Is Augmented Reality Disrupting Hyperlocal Business?
Augmented reality holds immense potential to transform each aspect in hyperlocal business. Be it supply chain, back-end processes, inventory management, it amplifies the interaction with targeted customers.
· It rewrites the rules and norms of industry by making another dimension of communication between company and customer.
· It promotes products, goals and values of retailers.
· It effectively communicates the message of the hyperlocal business to customers by educating and engaging them.
· It is vital for a hyperlocal business to implement so that they can survive in a competitive environment.
· It gives the hyperlocal business the right information they need to stay strong in the market and assist in making decisions.
As innovations in augmented reality are rapidly gaining recognition, the hyperlocal business is making the best use by exploring & applying this technology to stay relevant in the competition. They also use it to promote their business and make new channels for communication with customers.
Following is the list of major use of AR in hyperlocal business to excel in the digital world.
In-Store Augmented Navigation
Be it street or in-store navigation, Augmented Reality gives better navigation guidance. When you go for shopping at more prominent retailers, it can be tiresome to track the desired product, particularly when you got no clue about the brand and features of the product you wish to buy.
In such a situation, AR provides real-world environment instructions about the exact location of location, i.e. row and shelf. AR contribution is significant to inventory availability system of the store.
Augmented navigation can make things easy to find and buy products for customers while sellers can enhance the shopping experience. Therefore, leading to a surge in customers.
Augmentation in customer experience
Augmented reality surely raised the bar as it enhances the ideal shopping experience. Be it virtual try-on of glasses, clothing or makeup; AR has turned a new page in shopping.
AR technology plays a crucial role when you buy home furniture such as tables or beds as it helps you to decide if the products are a good fit in the home environment.
Big retail businesses such as IKEA & Lego have already made the best use of AR to support their customers. They offer step-by-step manuals to assemble home furniture.
Augmented reality turned out to be a game-changer as it makes buying and assembly of products more accessible.
Augmented Games
Remember the most popular game Pokemon GO which drastically changed the world of gaming? It is indeed AR which redefined the gaming experience across a wide range of industries and sectors.
Ideal for salesperson
A boon for the salesperson, it is an indispensable tool for training and rewarding them. AR is also useful to create enhanced real-life scenarios and assess how each employee responds in various situations. AR also eliminates unpleasant situation while boosting the morale of an employee.
Startups which have already made the best use of AR to disrupt the hyperlocal business are:
Trillenium: It uses Augmented reality to help customers analyse how different shoes will fit before they buy. This can be made possible by hovering a smartphone equipped with AR and the app of Trillenium, over the feet and picking the right model.
Memomi (headquartered in Silicon Valley) offers a digital mirror present in-store to enhance the shopping experience through AR. Customers can try out countless outfits by looking at a regular mirror.
Trax: It provides in-store management solutions enhanced by AR for efficient inventory management, maintenance of warehouses, and restocking shelves.
Code and Craft significantly transformed the way the fashion industry sells and displays products by offering photo-realistic content with AR experience.
This proves that Augmented reality holds the key to a brighter future for the hyperlocal business. Although AR is in its teenage years, it is growing with lightning speed!
