AR Apps for Business – Use Cases and Benefits

Statista reports that the overall mobile augmented reality market is expected to reach a whopping $36 billion by 2026. Where does your business stand in the ongoing AR revolution?

Quick question – since when has augmented reality (AR) been around? 2018? 2014? Not even close!

Well, you’ll be astounded to know that its roots go back to the 1960s when Ivan Sutherland, AKA the founder of AR-powered glasses and headsets, created the ‘Sword of Damocles’ when he was at the University of Salt Lake City. It was a head-mounted display that would allow users to view images in 3D. 

This means that AR has been around longer than the Internet!

But as for literally any technology in that era, this headset was incredibly bulky. Fast-forward to 2024, and AR has become a mainstay in the current tech ecosystem. It is key for companies investing in a future dominated by boundless, spatial experiences. 

So, as a business owner looking to one-up the competition and stand out as a tech-forward leader, what value does AR hold for you? Do you need augmented reality apps for business?

Let’s find out!

Creating the Paradigm Shift with AR – Top Use Cases & Applications

Let’s ignore all the buzz around AR for a moment and get down to the nitty gritty—how can your business use AR to create experiences that translate into profits?

Here are some augmented reality business ideas and use cases you can consider:

Try Before You Buy

Retail businesses need more than great products to gain a competitive advantage. They need to deliver experiences that make shopping convenient. With AR, stores can allow customers to visualize the products before buying through Virtual Try-On Apps. Such previews are poised to boost sales and conversion rates. To understand this better, let’s consider one of the most common augmented reality business examples:

For instance, if a customer buys an outfit, they can use a custom AR app (that we are so good at building) to try it on before purchasing. There’s no need to wait outside the changing room just to see how the outfit looks on them.

Immersive E-Learning

Whether you want to train your employees or make learning fun for students, AR can do all of this and more. Catering to short attention spans, AR can make learning more interactive and exciting. Moreover, such methods will significantly improve learning outcomes and make students more tech-savvy, allowing them to compete in a technology-driven world that’s constantly evolving.

Unique Customer Experiences

Consumers demand unique experiences across different sectors, including entertainment, travel, automotive, and healthcare. AR apps enable that by immersing customers in virtual worlds and crafting futuristic experiences that stick with them for an extended period, driving brand loyalty. Companies can also utilize augmented reality apps for marketing to grab the attention of their target audience and boost sales.

Field Simulations & Maintenance

With AR, technicians can learn and get virtual hands-on experience working with different technologies. They can seamlessly learn the intricacies of different processes, equipment repairs, and usage, allowing companies to develop cutting-edge capabilities across a massive workforce.

How Can AR Benefit Your Business?

Here’s how building augmented reality apps for business can boost its growth and innovation:

Competitive Advantage

Investing early in augmented reality technologies enables you to lead change and tap into new opportunities. Forward-thinking brands use AR apps to equip customers with personalized experiences they can relate to. They also measure the success of their campaigns through detailed augmented reality marketing statistics and metrics.

Cost Savings

Cutting costs while boosting revenue is every business owner’s dream. Here’s how AR helps achieve that:

• With AR, companies can create virtual training programs powered by AR-infused simulations.
• Immersive, streamlined training not only refines employee capabilities but also enables them to avoid mistakes and become more productive.
• No need to use expensive equipment for training when AR-based prototypes and simulations serve the purpose.

Increased ROI

AR helps you create differentiative, innovative apps, and here’s how they can help boost ROI for your business:

• Higher customer conversion and sales thanks to realistic previews
• Faster fulfillment and post-purchase support improves customer lifetime value
• Employees equipped with AR improve productivity to handle more transactions

Improved Process Efficiency

Here’s how AR helps reinvent manual processes across sectors:

• Technicians can access visualized equipment guides rather than flip-through manuals
• Factory managers can see production bottlenecks overlayed in real-time and can adjust workflows accordingly
• Architects and engineers can explore full-scale AR building models onsite to spot design flaws and improvement areas.

Common Challenges Businesses Face While Adopting AR

While AR adoption can substantially improve your business outcomes, here are some common challenges you should look out for:

User Adoption

Users love change, and when they see a business adding AR features to their digital experiences and apps, it really excites them. But user adoption is an entirely different ball game. Introducing new or existing customers to an AR-powered platform they are unfamiliar with can be challenging. 

