Augmented Reality (AR) is transforming the way businesses interact with their customers. Augmented reality customer experience techniques enhance the product or service being offered. Every step of the customer journey is important for a successful business exchange. In today’s blog article we will introduce 5 ways that companies can successfully engage their customers through the use of AR.
Remove Uncertainty from Decision-Making
Determining whether a particular piece of furniture or large home appliance fits into your space used to require a fair amount of imagination. Beyond imagination, the person had to measure every dimension of their space to determine how the object would fit.
Certainly, appliance and furniture companies have been slow to transition online. Now, if these businesses implement AR, they can remove the uncertainty from the decision-making process. Using an interactive AR app, the buyer can now virtually position an object into their space to visualize the furniture in their home ahead of time. Because AR combines the virtual image with the physical world, the customer can get an accurate depiction of what it will look like– with their wall color, other furniture, and size of the room.
Interactive Packaging
Using immersive technology, like AR, companies can create an interactive customer experience. Brands like Heinz Ketchup have begun AR-ifying their ketchup bottles– offering recipes and food options to go along with the ketchup.
Imagine, other brands catching up to this technology. Soon enough, you will take out your cereal for breakfast and find an interactive game on the box. We will see consumer engagement like never before, thanks to AR.
Try Before You Buy
Beauty and retail companies alike have begun to implement AR to enhance the buying experience. Shopping for apparel or makeup can be tricky online. Much like furniture, you can’t tell what the product will look like on you until you try it on at home. AR solves some of these problems. Sephora Virtual Artist AR app allows customers to virtually try-on makeup items– like lipstick or mascara. Gap’s Dressing Room also uses AR technology to make shopping easier. Enhancing sales through visual engagement is key– especially if the beauty and retail industry wants to make a strong online presence.
Customer Self- Service
Finalize the buying process and the customer has your product in hand. However, the process isn’t over yet, there are still crucial steps to ensure customer satisfaction and guarantee they will return. Using AR, the customer can bypass customer service staff altogether. Using self-service support, the customer has access to resources such as an FAQ page or a virtual overlay for how to assemble a product. Companies will have fewer calls and consumer satisfaction will increase.
AR user manuals
To maintain and resolve any faults, user manuals come in handy– but not when they are bulky and confusing. Now, with the advent of AR, companies can offer an AR-based user manual that makes it easier to follow instructions and complete the desired task. In fact, Hyundai has already begun doing so.
As AR matures, we will continue to see how it will impact different fields and improve the customer experience. AR apps and other solutions are becoming more widespread as online buying continues to increase.
What are some other uses of AR in the e-commerce space that you see trending?