Introduction to Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) have moved from trendy tech topics and the experimental phase to real solutions for marketers at scale, as increasingly brands and consumers embrace these experiences and the technology that allows them. The opportunities in virtual reality and augmented reality for marketers are vast, creating meaningful experiences which are practical, entertaining, and academic.
Opportunities in AR/VR
AR/VR interactions between marketers and consumers have gotten not only more common and scaled but in addition more meaningful. The entertainment value of the technology is well-documented, together with the dramatic rise in games and gamers. Meanwhile, increasingly firms are using VR to tremendous effect in running their very own businesses and bringing their employees together to work more efficiently and effectively.
Practical Experiences
AR/VR allow consumers to try brands on for size anywhere and anytime they need—additionally they encourage real-world sales and use click-to-purchase technology to enable those transactions. For example, firms like Sally Hanson, Warby Parker, and Acura have used AR to supply consumers with highly curated, virtual experiences. This technology is especially useful in categories with inherent hurdles to try before you purchase—for instance, beauty products sold in drugstores where no testers can be found.
Entertaining Experiences
AR/VR provide an entertaining experience for consumers, especially within the gaming industry. Gaming with personalized avatars has come a great distance, with firms like Snapchat announcing its recent Bitmoji for Games SDK, enabling hand-selected partners to integrate 3D Bitmoji as a substitute for his or her character skins. Facebook announced at its annual F8 conference the most recent versions of the Oculus Rift headset, enabling the user to solid from a VR headset to a TV and for friends to play along in the identical game from their mobile phones.
Educational Experiences
The potential for heads-up information like supply chain or translations, co-creation in virtual environments, and on-demand visual references in technical fields has untold potential. Expect to see this space proceed to grow and evolve. As consumers change into more accustomed to being immersed in a virtual environment or unlocking more information by the use of AR technology, opportunities for monetization will proceed to grow.
Business Applications
At its latest F8 conference, Facebook introduced Oculus for Business, tailored for giant VR deployments and providing a set of tools designed to assist firms use VR for internal executions, sales, and marketing/promotion. Microsoft has introduced HoloLens 2, which mixes an untethered device with apps and solutions that help teams across an organization communicate and collaborate more effectively. Once seen as merely fringe or experimental, not to say cost prohibitive, VR is becoming an increasingly effective way for businesses to do business, transforming every little thing from training and recruitment to back-office tasks, marketing services—and yes, the all-important customer experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, AR/VR have come a great distance from being just trendy tech topics to real solutions for marketers at scale. The opportunities in virtual reality and augmented reality for marketers are vast, creating meaningful experiences which are practical, entertaining, and academic. As the technology continues to evolve, we will expect to see more progressive applications of AR/VR in various industries, transforming the best way businesses operate and interact with their customers. With the precise approach, marketers can leverage AR/VR to create immersive experiences that drive engagement, sales, and customer loyalty.
