In the last 2 decades, businesses have steadily adopted digital advertising as part of their overall marketing campaigns. More recently, augmented reality (AR) has slowly made inroads into the marketing landscape. From offering customized solutions to increasing real-time interaction, the concept has vastly changed the paradigm of how businesses function. This is why you might want to familiarize yourself with the potential areas of application before you can start thinking about augmented reality app development.

Most shoppers like to explore various modifications to a product that might be available before purchasing. Fortunately, AR provides an easy solution for the challenge. Adding some AR images on the outside of your packaging will allow shoppers to scan the item using their smartphones. This would give them a good idea of what's present inside without having to speculate.

While ads have traditionally been displayed in a 2-dimensional interface, AR has opened up a whole new range of possibilities. From allowing viewers see display ads in their peripheral vision to injecting more detail into your ads, your options are endless here. You could even bring your posters to life by combining them with augmented reality; this is a good way to make your messages pop off the page.

Giving your customers a stress-free in-store experience is a crucial part of marketing. With AR apps, you can easily provide them with directions on how to navigate the space, along with other helpful tips relevant to your physical location. Some businesses have further exploited the concept by offering promotions that pop up as customers explore the store.

While it's easy to visualize products and see them in action when one visits a brick-and-mortar store, the same can't be said of online shoppers. Fortunately, augmented reality offers an easy solution by making it possible to showcase items from all dimensions. So if you're an e-commerce merchant, think of how you could use the technology to make your products easier to understand in the eyes of potential customers.

Most businesses struggle to attract new customers, mainly due to the hefty costs incurred in the process. Luckily, there's an affordable solution, which is to leverage the power of AR to bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds. No matter what your products are, it's possible to find something you could transform into 3D artwork, which you could then use to create an unforgettable experience for potential customers. For instance, you could use the technology to offer incentives for those who pop into your store by introducing games that indulge their competitive instincts.

When it comes to providing real-time customer support, nothing beats augmented reality. Your reps can easily guide customers visually through different processes, thanks to the ability to connect with them via web/mobile. This would not only paint a clearer picture of what the customer is dealing with, but also make the support process much more efficient.

What happens when science fiction literally comes to life? Well, thanks to augmented reality, it's now possible for businesses to combine their customers' physical and digital experiences. So while you may not find a good reason to invest in it just yet, you might want to look at how you could exploit the concept to boost your brand's appeal in the eyes of consumers.