The benefits of augmented reality
Types of augmented reality
How businesses in different sectors are using augmented reality?
Augmented reality use cases
Conclusion
What is augmented reality?
Augmented reality is a live view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video and graphics. Itâs a technology that layers computer-generated enhancements on top of a userâs view of the real world.
Augmented reality is related to two emerging technologies: mixed reality and computer vision. Mixed reality takes place within a real-world environment that combines both virtual elements and real world elements, while computer vision refers to the ability for computers to understand what is happening in the real world through cameras or other sensors.
Automated reality marketing is the use of augmented reality in marketing. It allows brands to create interactive experiences that engage customers and allow them to be part of the brand experience. And it enhances the consumer experience by providing an interactive and engaging experience with products.
Businesses can use augmented reality to create an interactive marketing campaign that builds brand awareness and drives sales.
How does it work?
With AR, companies can place products in real-world environments and allow consumers to see how products would look in their homes or offices.
AR is used in smartphones and tablets. Many apps use AR to help users navigate their way around a city or other location. For example, an app may display an arrow on the screen showing you where to go to find the nearest coffee shop when youâre lost in town. This type of app uses GPS technology to locate your position and then overlaps it onto the camera feed from your phone or tablet.
Augmented reality apps or web based experiences can also be used for entertainment purposes such as gaming, virtual tours and even 3D printing. Some apps are designed specifically for children so they can learn about science and geography while having fun at home or on vacation.
Augmented reality vs Virtual reality
Augmented reality adds digital elements onto something in the real world â think PokĂ©mon Go or Snapchat filters. What makes AR unique is that these digital elements interact with and respond to their surroundings in real time. For example, if the user looks down at their hand in an AR app, they might see a ghostly dragon hovering over their fingers without actually being there. Or if they look up at a tree in an AR app, they could see a swarm of bees flying around its branches without actually being there either.
The goal of AR is to enhance our experiences by adding more information and context through technology so weâre not just seeing whatâs in front of us but also learning more about it.
Augmented reality goes beyond virtual reality (VR) by allowing the user to interact with elements in the environment. In this way, AR can be used for gaming, education, entertainment, and more.
VR, is similar to augmented reality in that itâs an immersive experience. But with VR, youâre completely surrounded by digital content and unable to see the physical world at all.
Virtual reality involves immersing users in a totally artificial environment, such as an entire world or universe. It replaces or blocks out real-world stimuli to create an entirely new sensory experience for users.
The goals from using AR as a marketing strategy
You can use AR to create a more immersive environment for consumers by integrating virtual elements into the real world. This could include using an app to display a 3D model of a product so that customers can see what it would look like in their home or office. It could also include using AR on a mobile device such as an iPad to give consumers information about products on shelves in stores.
Or to create new ways for customers to interact with brands by letting them play games or use their devices in new ways. For example, you might use your phone camera and GPS location data to let people virtually try out different cars before they buy one. Or you might use augmented reality to let people view what they would look like wearing clothes from your store before they buy anything.
In addition to these AR can be used for a variety of purposes, including:
- Showing what something looks like before you buy it
- Providing a unique way to interact with customers
- Enhancing customer engagement by putting products right in front of them
- Connecting with customers through storytelling and brand experiences
- Creating awareness for new products and services
- Educating consumers about product features or benefits
- Improving customer service by providing information at point of sale or on social media
The benefits of augmented reality
Increased engagement with customers
The ability to see virtual objects superimposed over real-world environments makes it easy for users to interact with products or services in ways they couldnât before. For example, an ecommerce store could place a product on top of a customerâs desk at work so they can try it out before deciding whether or not to purchase it.
Improved customer experiences.
Augmented reality can provide an interactive experience for customers who want to learn more about a product or service before purchasing it. For example, if you sell furniture, you could use augmented reality to show customers what their living room would look like with a new sofa, coffee table or chair. This can help them make a better buying decision and also save you money on returns if the customer isnât happy with their purchase.
Increased sales and conversions.
Augmented reality makes it easier for customers to buy from your business because theyâre able to see how products look in their homes before making a purchase. Therefore, youâre likely to see increased sales and conversions if you use augmented reality applications on your website or mobile app.
Hyper personalized experience
The ability to customize products to meet a customerâs needs is one of the most powerful benefits of AR for businesses. Customers are able to see what they look like with different products on their bodies, which helps them decide what they want to purchase. This makes the shopping process more enjoyable and easier for the customer, since they can visualize how something will fit before purchasing it.
Add originality
AR allows you to create unique pieces of content that will catch peopleâs attention and make them interested in your company or product line. You can also incorporate games into your marketing strategy, which will help keep your customers engaged over time and increase brand loyalty.
