Pokemon Go! and Snapchat may have introduced the average consumer to augmented reality technology, but the uses of AR are by no means limited to mobile app gaming and social media. Potential applications of augmented reality in business are wide-ranging.
Already, more and more companies are investing in VR and professionals across many industries are leveraging AR/VR to their benefit. To better understand how companies are using augmented reality, consider the following examples.
Augmented reality allows users to interact with virtual elements superimposed onto the real world via a device’s screen. At companies like Honeywell, many have found that job training offers a major opportunity for augmented reality in business.
Honeywell’s employees wear headsets during training exercises in which a variety of tasks they may need to perform on the job are simulated. Additionally, the headset allows users to “meet” with trainers despite not being in the same location. This example of manufacturing companies using augmented reality shows the versatility of the technology. The goal in Honeywell’s case is to improve employee training outcomes while reducing training time by as much as 60%.
When employees don’t need to travel to job sites or training facilities to practice their skills, organisations can simply train employees much more efficiently and affordably. That’s why more and more companies are working on augmented reality solutions.
Improving the e-commerce experience for online shoppers is another major example of applications for augmented reality in business. Quite simply, there are some items customers may not feel comfortable purchasing via the Internet. They need to see these items in real-world settings before knowing whether they’re worth purchasing. Often, this is the case with big-ticket items, like furniture, large appliances, and cars.
At least, the hesitancy to purchase virtually used to be the norm. One of the most exciting uses of augmented reality in business is that the technology may change that.
For instance, furniture retailer IKEA offers online shoppers an augmented reality feature that allows them to insert virtual images of furniture and fixtures into their immediate environments to see how they would actually look in their homes. Wayfair, another popular online furniture and home goods shop, has added a similar feature to its mobile app. Both e-commerce companies provide excellent examples of augmented reality in business applications and how for this sector, in particular, the technology can be used to get rid of consumer fears and eliminate buyers remorse.
AR may not be real, but with more businesses using augmented reality to showcase their products, online shoppers are more confident in their purchases.
Manufacturing companies plan on boosting employee efficiency with the use of augmented reality in business. That’s the goal at GE, where employees at one of the company’s manufacturing plants are experimenting with an augmented reality program that displays the assembly process for various items in a dynamic, virtual way. The augmented reality program is also designed to monitor employee movements, sending alerts when it detects errors.
The way manufacturing companies are using augmented reality like this doesn’t just prevent workers from making mistakes. GE is also collecting data from the program to analyse manufacturing processes. Potentially, the company may use this data to identify areas where improvements could be made.
Businesses using augmented reality will also soon apply it to product design. Essentially, companies must create realistic models of products in order to spot design flaws before money is wasted on building prototypes. This is particularly important for complicated products, such as cars.
Now, companies are investing in VR and AR to improve product design by creating dynamic, virtual models of items. This allows for a greater degree of accuracy than ever before. It also helps businesses save a lot of time and money.
These examples of companies working on augmented reality don’t represent all the ways organisations are using this new tool. However, they do prove that the intersection of augmented reality and business isn’t just a fad. This innovation has many practical uses, and the companies that take advantage of them sooner rather than later will be the most likely to benefit from it. If you have an app idea that could be revolutionary and industry-leading, Talk To Us today!