Again, not every user is tech-savvy and may face a learning curve while adapting themselves to your new platform. Therefore, it’s crucial to analyze usage metrics before implementing AR to avoid engagement gaps.

Content Creation

Creating custom 3D assets and performing data integration for your AR app is a time and cost-intensive process with high upfront expenses. With the right approach, such investments will maximize business value. However, it’s essential to consider your business’s financial and technical capabilities before investing in building an AR app and creating content.

Privacy & Security

AR apps require information like user location and track activity to provide an overall personalized and delightful experience. However, it’ also important to ensure secure data collection practices and enable end-to-end transparency to build trust.

Technical Complexity

Building an AR app is a complex process and requires the expertise of specialized teams. You need developers and designers who have experience building AR apps that work flawlessly across diverse operating systems, devices, and screen sizes. Such apps must also be tested rigorously to ensure consistently brilliant performance.

How are AR Apps Impacting Industries Globally?

The overall augmented reality market growth isn’t just limited to a single sector. Its use cases and possibilities span multiple industries.

Here are some industry-wise augmented reality market trends you can look forward to:

Healthcare

Healthcare providers can create AR-powered simulations to train surgeons, help with complex procedures, and make accurate diagnoses. Medical students can learn key concepts like anatomy via 3D models that can be viewed via AR headsets. 

Apps like ‘Complete Anatomy’ have already made learning more accessible and interactive for medical students and aspiring surgeons. 

Gaming & Entertainment

Since the launch of AR-based games like Pokemon Go, there’s been an insatiable demand for augmented reality apps that will revolutionize the future of gaming and entertainment. From immersive gaming to attending concerts virtually from your couch, the possibilities are endless.

Real Estate

The real estate sector can use AR to improve buyer/seller relationships through virtual property tours. Moreover, buyers can explore different properties and use AR to see how their furniture and accessories will look before making a decision. AR apps can also help them choose between different interior and exterior design elements. 

For instance, apps like RealAR enables real estate developers to create 2D and 3D floor plans and designs.

Education

Schools will no longer be boring as AR is poised to make learning more interactive, immersive, and fun. Augmented reality technologies can help educational institutes take student engagement to the next level.

This shift is already happening, with AR apps like Assemblr EDU making it easier for teachers to improve their methods and boost learning outcomes.

E-commerce

With the ever-evolving online shopping market gravitating toward augmented reality, businesses need to swap their brick-and-mortar storefronts with AR-enabled online marketplaces that enable customers to visualize the products they’re buying in real-time.

One such tech-forward online marketplace that’s harnessing AR to provide unique shopping experiences is “AR Watches” – an app that allows you to virtually try on watches before buying.

Where Does Cubix Stand in the Ongoing AR Revolution?

As an innovation-obsessed augmented reality development company, we have helped numerous businesses rethink their digital assets and platforms, creating AR apps that engage users and keep them hooked. This is why our augmented reality development services are trusted by businesses globally.

Here’s an AR-based project we worked on (and the client loved what we delivered):

4Par

Cubix built 4Par, an AR app that enables golfers to develop their short-game skills using augmented reality technology. Users scan any flat surface to digitally overlay targets for practicing putting and chipping, whether at home or work.

This AR app provides detailed performance tracking and allows pros to conduct remote coaching based on shot metrics. Since its launch, 4Par has empowered over 1,000 golfers to improve their skills and have a great time while doing so.

Is Your Business AR-Ready?

The future is coming fast, and it’s augmented. While AR has fundamentally transformed different sectors in recent years, it is poised to transform how every business operates and engages with its target audience. As long as the approach is right, the competitive advantages and opportunities are endless.

Early adopters will not only be able to drive profitability for their businesses, but they’ll also be able to create an impact in their respective markets.

For forward-thinking business leaders who are optimistic about AR and want it to be at the core of their business strategies, we recommend partnering with Cubix, a globally recognized and leading augmented reality development company. Our specialized teams of AR developers and designers can accelerate your initiatives and drive growth.

Contact our representatives today to find out how our augmented reality development services transform businesses worldwide and how we can do the same for you.