Augmented reality is beginning to gain greater traction in the business world, as more brands are starting to take it seriously. With smartphones now able to offer sophisticated AR experiences and upgrades to smart glasses coming thick and fast, there’s a strong chance that this technology will play a major role in the future.
Now, the question has turned to how it can be used as a promotional tool. There are endless possibilities for how to use it, and it could lead to greater engagement with customers.
Big Brands Are Always Searching for Upgrades to Their Promotional Strategies
In today’s competitive business world, it’s always important for brands to keep thinking of how to freshen up their promotions and keep people interested. For example, in the online casino market, players are faced with endless deposit match and free spins bonuses when they sign up at different sites.
Because of this, some sites have started to offer promotions like daily free spins to give players an incentive to return to the same platform every day. This is done through an engaging game rather than a static bonus. Players get a free turn on a Prize Pinball game, where there’s the chance to win everything from free spins to casino bonuses. There’s even a jackpot to be won on the promotional game itself.
AR is one way that brands can liven up their promotions and stand out from the competition. According to recent research, 97 per cent of Forbes’ most valuable brands are already using some form of AR in their marketing strategies. Some of the biggest brands that have put AR to good use already include IKEA, L’Oréal, and Sephora.
AR Can Turn Promotions into Interactive Experiences
One common theme across entertainment and ecommerce is that today’s customers are in search of engaging and interactive promotions, rather than static offers. AR can be used to transform what was once a passive advertisement into something that a customer can feel involved in.
Some companies have already shown how this can be done and set an example for others to follow. Coca-Cola, for instance, has run plenty of campaigns in which customers had to scan bottles or cans to see AR elements. A lot of the time, there’s the chance to scan for points that can later be used to redeem prizes.
Will Everyone Soon Wear AR Glasses?
Currently, most people still scan AR promotions through their smartphones. However, there’s a chance that there may come a day in which AR glasses will be mainstream and most people are wearing them. Indeed, thanks to the integration of AR elements in top brands like Ray-Ban, there could be a gradual spread of AR glasses over the next decade.
If society gets to a point at which everyone is walking around with a pair of AR glasses on, AR promotions will be everywhere. It will simply be a case of having to look at a product or a storefront, and animated elements will come to life. Businesses that jump on this trend early and get into the habit of crafting AR-based offers could get ahead of the competition.