Brands that Realize the Potential of Augmented Reality

Kelly Short

February 8, 2019

I remember when the thought of Augmented Reality seemed like a pipe dream — something we thought could only be found at the end of a rainbow or in an episode of The Jetsons.

Now, it has become not only a reality but also a necessity for brands looking to create a more personalized and interactive shopping experience. Perhaps the most amazing opportunity AR presents is that it allows us to evaluate products as if they were right in front of us.

Gone are the days of wondering… Will this dining room set fit in the corner of my room? How will this shirt look with my black jeans? Does this paint color match the theme of my home?

I am not the only one intrigued by this “phenomenon.” In fact, 60% to 70% of consumers see clear benefits in using AR and Internet of Things in their daily life and at work. In daily life, 69% believed that the tech could help them learn new skills, 62% saw shopping benefits, and 62% saw healthcare benefits.

Brands are smart to adopt this technology as consumers are learning to expect AR as an option while researching products. Below are a few brands that have been extremely successful in their AR adoption efforts:

IKEA Place

Walking through a bustling IKEA store is overwhelming. I struggle to visualize what all the furniture pieces, light fixtures, and picture frames will look like inside my home. AR has proven to be a successful way to bring the in-store experience to life through personalization.

IKEA Place makes this decision for me. Their products are 3D and true-to-scale, ensuring every choice I make is one that is accurate in size, design, and function. Both IKEA and Anthropologie are using Apple’s ARKit to create their AR experiences, which is currently the largest AR platform in the world.

Read More: The Virtual Reality Report Card

The IKEA Place app scales products based on the dimensions of your room with 98% accuracy. The precision and level of detail within the app are insane. I can see fabric texture, as well as how light and shadows are rendered inside my home.

Sherwin-Williams ColorSnap

Color is present everywhere, and I find myself always wondering the name of it so I can distribute it around my living areas and workspace.

Sherwin-Williams’ ColorSnap, along with UK-based Dulux, has made this task much simpler. The ColorSnap app allows you to explore a wide range of colors and virtually paint any room with your finger. Maybe you found a cool picture or a notebook with a unique color – ColorSnap will match the photo you’ve taken to find an exact color.

In our latest post, PowerChord’s VP of Digital Marketing stated that “AR is the ability to immerse consumers in a product/service offering that will continue to expand the ability for brands to create a connection with or a desire for that product/service.”

The ability to paint a wall without actually doing it is what gives ColorSnap an edge. They have created an experience that connects the product to the consumer in a personal way by using AR.