The Internet of Things, connected devices, the use of customer data and insights to personalize experiences – all of these are part of our daily lives. Now augmented reality (AR) arrives on the scene with the potential to shape customer experiences like never before.
With smartphones in the hands of 72% of U.S. adults, there are more opportunities to present information to keep them interacting with the real world.1
A related post on the Perficient Digital blog highlights why brands are embracing augmented and virtual reality. A few of the reasons include bridging the gap between online and in-store experiences, providing an immersive experience with a product, and increasing conversion rates and reducing time to purchase.
Here’s what the experts from our Adobe consultancy practice had to say about this trend.
Trend #5 – Augmented reality will affect the sales of products/services in B2B and B2C
Augmented reality truly gained mainstream attention in 2016 with the release of Pokémon Go. However, our lives have been trending in this direction for the last few years.
Simply stated, AR allows you to see virtual items or information while living in and looking at the real world around you. Innovative examples include apps that allow you to virtually furnish your house (IKEA catalogue), try on hairstyles, make-up, or clothes (ModiFace and Webcam Social Shopper), or put a funny spin on your selfies (Snapchat).2
“You can’t deny the interest in augmented reality,” says Dan Klco, Adobe Digital Marketing Solution Lead, Perficient Digital. “Pokémon Go was successful because it was an experience that was universally applicable. Where I see challenges for companies that want to adopt AR is that they want to control the particular context of the experience.”
What’s the takeaway?
We believe B2C enterprises will be the first ones to figure out how to capitalize on this trend for consumers, though B2B organizations may have some interesting applications that they can easily monetize. B2B will likely determine a use for augmented reality that helps solve technical or engineering problems in the field.
Download our latest guide, Top Six Digital Marketing Trends for 2017, and learn how to make these trends a reality for your business in the new year and beyond.
Sources:
1“Augmented Reality Trends Marketers Should Watch,” Convince and Convert, 2016.
2“These 5 Industries Will Benefit from Augmented Reality,” TechCo, 2015.