Brand promotion
If you want to promote your brand or product through augmented reality, there are several ways you can do so without breaking the bank. For example, by creating unique experiences that encourage customers to share photos or videos online using social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, you can build awareness about your brand while encouraging people to engage with it more than ever before.
Itâs affordable
Augmented reality apps are relatively affordable compared to other forms of digital marketing, like video ads or social media campaigns. You can create an app with a simple DIY kit or hire someone to do it for you â either way, itâs much cheaper than creating a TV commercial or print ad campaign.
Itâs interactive
As your customers move around your store or business, theyâll be able to see different elements of your brand at every angle â which creates a more memorable experience for them than traditional advertising does.
Itâs shareable
Augmented reality apps allow users to take pictures of themselves using your product or hanging out in your store, then share those images on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. This means that people who wouldnât normally be interested in what you have to offer may end up seeing it anyway because their friends shared something cool they found while visiting your store!
Types of augmented reality
1.Marker based
This type lets you superimpose digital information on top of real world objects. The marker can be placed on any surface, in the real world or in virtual reality. The marker uses some kind of technology to communicate with your device and enables it to track its position in space. This allows for more accurate positioning of virtual content over real world objects.
A 2D marker, such as a QR code, barcode, poster, or watermark, is used in marker-based AR. The AR experience begins when the user scans a device at one of these markers.
It is different from markerless augmented reality which uses only computer vision algorithms to identify real-world objects and then superimpose virtual content on top of them without using any external markers.
2. Markerless AR
Markerless Augmented Reality is a technology that allows you to place virtual objects in the real world without any using marker, it uses camera image as a reference point for detection of the real world objects in the camera view.
The idea behind markerless AR is to make it easier for people to use augmented reality without having to buy new hardware or software. It also allows developers to create apps that work on any device with a camera, so users donât have to worry about purchasing expensive hardware in order to try out AR experiences.
There are four types of markerless augmented reality :
Projection-based AR
Projection-based augmented reality is a subset of augmented reality that uses projected or displayed images to augment a userâs view of their environment.
Projection-based AR systems use projectors or screens to display computer generated imagery on top of real objects in front of you. This allows you to see both the real world and the virtual world at once without having to wear any special equipment or glasses.
Location-based AR
Location based augmented reality is a technology that uses the GPS and camera of a mobile device to display information about your surroundings. Here the digital information is triggered by a userâs location since it uses real world location data. This can include landmarks, points of interest, and even products.
Location-based AR can be used in many ways:
To provide users with relevant information about their surroundings, such as local businesses, nearby tourist attractions etc.
To analyzes data about a personâs location and behavior to deliver targeted ads based on what they see in their environment. For instance, if someone walks past a restaurant or coffee shop, an automated ad could appear on their phone screen recommending that they try one of those businessesâ products sometime soon.
To deliver marketing messages based on the userâs location.
Superimposition
Superimposition augmented reality is a type of augmented reality that allows users to superimpose virtual objects over real-life scenes without obscuring them from view.
In superimposition augmented reality, users see the real world through their smartphone camera while simultaneously viewing the virtual object on top of it. This allows them to interact with both elements at once â they can talk to an avatar sitting on their desk while still seeing their surroundings clearly.
Outlining AR
This type of AR uses the real world as its canvas, but doesnât use any markers or other physical objects to track your position and orientation in space. Instead, outlining augmented reality uses computer vision algorithms to detect and track features in the environment such as planes, corners and edges by comparing them with images stored in its database or learned from prior training data.
This method is commonly used for mobile apps because it requires no special hardware and can run on low-end devices with limited processing power. However, outlining AR has some limitations such as being less precise than marker-based tracking and not working well indoors where there are fewer distinct features available to track.
When you have created an outline, you can then use it in different ways such as drawing on top of them or interacting with them by placing virtual objects inside the outline. You could also use it as a template for creating new drawings or projects using other software programs such as Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.
Augmented reality is a technology that can be used to overlay digital information on the real world.
When it comes to the way you get the AR experience there are many different types of augmented reality:
Augmented reality games: This type of AR game overlays graphics and sounds on a real-world setting. It uses the camera and GPS to track your location and movements, and then displays these graphics in real time.
Augmented reality apps: These apps use your smartphoneâs camera to overlay digital information on top of your phone screen, so you can interact with it as if it were right there in front of you.
Augmented reality glasses: These devices use cameras and sensors to overlay graphics onto the physical world around you in real time, via an optical display that sits directly in front of your eyes.
