Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are not just for gaming. You’ve heard of Snapchat filters and “Pokemon Go,” but you may not know that AR and VR have the potential to transform your business operations if adopted for sales and marketing.
AR allows users to insert a digital object into the real world via AR-enabled devices, such as smartphones. VR differs in that it instantly fully immerses users in a digital or virtual 360-degree space, using a headset, such as Oculus Rift. Beyond games, these technologies are reshaping how Fortune 500 companies conduct their marketing efforts.
For example, IKEA created an AR application in 2013 so that customers could visualize what a piece of furniture would look like in their homes before buying. The Swedish home furnishings chain recently announced its IKEA Place app, which is now available via Apple’s ARKit on iOS 11. These AR solutions help bridge the gap between virtual, on-demand shopping and the emotional connections made when one sees a product in person—and they’re only going to get more widespread.
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Dana Drissel is vice president of Kaon Interactive, a leader in interactive 3-D sales and marketing applications.