AR/VR in your business tech stack: a current reality for a number of industries, or a vision of the future?
In the ever-evolving landscape of modern business, innovation is the currency of success. Among the most thrilling and transformative technologies, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) stand as technological beacons, illuminating the path to progress. However, these immersive technologies are not confined to the realm of gaming and entertainment; they are increasingly making their way into the heart of business operations. In this exploration, we dive deep into the incorporation of AR and VR into your business’s tech stack consideration and the profound impact they wield across a spectrum of industries.
Before we delve into the integration of Augmented and Virtual Reality into your tech stack, it’s imperative to distinguish between the two for those who are unfamiliar with the technology:
- Augmented Reality (AR): AR enriches reality by superimposing digital elements, such as graphics, sounds, or data, onto the physical world. Think of AR as your smartphone’s camera enhancing your surroundings, like Pokémon Go’s virtual creatures appearing in your real environment.
- Virtual Reality (VR): On the other hand, VR transports users into entirely digital environments through immersive experiences, often facilitated by VR headsets. In VR, users are fully immersed in computer-generated worlds, with the ability to interact with their virtual surroundings.
Enhancing Customer Experiences
1) Retail: Visualize a scenario where customers can virtually try on clothes without stepping into a dressing room. Augmented Reality mirrors in stores, equipped with AR-powered product recommendations, elevate the shopping experience to a new dimension.
Example: IKEA’s AR app allows customers to visualize how furniture would look in their homes. Shoppers can use their smartphone cameras to place virtual furniture in their living rooms, helping them make better purchase decisions.
You can also now buy physical products in games and apps with Amazon Anywhere. This offering enables immersive shopping experiences for video games, virtual worlds, and mobile apps.
2) Real Estate: Picture potential homebuyers embarking on virtual tours of properties. VR technology enables them to explore every corner of a house or apartment from the comfort of their own homes, revolutionizing property viewing.
Example: The Matterport platform offers 3D virtual tours of properties, allowing potential buyers to explore homes online as if they were physically there. It’s used by real estate agents and property listing websites to provide immersive property tours.
Improving Training and Education
3) Employee Training: Visualize a scenario where VR allows employees in various industries to undergo hands-on training in a virtual environment. Whether it’s healthcare professionals practicing surgery or pilots honing their skills, VR offers a safe space for learning through immersive simulations.
Example: Walmart utilizes VR for employee training. New associates can participate in VR simulations, like handling Black Friday crowds or managing difficult customer interactions, to gain real-world experience.
4) Education: Envision a classroom where students step into the past to explore Egyptian pyramids or dive into the microscopic world of cells. VR makes learning immersive, captivating, and unforgettable.
Example: The “Google Expeditions” app brings VR to classrooms. Students can take virtual field trips to explore historic landmarks, natural wonders, and even outer space, making learning more engaging.
Enhancing Design and Prototyping
5) Product Design: In your mind’s eye, see designers overlaying digital prototypes onto physical objects, aiding in the visualization and modification of designs with incredible precision and ease.
Example: Ford uses Microsoft HoloLens AR headsets to streamline its car design process. Engineers and designers can view 3D models of car parts and make adjustments in real time, reducing design time and costs.
6) Architecture and Engineering: Imagine architects and engineers walking through digital renderings of their projects, identifying design flaws or improvements before the construction phase. VR serves as a vital tool in streamlining the design and prototyping processes.
Example: Skanska, a construction and development company, employs VR for design reviews and construction planning. Their teams can virtually walk through building designs, identify potential issues, and improve project efficiency.
Remote Collaboration and Communication
7) Meetings: Visualize a world where VR facilitates virtual meetings and collaboration in three-dimensional space. Remote team members come together in immersive environments, making remote work feel connected and productive.
Example: Spatial is a VR collaboration platform that turns meetings into immersive experiences. Users can join virtual meetings, share 3D models and documents, and collaborate in a virtual space, no matter where they are in the world.
8) Global Teams: Picture a scenario where AR transcends language barriers in international business meetings, providing real-time translations of foreign languages and ensuring effective communication among global teams.
Example: Google’s “Live Transcribe” AR app provides real-time transcription of spoken words into text. This technology can be used in international business meetings, allowing participants to understand discussions in their preferred language.
Incorporating Augmented and Virtual Reality into your business’s tech stack isn’t just a technological shift; it’s a leap into an exciting future. These immersive technologies are poised to redefine customer experiences, revolutionize training and education, streamline design processes, and facilitate remote collaboration. As AR and VR continue to evolve, businesses that embrace these technologies will not only gain a competitive edge but also reshape the way they operate and interact in our rapidly advancing digital age. The future beckons, immersive and transformative — are you ready to step into it?
Check out my article to learn more about whether or not AR/VR devices (like the Apple Vision Pro) will be attractive enough to increase product adoption sooner rather than later.
