Introduction to Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in Business
Most consumers associate augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) with the gaming world. However, big tech corporations like Microsoft, Zoom, and Facebook at the moment are using these technologies in business, social collaboration, and retail.
What is Augmented Reality?
Augmented reality is a technology that enhances the shopper’s view of the physical world. Marketing teams use AR to enable customers to assume the potential of their products. Experts predict that AR will soon be widely utilized in sales and e-commerce.
Examples of Augmented Reality in Marketing
One example of AR in marketing is the Sherwin-Williams’ ColorSnap app, which allows users to visualise how a room or exterior would look with a selected paint color. Similarly, IKEA Place shows customers how furniture would look of their homes. These apps have been around for several years and have been successful in enhancing customer experience.
Augmented Reality in Customer Service
AR and VR are also getting used in customer support to enable field technicians to make notes and access content resources overlaid on 3D models, live camera feeds, or a mix of each. They can even connect agents and technicians to perform distant service calls directly with customers.
Remote Assistance with Augmented Reality
Recent research by IDC found that field service will lead AR and VR tech investment, which is able to top $4 billion by 2024. AR and VR in field service start with training and onboarding of customer support agents and field technicians and proceed through to setup and maintenance work in manufacturing. Companies like Capgemini and Salesforce are already using AR to supply distant assistance to their customers.
Headsets and Adoption of Augmented Reality
The cost of headsets, especially skilled models, is a major obstacle to the adoption of AR in customer experience. Enterprise-grade headsets can cost 1000’s of dollars, while consumer models can cost between $15 and $75. However, corporations like Meta and Google are working to make headsets cheaper and accessible.
The Future of Augmented Reality
Younger employees, already aware of gaming headsets, will find utility with AR and VR of their jobs, and it would expand to permeate more elements of customer experience. Glasses, less obtrusive than AR headsets, could make a comeback and enable more widespread adoption. As the technology continues to evolve, we are able to expect to see more progressive applications of AR and VR in business and customer experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, augmented reality and virtual reality aren’t any longer only for gaming. They are getting used in business, social collaboration, and retail to reinforce customer experience and supply distant assistance. As the technology continues to evolve and turn into cheaper, we are able to expect to see more widespread adoption of AR and VR in various industries. With the potential to revolutionize the best way we interact with customers and supply services, AR and VR are definitely technologies to look at in the long run.