Web-based Augmented Reality: itâs a relatively new technology that doesnât depend on a smartphone apps or glasses to work. The user just needs the native camera and a web browser to access AR experiences. One of the key factors contributing to the rapid rise in popularity of WebAR is this seamless user experience.
How businesses in different sectors are using augmented reality?
Businesses have been slow to adopt augmented reality, but thatâs changing.
According to a recent report from market intelligence firm IDC, the worldwide enterprise augmented reality (AR) market will grow from $2.9 billion in 2020 to $26.1 billion in 2025.
Augmented reality is already being used by businesses in a variety of sectors. Here are some examples:
Retail
Retailers have been using augmented reality for years now, but recent advancements in mobile technology have allowed for more sophisticated uses of this technology. For instance, retailers can now use AR to give customers access to exclusive discounts or offers when they scan items with their smartphones or tablets. These discounts can be accessed through an app or website that retailers have created just for this purpose.
It also used to showcase product with virtual Try-on, H&M was one of the first companies to implement virtual try-on technology into its stores back in 2013. Customers can scan any garment they like in order to view how it would look on them before they purchase it online or offline through augmented reality apps such as H&M Kitchen or Virtual Fitting Room by Shopify Plus. This helps them make an informed decision before buying anything online or offline through AR apps such as H&M Kitchen or Virtual Fitting Room by Shopify Plus. This helps them make an informed decision before buying anything.
Another way that augmented reality is being used in retail settings is by providing customers with additional information about products theyâre interested in buying. For example, if someone scans a book cover using their phoneâs camera or tabletâs camera, theyâll see reviews written by other users or information about where they can buy the product at a lower price elsewhere on the internet (eBay or Amazon).
Education
Education is one of the most important sectors in any economy. It can be said that education is a basic human right, but it is also true that not all children have access to quality education.
This makes it even more important for educators and businesses in this sector to keep up with the latest technology trends so they can provide students with the best education possible.
AR applications are becoming even more sophisticated, with some enabling students to interact directly with real-world objects and environments in order to learn more about them. For example, they could use AR glasses or headsets to see how an animal would appear in 3D or use virtual gloves to get up close and personal with an unfamiliar object.
For example, if students are studying geography, they can use an AR app that shows them pictures of different landscapes and shows them what they would look like if they were standing in that landscape at a particular time of year.
In the classroom, AR can be used to provide students with useful information about their surroundings â such as historical facts, the names of buildings and other landmarks. It can also be used to create interactive lessons or presentations, allowing teachers to demonstrate concepts like gravity by dropping virtual objects onto a table surface.
Real Estate
The real estate industry is an old one, and itâs been slow to adopt new technologies. But augmented reality (AR) has started to catch on, as brokers are finding that it can help them sell homes faster and for more money.
Hereâs how AR is used in real estate:
Virtual tours. This is the most obvious way that AR has entered the housing market. The seller creates a virtual tour of their home using a smartphone app or desktop software, then uploads it to a website like Zillow or Trulia for potential buyers to view online.
Interactive listings. Another type of digital listing uses augmented reality to show off features of the home that arenât visible in photos or videos. For example, if thereâs a pool or Jacuzzi in the back yard, you could use an app on your phone or tablet to show prospective buyers what they look like when theyâre turned on â complete with water splashing around and bubbles flying through the air!
âWalk-throughâ apps. Some apps let you walk through a virtual version of the house as though you were actually there â complete with sounds and other sensory effects such as temperature changes as you go from room to room.
Touring
Tourism marketing has always relied on immersive experiences to attract visitors and boost visitor numbers. With augmented reality, tour operators can create new ways for tourists to experience their destinations without leaving home.
For example, if you visit Paris you could use an AR app to view famous landmarks from your hotel room or from any point in the city. You can also see information about these places overlaid on top of them so that you can learn more about each location before visiting it in person.
Tourists can use it to enhance their visit to an attraction. For example, an AR app could be used by people visiting a museum to learn more about artifacts on display, such as by tapping on them to bring up information about them or giving them access to audio guides provided by curators at the museum.
Visitors can use AR as part of their experience when visiting museums or exhibitions through games or quizzes that are available through their mobile phones or tablets. This helps visitors engage with exhibits more easily than just reading about them in books or viewing them on screen only.
It also used in ticketing :the ability to use your mobile device for ticketing is perhaps the most obvious application for augmented reality in touring. The digital environment can be used to add value to the ticket by providing additional information such as maps or transportation details.
Construction
Augmented reality is using technology to enhance, or add to, the way people perceive their environment. In construction, it can be used to showcase a product or service and provide customers with a better understanding of how they work.
Itâs also useful for training, as it can help trainees learn new skills in an environment thatâs easier than real life â without having to worry about mistakes or injuries.
