Why Augmented Reality animation can enhance your marketing strategy?

Analysts claim that AR glasses could replace smartwatches in the nearest future. Gradually, of course. Soon people will wear augmented and virtual reality glasses every day, just like sunglasses. Putting them on when they need to look at AR animation in the street or the office would be a common thing. Thus, it is obvious that AR and VR animation technologies would become key approaches for marketers all over the world. These animated technologies are finally reaching commercial space such as medical institutions, education, the music industry, and even finance and security fields.

Without AR, animation goods will seem not very notable, presentations – not attractive, advertising – bleak. Let’s have a quick overview on these matters and find out why the market leaders are investing millions into their augmented reality(AR) projects. Moreover, how will that affect our lives and the business soon?

How does AR work?

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines AR as an enhanced version of reality created by using technology to overlay digital information onto live camera feed. That means that AR makes digital content look like a part of the physical world. That’s not the VR with its total transporting to the different worlds, that’s about just adding parts of it. With VR, you can reconstruct any environment and create any scenario using 3D animation software. AR enables you to add people or objects. That means that AR is way simpler to implement in your digital marketing strategy. 

AR used to make the infographics in books live

Here are some points for doing that:  

• AR animated content is a multi-platform content

AR is a device-agnostic technology that fits IOS, Android, as well as Windows via any smartphone or computer. You should implement it in your strategy as VR animation brings more creativity and captivating features to live video streaming, whiteboard presentations, screen sharing, training videos, and advertising campaigns.

• You can improve the customer experience with its help

Showing is always much more engaging than telling. Showing the product especially in the pandemic reality is essential. Such emotional communication as an AR animation can increase the online shopping experience and boost your client’s decision-making process. Here is an example by a Coca-Cola company that developed an augmented reality app for their holiday campaign. 

• You can use AR for effective education

Don’t you think that AR is used only for effective advertisement. A lot of high-tech companies already work with AR technologies to simplify the education process for the new employees. Detailization of build-in machine parts, visual instructions on how to use them – everything could be packaged as motion 3D VR objects.

Upcoming breakthrough in devices design

Augmented Reality(AR) and Virtual Reality(VR) technology are actively developing. In March 2021 we were rounded by lots of news about upcoming models of augmented reality glasses. In particular new rumors concerning the potential release date of Apple Glass. We expect Apple to introduce mixed reality (MR) glasses in 2022.

Facebook has unveiled a smart bracelet that can control upcoming AR glasses as well. It is a cutting-edge technology: users can remotely control home devices by simply moving their fingers. Bracelet sensors can convert nerve signals which travel through the wrist to the palm into digital commands.

Earlier Facebook announced that MR glasses will be released in 2021. Microsoft, Apple, Google, Facebook, Amazon have produced many types of smart glasses before. New concepts differ. Glasses should have transparent lenses and are relatively lightweight, so they will look like regular reading glasses that could work autonomously connected to a smartphone or a bracelet. 

Apple AR glasses 

Solutions will finally reach the mass market and most likely change the consumption patterns and regular marketing approaches. Wanna have a look at the numbers?

How fast are the changes coming?

Have a brief look at analytics. The AR market was worth $15.3 billion in 2020, according to MarketsandMarkets. It is predicted to hit $160 billion by 2023, though it is rather an optimistic point of view. Undoubtedly, the market is in the stage of its rapid growth. The investments in the AR/VR market amounted to $2 billion in 2020 according to ABI research. 

Market leaders are buying all somehow more or less successful AR/VR startups. For instance, in 2020 Google acquired 5 manufacturers of smart glass: MAD Gaze, Nreal, Mira, North, and Magic Leap. By the way, last year Magic Leap had raised $350 million in funding. For the numbers-lovers here are some more crazy stats. Ones sold more than half of a billion AR devices in 2020. The forecasted shipment is 1,73 billion units by 2024. One day smart glasses will become daily wearable and ubiquitous devices.

Do you realize the opportunities you get for advertising, promotion, presentation of your ideas or products? You better say yes! In case you still think that AR and VR technologies are far away from your business have a look at how different industries already use such technology to stay compatible and innovative.

What can be spotted on the market today?

AR in shopping: customers try the AR shoes before buying   Augmented reality is widely used in retail today. Lacoste, Sephora, GAP, and other brands have made virtual fitting rooms. Shoppers can see how apparel will look on them. Also, consumers can choose required goods in the interactive digital catalogs. Another example, IKEA’s AR showroom allows customers to see what furniture might look like in their homes. These are convenient services.

Customers try a product before buying. But if more people will be wearing AR glasses, they should be used for the attraction of buyers. Manufacturers сan replace Augmented Reality animation on labels and packaging of their goods. Animators will make such animation look more interesting through glasses than on a smartphone screen. For example, wine manufacturers already use AR technology to promote their products. It is an interesting experience to listen to real-life stories from the labels of wine bottles. 

The possibilities of AR animation open up new opportunities for product suggestions to customers. “Don’t forget your AR glasses”, – your relatives will say when you go shopping in a couple of years.

A new look at advertising

Virtual and augmented reality animation is highly effective in attracting customers. Imagine, yourself walking through the street in AR glasses seeing something like that: 

Wall, floor, window, or office door could be an advertising banner. VR and AR animation is the best way to enhance promotion strategies. It is your key to bright, engaging, and interactive content, the one that will help your customer to recall your brand easily.

It is only beginning

New research by L’Atelier identified 80 underpinning technologies that archived readiness by 2030. In its cluster “immersive reality” is 22  technologies. All of them more or less are involved in augmented and virtual reality. Some technologies are directly associated with the idea of creating glasses in which augmented reality could be seen:

• mixed reality contact lens;
• a retinal projector that  mounts on glasses and projects holographic images onto the user’s eye;
• optical waveguide glass;
• AR retail platform.

Augmented and virtual reality will be key areas for innovation in the nearest future. Skillful use of all marketing opportunities by companies will increase their sales. There are way more of the digital trends explained in this article. Stay tuned!