In the world of marketing, digital technology has become such an integral aspect. Businesses are always on the lookout for available technologies that they can implement to make their message stronger and elevate their clients’ or customers’ experience. They use technology to ease the process and, at the same time, provide some amusement. Nowadays, the technology that’s rapidly growing in popularity is augmented reality – though not an entirely new concept, businesses, however, are just learning about its power in making their products and services even more relevant to consumers.

There are different ways an augmented reality company executes the technology to serve an enterprise’s objectives, but mostly the final output creates a whole new experience that appeals to the sensibilities of customers; information becomes readily available, and that information can be manipulated by customers to effectively demonstrate value in their lives. This means that they get to witness how, for example, a product would fit into their lifestyle — where they could place it in their homes, how it would work with the interior design of the room, and how they can use it. This provision is quite helpful to customers who really want to make the best choice for their money.

Aside from this, augmented reality just ups the fun for consumers and sometimes that’s really all it takes to secure sales. By creating an app that reveals the different functionalities or features of products, fully captures the interest of users by entertaining them in a way, and allows them to witness how they can use these products, businesses easily kindle desire. And when customers become thoroughly familiar with the useful features of the products, businesses manage to increase their potential for a sale.

This advanced technology has so many applications, and in no time, companies will find a bounty of other ways to make it serve their goals. So for businesses that want to secure a competitive advantage in their respective industries, augmented reality is surely a worthy consideration – integrating it to various aspects of operations can further streamline processes, enhance effectiveness of marketing strategies, and increase their bottom line.

Initially developed for the military, augmented reality, companies ought to know, is seen to make a great impact in a variety of sectors including medicine, retail, tourism, education and more.

With the development of technology pushing through faster, many tech and business experts say that AR would definitely be an integral part of how people would live, if not now, in the near future. Here is how some of these experts weigh in on this technology vis-a-vis current developments.

Tech and research advisory firm Gartner expects the sales of smart devices to breach the one billion mark by the end of 2013. This trend is expected to continue as the company predicts sales figure to double. On the other hand, another research firm, Juniper Research, is predicting that mobile apps offering augmented reality will generate revenue of $300 million by the year’s end. The company has even boldly predicted that revenue from downloads of such apps will reach $5 billion in four years’ time.

In a study conducted by Hidden Creative, researchers found out that consumers were 135% more likely to purchase a product when they were shown items through AR as compared to being shown products using types of other media.

While the technology is virtually in its early stage, many developers of apps using augmented reality, companies and consumers have caught a glimpse of what the future looks like. AR can be used to bring print advertisements to life through videos. It can also help shoppers to purchase goods by scanning a catalogue instead of going online. The list of possibilities can go on and on.

Businesses can utilise AR for a variety of purposes. For example, with the use of AR and other location-based technologies, a business can offer discounts and other promotions that are relevant to where they currently are. Other businesses have upgraded their display windows and product packaging with the use of AR which has enabled them to share more information with prospective buyers.

As with other technologies, those who adapt AR early on can gain first mover advantage, allowing them to reap the benefits early on while being recognised as a pioneer and innovator.