Here are some ways augmented reality is used in the construction sector:
Marketing: Augmented reality can be used in marketing campaigns to show how products or services look when installed at home. If a company wants to promote its solar panels, for example, they could create an app that shows how much sunlight each panel receives on a sunny day and what it would look like on your roof. This gives potential customers a better idea of what theyâll get if they buy from this company instead of another one.
Training: Many companies use augmented reality in training programs to teach new employees how to do their jobs properly. For example, if a company wants its crane operators to learn how to operate cranes safely and efficiently, it can create an augmented reality app with instructions on how much weight each crane should be able to lift and where each rope should be tied down to it.
Food and hospitality
In the food and hospitality industry, AR is used to create more immersive dining experiences for customers. For example, some restaurants use AR to let customers make their own virtual menus or interact with food theyâre considering ordering. In other cases, AR is used to help customers navigate restaurants that are crowded or unfamiliar.
The following are examples of how AR is being used in the food and hospitality industry:
Food ordering: Customers can place orders using mobile devices equipped with AR technology at some restaurants. The device displays an image of the menu on their screen; when they point it at a dish they want, the image becomes interactive and allows them to order it directly from their device without having to speak with a waiter or waitress.
Menu translations â When youâre visiting a new country, it can be difficult to decipher menus. This problem is solved by using AR to translate menu items into your native language so you know exactly what youâre ordering.
Product information â AR has been used to provide additional product information about items on sale at restaurants and stores. This could include nutritional information, ingredients or cooking instructions for preparing a dish at home.
Menu design. Menu design has always been an important part of the dining experience, but with AR, menus can be customized to each customerâs needs. For example, if youâre allergic to dairy products, an app can create a menu that shows you only vegetarian options and hides those that contain dairy products. This makes it easier for customers with food allergies to find what they need without having to ask their server every time they order something new.
Augmented reality use cases
Business cards with 3D models of products or services
Customers can scan business cards with their phones and get more information about the company, including a video of the product being made or service being offered. This is particularly useful if you have products that might be difficult for customers to see in person, such as clothing or jewelry.
Art and exhibition
To enhance an artistâs work by adding more information about it or creating an interactive experience for visitors through an app or website. For example, museums could use AR apps to give people more information about the exhibits theyâre looking at (either while theyâre visiting or at home). Artists could also use AR apps to give people more insight into how their artworks were made (for instance, by displaying videos showing how they created them).
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City created an app called MoMA Studio that lets people explore the museumâs collection using augmented reality technology. It includes videos, audio tours and even interactive games for children visiting the museum with their parents. And if youâve ever wondered what Pablo Picasso would look like as an anime character, then this app might be for you!
Repair and Maintenance
Visual inspection of equipment â AR can be used to view a visual representation of the equipment being inspected. This allows for easier identification of issues, such as worn-down parts or broken wires.
Location tracking â AR can be used to track the location of tools and equipment. This allows workers to easily find what they need without having to dig through a toolbox or search an entire work area.
Training â Rather than having employees read manuals or watch videos, AR can provide step-by-step instructions on how to perform tasks correctly and safely, which reduces the risk of injury or error during training sessions.
Product demonstrations
A great way to show how a product works to potential buyers is through a virtual demonstration. Itâs much easier for someone to understand how something will work if they see it rather than just read about it.
Customer service
When a customer has questions about your products or services, you can use AR to help them find answers before they buy anything. For example, if they need help choosing between two products, an AR app could show them what each one looks like and what features each one has so they can make an informed decision on which one fits their needs best.
Gamification
Gamification is the application of game principles and mechanics in non-game contexts to engage users and solve problems. It uses game design elements such as competition, rewards, rules, and collaborative play to encourage engagement with any type of content or system.
The use of Augmented Reality in Gamification:
Augmented reality offers companies new ways to engage employees, customers and other stakeholders. It can provide immersive experiences that allow people to see or interact with virtual objects in the real world around them (an example being seeing virtual pets on your desk at work). This type of engagement helps to increase user interaction with your brand or product by immersing them into an environment where they feel like theyâre part of it all too.
Conclusion
The use of AR in digital marketing is growing rapidly now. AR ads have become a better medium because it gives users more engaging experience while they find out more information or any other things they want to know about the products and services. Through the creation of unique and engaging experience, AR ads may prove to be very helpful in attracting user when they do shopping but instead of reading boring post, they can experience it through AR.
If you want to stand out in this competitive digital age, youâve got to keep your app or website fresh and up-to-date with the newest features that offer added value. One of those features is augmented reality. When people are considering your product or service, they may have questions about it that an augmented reality app could answer. The more engaging your offering is, the better chance you have at making a sale.
