Augmented reality – sounds futuristic, right? Well, I’m here to tell you that the future is here and in order to keep up with the trends, it’s something you’re going to want to know about. Augmented reality or “AR” for short is a type of technology that superimposes digital information such as text, videos, or images onto a real world environment or everyday objects.
My personal favorite example of AR in use has been the 3D Bitmoji Lens Filter (personalized avatars) within the Snapchat app. A Snapchat 3D Bitmoji Lens Filter lets you customize a cartoon avatar of yourself and then place your avatar within the real world through AR. The image to the left is my personalized 3D Bitmoji who is projected onto my office desk.
However, AR can be used for much more than a fun little avatar of yourself walking around in the world. There are several cases where AR can be used to create powerful marketing campaigns and they keep growing. Below is a list of four powerful use cases that you can use to inspire your next marketing campaign!
Location-Based Experience
Toys “R” Us’ mission was to develop a solution to drive traffic into their 34 Australian store locations during Easter break. They decided to create an in-store augmented reality Easter egg hunt with the Toys “R” Us platform, “#TruMagic”. In order to generate hype about the campaign, they released the details online where it got picked up by bloggers and event sites, and then on social media. The campaign was successful in driving in-store traffic, generating 15,000 activations, and gaining tons of exposure through several media outlets.
Looking to draw in a crowd for an event or drive traffic to your store? Consider using augmented reality to create an exciting location-based experience for your audience.
Don’t we all wish it was easier to purchase products straight out of a magazine? Blippar, an augmented reality company, and ASOS magazine collaborated to produce an augmented reality app that lets users scan product photos with their smart phones to create AR buttons and purchase products directly from the ASOS website.
Consider using AR to drive more sales to your eCommerce website through your existing print materials!
Not only can you implement interactive buttons into print, you can introduce multi-media options such as videos and 3D graphics.
BBC Top Gear Magazine created an extension of their print magazine experience through augmented reality. When users scan the magazine with an augmented reality app, they receive access to digital media such as videos, 3D graphics, and interactive forms right at their fingertips.
Augmented reality introduces the possibility adding exciting digital interactions to your everyday print pieces.
Overlay Product Information
A Nike store in Paris created an in-store NIKEiD Augmented kiosk/platform where shoppers have the ability to customize their shoe of choice with any color or pattern over a real plain white Nike shoe.
By overlaying product information through augmented reality such as art, designs, and colors, shoppers can now see their creations come to life!
Virtual Product Showroom
Volkswagen created an augmented reality app for users to interact with the new and unreleased Golf Cabriolet from wherever they are. Being that the new Golf Cabriolet was not yet available in showrooms, this app was a great way for users to experience the augmented vehicle at a local dealer, from a postcard, from a magazine, or from the web. The augmented experience lets the user zoom into look at all of the details, play with its features, and take photos to share.
A virtual product showroom is a great way for marketers to show off an up-and-coming product before it’s released or to give people another way to interact with your product beyond the physical.
Looking to make your next marketing campaign stand out? Think in terms of the future. Even if augmented reality seems foreign to you now, it’s good to know about the up-and-coming technology for the future. Use these 4 AR use cases to plan and gather ideas for your projects both today and tomorrow.
