It was not long ago that movies featuring interactive virtual tools were considered futuristic. In 2015, the Pokemon Go phenomenon brought augmented reality (AR) into the public sphere. The virtual game allowed everyday smartphone users to experience a digital world tied to the physical world around them. Ever since the AR game boomed, businesses around the globe have been seeking to implement AR strategies.
How Businesses Are Using AR Strategically
The two main strategies effective businesses employ for AR are to modernize an experience or to solve a problem. Remy Martin, for example, has teamed up with an artist to allow consumers to experience art in real lift through AR. Audi implemented an AR car manual to make managing repairs more convenient. Other businesses allow consumers to visualize products in their homes, much like a showroom. Practical strategies like these are not only game-changing for business strategies but are also likely to shape the way consumers shop and learn in the future.
The Viability of AR Technology for Businesses
When AR first became familiar to the public in 2015, the technology wasn’t developed enough for many businesses to utilize except as a basic gimmick. According to Business News Daily, 2018 is the year that this technology is finally viable as a more practical tool. Marketing agencies offering mobile experiences now consider AR a normal part of their packages. As a result, more businesses are experimenting with the technology.
Understanding the Evolution of AR from Novelty to Smart Solution
For the past several years, businesses have used AR as a novelty marketing strategy. Consumers would stay in a store longer if a business’s “AR easter eggs” were popular for a time. Now that AR has become more familiar to the public, consumers aren’t impressed when businesses use the technology for gimmicky, simplistic purposes. For AR to offer a return on investment today, it has to exist for practical purposes.
