Is Augmented Reality the Future of Marketing?

Augmented reality is expected to be one of the biggest tech upgrades of the next ten years, and it could have an impact on countless industries. Marketers always need to stay ahead of the game when it comes to technological updates, and AR is already starting to seep into the sector.

Where Could AR Marketing Have an Impact?

There are seemingly limitless possibilities to where AR marketing could be implemented, but there are certain sectors where it may be introduced earlier than others. The online casino sector, for example, is one of the most competitive markets online, with operators mainly competing with promotions.

AR could take sites’ marketing to another level, giving players a more immersive taster of games like European Roulette to generate excitement before paying to play on their own preferred device. Seeing the game in AR would give players the chance to get to grips with the betting surface. It could also make a fitting next step to existing promotion techniques, which give new players a certain number of discounted or free spins to help them to form their own first impressions of the game.

Another key industry in which AR could make a big difference is furniture, as it allows people to see what items look like in their houses before committing to them. Some businesses such as Ikea are already using AR in the form of an app, but it could help to draw new customers in if it was integrated into their advertising too.

How is AR Already Being Used?

There are already a few ways in which AR is seeping into everyday marketing, and it’s clear that it has a lot of potential to disrupt the industry in the future. The fashion industry is one of the best places to see the tech in action currently, with Sephora being one company that is using AR to allow customers to see what make-up looks like on them before buying. Sephora Virtual Artist is its name, and it also crucially allows users to share their virtual makeovers with friends, adding a virality to the application.

Some companies have started to introduce interactive packaging as well. A good example of this was the Coca-Cola #TakeATaste Now campaign, which allowed users to scan a screen and get a digital bottle of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. If they did this, they then got a voucher for a free bottle of the drink in real life. The ad campaign highlighted that there are already many opportunities for innovation and novel interactions between customers and brands out there.

AR Could Explode by 2030

The AR sector is still in its infancy, but it’s expected to grow rapidly over the next few years. Current projections estimate the industry will be worth $193 billion by 2030, and this could be thanks mainly to advancements in hardware.

With the technology improving and likely to become more ubiquitous in a short space of time, savvy marketers should try to ensure that they’re ahead of the curve. The great thing about AR is that it allows for a myriad of creative new ways for customers to interact with brands and products. It could well be the future of marketing, so it might be wise to start experimenting with it in ad campaigns as soon as possible.