Introduction to Augmented Reality in Digital Commerce
Digital commerce is undergoing a major transformation on account of the rapid advancement of augmented reality (AR). The technology went mainstream with the recognition of Pokémon GO and has since turn into a serious player within the B2B sales space. Forward-thinking corporations are leveraging AR to push latest technological boundaries, driving the evolution of AR/VR software technologies and impacting every day consumer activities.
The Foundation of Augmented Reality
The foundation of this movement lies within the maturing of underlying software and hardware technology platforms used to develop and deploy AR applications. The release of Apple ARKit and Google ARCore has expanded the event of latest applications and domains exploring using AR. These tools have made it easier to push AR apps onto their respective platforms, facilitating the viewing of AR amongst the hand held device audience for each tablets and smartphones.
The Challenge of Moving Beyond Novelty
The challenge now could be to maneuver AR technology from novelty towards a technology that gives real and tangible value across a broader range of markets outside of gaming. The real explosion of AR value and exposure is occurring today in retail and consumer applications. Major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and IKEA, and product corporations like Nike, have made significant investments in consumer AR applications. Retailers are smart to adopt this technology, as almost 70% of consumers expect retailers to launch an AR app inside the subsequent six months.
The Growing Demand for Augmented Reality
Despite this, nearly two-thirds of corporations don’t use AR in any respect. This trend might want to change, and shall be led by early adopters and visionary market leaders. Walmart’s e-commerce team has already deeply invested in a variety of AR applications for product design, sales, marketing, and training. They predicted that in-home previewing of how furniture matches in the house, like what’s offered in IKEA’s home furnishings AR application, shall be an everyday and expected experience shortly.
How AR Will Drive Massive Value in B2B Sales
Already, we’re seeing early indications of retail expectations starting to influence the B2B market, with customers expecting to have the identical experiences they’ve of their day-to-day retail life. Regarding the actual value of augmented reality, it’s becoming clear that B2B environments may, in truth, see more accurate applications of this technology in addition to much larger tangible and realized value. This has led to a growing set of visionary corporations starting AR projects that explore utilizing the technology within the sales and marketing segment of the worth chain.
Creating an Immersive Sales Experience in Augmented Reality
Augmented reality will take this one other step by putting the digital product right into a physical environment that facilitates a greater B2B experience. The idea of selling products within the context during which they’re used (or ‘in-situation’) is a major element of proposed value for AR in B2B sales. Imagine the ability of seeing a tractor in a construction site, a conveyor layout in a plant, or medical equipment arranged to slot in an operating room. This ability will begin to push the sales technique of complex products outside of the constraints of brick-and-mortar and start to ascertain the AR environment as the popular point of sale experience.
The Future of Augmented Reality in B2B Sales
Early adoption is already happening in large manufacturing corporations across the globe. Their initial investments on this space are seeing exponential returns, and are enabling them to outpace their competition through more engaging, connected, and visual sales experiences. As this momentum continues to grow, so will demand. As a result, the subsequent big software categories to emerge shall be based on the appliance of latest AR technologies to specific domains, with one in all those domains using augmented reality for B2B and B2C sales automation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, augmented reality is revolutionizing the digital commerce landscape, particularly within the B2B sales space. As the technology continues to evolve and mature, we will expect to see more accurate applications and bigger tangible value in B2B environments. With the growing demand for AR and the increasing adoption of the technology, it’s essential for corporations to remain ahead of the curve and spend money on AR applications to stay competitive. The way forward for augmented reality in B2B sales is promising, and it would be exciting to see how this technology continues to shape the industry.
