Vendors now have a harder time deciding which digital expenditures will be the most profitable in the long run since technology advances at an exponential rate. That being said, having a good marketing strategy is key to increase the quality of your customer experience and sales.
Here are 8 specific ways augmented reality can help you achieve or even surpass your sales goals, regardless of the sector you work in.
In fact, a Shopify study found that the conversion rate of products with 3D and augmented reality content is 94% greater than that of products without these features.
Having said that, if you’re still unaware of how augmented reality might increase customer comprehension and, ultimately, income, you’ll value these seven techniques, especially if you work in a B2B or even B2G market.
1. Helps support and motivate customers with comprehensive product information
Customers today complete 80% of the purchasing process on their own before speaking with a salesperson. This means that before making any sales pitches, businesses must make sure that their prospects have a thorough comprehension of the suggested products.
The best way to give clients useful information is to move away from static photos and data sheets and toward interactive 3D experiences.
The following example shows how Visao user Fournier Industries improved its visual presentations by integrating interactive 3D viewers and an augmented reality feature.
Customers may manipulate your company’s assets whatever they like and even zoom in and out on particular movements and sections by having them animated in 3D through augmented reality (AR). To enhance the online experience, you can also include interactive annotations, images, videos, and hyperlinks in your digital twins. However, using AR as a marketing tool will help you sell more of your goods by providing them with more detailed information about the products they might want to buy.
Here’s an illustration of how ALM Positionners used augmented reality technology at its trade show to showcase the various products they offer.
2. Offers a more personalized shopping experience
According to a study conducted by Epsilon, 80% of consumers are more likely to make a purchase from a company that provides personalized shopping experiences. The most convincing way to reveal specific features that cannot be seen with images is to integrate 3D animations into any real life setting.
This interactive digital platform lets buyers make smarter purchase decisions with an instant visualization of their unique solution, automatic pricing, and even view realistic animations that showcase the best features, all on one screen. This interactive experience allows the consumer to visualize a fictitious object in any physical environment through reality technology. This eliminates the need to go to physical stores for a probably fruitless and time-consuming trip.
To sum it up, using AR in your marketing campaigns can not only make you stand out from the competition but also save you time and money while also exceeding customer expectations. In addition, 3D product as seen through augmented reality increases customer engagement, which results in a significantly higher conversion rate for your business.
To learn more about 3D product configurator and how it can upgrade your marketing, click here
3. Get the edge you needed for your online demos with an action-oriented 3D visualization tool
Not only is developing an interactive 3D product demonstration as easy as creating a Powerpoint, it is also more effective in creating value for customers.
This way, not only do you create more customer value, but you provide a powerful, action-oriented demonstration with step-by-step annotations, animations and specific camera views. To further strengthen a sales demonstration, sales experts can add text, images, videos and links to data sheets to make it much more insightful.
Finally, your sales team can connect with prospects around the world in just minutes by sharing the user-friendly tool via a URL that also leads to the AR option.
If you consider these elements, it is clear to say that you will be able to sell far more than just your product‘s features, but rather an experience that customers won’t forget.
4. Differentiate yourself from the competition with cutting-edge technology such as augmented reality
A survey by EcomDash found that 45% of online buyers think augmented reality (AR) speeds up the decision-making process.
Despite this, a research published by Mobile Marketer found that just 1% of retailers are presently using augmented or virtual reality into their customers’ shopping experiences, making it a very untapped market. This indicates that compared to a PowerPoint and movies, AR is more likely to engage prospects. Why? In order for clients to experience a complex invention in their own environment, rather of only on a screen, at a true 1:1 size for space planning, augmented reality plays a significant role.
The global augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) market reached US$28 billion in 2021, and it could grow to over US$250 billion by 2028.
As a result, your customers are far more likely to remember your products and get in touch with your sales staff afterward—especially if your competitors don’t provide this option.
5. Present your products in a user-friendly way
Nowadays, online shopping has become one of the most popular shopping methods. With that said, it is very important to make the process and customer experience very user-friendly and clear, especially when the company is expanding into a very detailed product category. In short, to make the buying process smooth, you need to maintain clarity and efficiency in the way you communicate your product to your audience.
AR is very user-friendly and can be accessed by anyone with a smartphone (as it is included in most devices). On the other hand, virtual reality (VR) technology requires a VR headset or glasses, which is not available to everyone. In addition, many consider VR headsets to be somewhat uncomfortable and cause motion sickness.
With AR, all you need is to scan the QR code through your phone’s camera. You then can position the product in your space and drag it around as you wish. Having that kind of technology accessible will enhance customer satisfaction because it will answer so many of their potential questions.
Likewise, it is worth noting that according to a study made by LCP360, buyers spend five to 10 times longer on websites with a digital tour as opposed to websites that only carry images of static objects. This is because AR is a key feature to sparking customer interest in your business and make your brand appear more sophisticated and desirable.
All in all, AR is very accessible because it requires no software to be downloaded. They can even be integrated into a web page, making them convenient for clients and versatile for businesses.
6. Reach hard-to-reach prospects with powerful content on social media and in ads
The reality is that people see about 1,700 banner ads, such as pictures and simple videos, each month, but only watch half of them. The good news is that ads with 3D animations, augmented reality features and even 360-degree views get 267% higher click-through rates than those without. How? This new form of display promotion encourages users to interact with your products and thereby creates a much more memorable experience for them. Additionally, your marketing team can convey much more information in a 3D animation than in a traditional static ad resulting in a much more convincing customer experience, especially in the online retail world.
Pro tip: LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are the biggest social platforms where 3D models can engage final consumers.
7. Be one step ahead of your competitors at tradeshows and events
One of the main drawbacks of not having AR at your events is that you have to transport heavy, bulky machines from one location to another, which can be very expensive. On top of that, you will eventually need space to store all of those heavy machines, which can also be very expensive. With AR, all the salesperson needs is to virtually present any product through a tablet or computer and explain all the details.
Did you know? With a 3D visualization tool, you can save on trade show costs, which have increased by 257% in the past 20 years.
But what about engagement? Well, conventional exhibits do not attract visitors, let alone potential prospects. Why? They don’t convey innovation or spark curiosity. Instead of bringing in bulky and expensive product demos, your sales team can alternatively offer an interactive and immersive digital experience to attendees by adopting 3D models visualized with AR technologies at events. This technology makes your booth eye-catching, drawing more people to your exhibit and engaging them once they’re there in a way your competitors can’t.
You only have a few seconds to attract prospects and make them want to come and interact with your exhibit. It doesn’t matter if they want to talk to you or not. They will discover your product or service in seconds and that’s where the sales team comes in.
Here’s how ALM Positionners used AR technology at the Fabtech tradeshow to demonstrate the full size of their positioners.
How can I implement AR technology into my customers’ shopping experience?
It is compelling to see the different ways AR technology can help your company reach hard-to-capture prospects, better engage them and provide them with meaningful information. In fact, 3D visualization and AR open the doors to many different sales opportunities for businesses of all sizes and types.
Visao provides a web-based platform that allows manufacturers to use their industrial designs and create interactive visualizations and augmented reality displays of their products for marketing, sales process, trade shows and product customization.
Ready to experience the benefits of 3D visualization? Request a live demo of Visao’s 3D and augmented reality solutions!
