Introduction to Augmented Reality
The coronavirus pandemic has led to a big increase within the adoption of augmented reality (AR) technology amongst consumers. One company that’s taking advantage of this trend is Camera IQ, a Los Angeles-based start-up that gives a platform for marketers to create AR campaigns.
What is Camera IQ?
Camera IQ was founded in 2016 and has worked with several notable brands, including MAC, Smashbox, Wet ‘n’ Wild, and LoveSeen, in addition to media corporations like Bravo, Bumble, Discovery, Paramount, and Amazon Prime Video. The company has also partnered with social platforms like Snap, Facebook, TikTok, and Zoom to supply AR offerings. Essentially, AR refers to camera filters that allow users to see themselves in a modified way.
Growing Popularity of AR
The company has experienced a record variety of consumers engaging with AR campaigns and tools throughout the pandemic. According to internal research, the sharing of AR marketing efforts grew 43% on Instagram and 23% on Facebook throughout the second quarter. Additionally, the usage of Snap Camera has grown 33 times because the start of the pandemic within the West earlier this 12 months.
Benefits of AR Campaigns
AR campaigns allow brands and firms to have more interactive, engaging, and targeted connections with customers. As Camera IQ cofounder Allison Ferenci noted, "With the Camera and AR playing essential roles in our day by day lives now, AR is the strongest format for driving consumer engagement and making business goals a reality." Earlier this 12 months, Snap reported that 75% of its roughly 230 million day by day lively users engage with AR each day.
Expansion Plans
With the recent $5 million Series A round of funding led by Shasta Ventures, Camera IQ plans to expand its sales and marketing efforts, in addition to put money into product development. The company intends to create more "try on" campaigns for beauty brands, allowing people to experience products in a virtual way without being in-store.
Success Stories
One notable success story is Wet ‘n’ Wild’s collaboration with Sanrio, which largely sold out online. An AR campaign created by Camera IQ allowed people to see themselves as two Sanrio characters while wearing the promoted products, with one experience seeing 47% of shoppers engage with it and the opposite 63%. According to Elaine Chen, Wet ‘n’ Wild’s vp of name marketing, "For beauty brands constructing e-commerce businesses, AR and virtual try-on are essential to providing the user experience to incentivize purchases."
Conclusion
In conclusion, the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the adoption of augmented reality technology, and Camera IQ is on the forefront of this trend. With its platform for marketers to create AR campaigns, the corporate helps brands and firms to interact with customers in a more interactive and targeted way. As the technology continues to evolve, it’s going to be exciting to see how Camera IQ and other corporations within the space innovate and push the boundaries of what is feasible with AR.
