Seeing is Believing: Immersive Experiences with AR

Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that superimposes digital content on top of the real world, resulting in an immersive experience that blurs the line between what’s real and what’s not. AR has been around for a while, but it has only recently become more accessible and widely used due to the availability of smartphones and other devices capable of running AR applications. According to PwC’s “Seeing is Believing,” virtual and augmented reality will generate $1.5 trillion in revenue and employ 23 million people globally by 2030, bringing the total number of people using AR/VR to 23.4 million. (Source: https://www.pwc.com/seeingisbelieving) 

Numerous examples show how AR and VR have significantly improved customer experiences. One of the main benefits of AR is the ability to create immersive experiences. You can use augmented reality to bring digital content to life and interact with it in real time. This capability has been used in a variety of applications ranging from advertising to education to gaming. 

Here are a few examples from various industries of how AR has been used to elevate user experience. 

1. Retail. Retailers are using augmented reality to create virtual showrooms where customers can see how products look and feel in real life before purchasing them. For example, IKEA’s augmented reality app allows customers to place virtual furniture in their homes to see how it will look before purchasing.
   
   

2. Entertainment. The entertainment industry has the greatest potential for AR implementation. AR can revolutionize how we experience entertainment, from gaming and movies to live performances and theme parks. Remember the global phenomenon Pokemon Go, which uses augmented reality to allow players to catch virtual Pokemon in the real world? Another example is the augmented reality game “Ingress”, in which players must use their smartphones to locate and capture virtual portals hidden throughout their city.
   
   
3. Education. AR helps to create interactive learning experiences that allow students to explore and interact with digital content in real time. For example, a history teacher might use AR to create a virtual tour of a historical site, allowing students to explore the site as if they were there in person. AR is also being used to train medical students, allowing them to practice procedures in a virtual environment.
   
   
4. Tourism industry increasingly adopted AR technology during the recent pandemic. People who couldn’t physically visit places during the lockdown turned to virtual tours and online events. For example, the “AR Sapporo Snow Festival” allowed users to see virtual sculptures and interact with the environment while experiencing Japan’s popular winter festival in AR.

Digital marketing is being transformed by AR too. Leveraging this technology to offer brands the ability to create immersive experiences that engage and captivate audiences. With AR, brands can create interactive campaigns that allow consumers to engage with their products or services in a unique and memorable way. Some global market players are already using AR in their campaigns. For example, Sephora’s Virtual Artist app uses AR technology to allow customers to try different makeup looks, letting them see how different products would look on their faces in real time. This has increased customer engagement and helped boost sales for the brand. Converse follows the same principle and offers customers to try on shoes virtually before making a purchase decision. AR is also being used to create engaging campaigns in the food and beverage industry. Pepsi Max, for example, used augmented reality in their Unbelievable Bus Shelter campaign, which featured a virtual tiger that interacted with people waiting for buses. People took to social media about this campaign, which was widely viewed as successful. The movie industry keeps up: the “Jurassic World” AR experience allowed users to place a virtual dinosaur in their real-world surroundings and take pictures with it. This contributed to building excitement for the movie. AR has become an increasingly popular technology due to its ability to create immersive experiences that blur the line between the real and digital worlds. It is already used in various applications, including retail, education, entertainment, medicine, and tourism. It is greatly transforming the digital marketing toolset by opening new opportunities for implementing creative ideas. As technology advances, we can expect to see more innovative solutions in the future. With augmented reality, seeing is truly believing. Contact Klik Digital for more insight on how AR can transform your marketing efforts and more!!  Reach out today to get started!