In this era of demanding customers, improving the quality of service and customer satisfaction is becoming a major challenge for organizations around the world. Businesses are constantly seeking innovative ways to enhance the consumer experience; therefore, many have turned to immersive technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) to deliver a seamless, engaging, and enhanced user experience. People typically associate VR and AR with the gaming and entertainment field, but the potential of VR/AR is not limited to just that field. VR and AR are making an impact in diverse industries. In fact, a recent report by Allied Market Research predicts the virtual and augmented reality market to grow from $14.84 billion in 2020 to $453.73 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40.7%. At a time when organizations are starting to realize the positive effects of VR and AR services, it begs the question, ‘Are you ready to revolutionize your enterprise by adopting VR/AR?’ Continue reading to learn the benefits of virtual and augmented reality services in business and how they can transform the user experience.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the social distancing norms have changed the way people shop. Gone are the days of conventional shopping, people have moved towards online shopping, and VR/AR adds a new dimension to e-commerce. People no longer need to travel to ‘brick-and-mortar’ stores to try products or be frustrated when an online purchase does not meet their needs. Virtual and augmented reality services offer a ‘try before you buy’ concept, which allows customers to digitally superimpose and virtually ‘try-on’ products using their smartphone device. For example, IKEA’s AR app dubbed IKEA place enables users to test 3D products in real-time. VR/AR presents an opportunity to visualize the product before buying, thus helping the customers make informed decisions.

Virtual and augmented reality services create immersive experiences that help consumers develop deep connections with brands. Businesses can take advantage of this connection to create engaging marketing campaigns. Forming an emotional connection through immersive experiences helps brands build trust and customer loyalty. Be it product instructions or post-purchase support, immersive VR/AR content can ‘wow’ customers through a seamless experience and enable brands to build long-lasting relationships.

Recent advancements in technology like chatbots and interactive AI have significantly improved the customer support experience. But chatbots have their limitations, and there is a lack of human connection. Incorporating virtual and augmented reality services can generate improved customer support. With AR/VR in business, customers can actually see the support representative, making the encounter more human-like. Further, AR/VR opens the door for remote assistance. The user and the service agent can connect virtually and visualize the problem, making it easier to quickly resolve complex issues. Quality, on-time customer service is a major key to offering outstanding customer satisfaction, and nothing drives home customer support like AR/VR.

Offering a custom-designed product goes a long way in building brand loyalty. Creating a personalized product can be tedious and expensive. However, adopting augmented reality services can help overcome these limitations. For example, Nike’s Maker Experience allows consumers to design personalized sneakers with the help of augmented reality and other cutting-edge technologies.

Given using AR technology to create custom products is a relatively new concept, being an early adopter could give you a competitive advantage.

With consumer demand escalating each day, the shortage of trained technicians is a real problem for organizations. Training employees with manuals can be time-consuming, costly, and ineffective. Incorporating virtual, augmented reality services in your training can significantly improve the speed and effectiveness of the knowledge transfer process. Virtual and augmented reality training is an immersive, visually rich training experience that can convey complex information with relative ease. Stats show AR/VR training produces better retention rates, and people show a 40% increase in confidence levels after AR/VR-based training compared to conventional training. ‘Better Training = Better Service,‘ which leads to an improved user experience.

Virtual and augmented reality services have existed for some time, but they truly gained prominence amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The strict social distancing and lockdown protocols have resulted in VR/AR reaching a wider audience and a higher level of adoption for the protocols forced industries to strongly consider and realize the potential of using immersive technologies. In fact, studies show 75% of Forbes’ Most Valuable Brands have created some form of VR or AR projects, and customers are 86% more likely to pay more for a better user experience, and AR/VR helps you to deliver just that. Therefore, it is safe to say AR/VR is here to stay and will transform the way business is conducted in the future, so the real question is, ‘Are you ready to join this technological revolution?’

Do you desire to implement AR/VR in your business? At HoloPundits, we have an experienced team of experts in immersive technology. Customer satisfaction is at the heart of everything we do, and we promise to work with you to understand your needs and deliver cost-effective, innovative business solutions.

This content was originally published here.