Online shopping is convenient and accessible, but it can’t completely replicate the offline shopping experience. When browsing an online store, customers can have a hard time making purchasing decisions because they can’t touch or try on products. Fortunately, augmented reality (AR) is helping to bridge this gap.

From education to marketing, brands are using augmented reality (AR) as a way to transform customer engagement, with real-world examples. AR adds virtual information to a customer’s real-world environment, helping them interact with a product or brand. Here are some ways brands are using AR technology to connect and engage with their customers.

What is Augmented Reality (AR)?

Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that blends the digital and physical worlds by overlaying virtual objects on top of the real world. For example, an online makeup brand allows users to virtually try on the blush shade that best suits them. This technology can be accessed through AR-enabled mobile devices, tablets, or specialized headsets such as the XReal Air or the now-discontinued Google Glass.

Examples of Augmented Reality Use

From education to marketing, there are many exciting applications for augmented reality (AR). Here are 11 AR examples to get you inspired.

1. HORNE’s AR product rendering

HORNE , a high-end home decor company, wants its customers to use its products for a long time. However, customers who shop online may have difficulty making long-term purchases because they cannot see the products in person.

To address this, HORNE uses augmented reality (AR) technology to allow mobile visitors to place lamps or furniture in their own homes using their smartphones, giving customers a better idea of ​​how the products will fit into their spaces.

2. Amore Pacific’s AR Mirror

One of the strengths of augmented reality (AR) is that it can work in real time. Amorepacific ’s flagship store in Seoul has an AR mirror that allows customers to virtually try on makeup without having to use the test products. The AR mirror allows customers to virtually try on different makeup products on their faces, making it easy to find the ones that look best on them.

3. Rebecca Minkoff's AR Product Rendering

Fashion brand Rebecca Minkoff is one of the early adopters of augmented reality (AR). The company has integrated 3D modeling and AR technology into its website, allowing shoppers to interact with 3D and AR renderings of products using their smartphones before purchasing. This allows customers to see how these products will look in their everyday lives, allowing them to make more confident purchasing decisions.

4. Gucci's Virtual 25 shoes

Gucci has broken down the barriers between the human body and digital representation with its “ Gucci Virtual 25. ” Designed by former creative director Alessandro Michele, the digital shoe is meant to be “worn” online, offering a new way to enjoy fashion in the digital world.

5. 3D model of Nomadic

Travel gear company Nomadic prides itself on building durable and functional products. With AR technology, customers can interact with 3D models of Nomadic backpacks and other travel gear, inspect stitching and hardware up close, or place them virtually side-by-side with real bags to compare sizes and styles. This allows customers to better understand the details of the product and make more confident purchasing decisions.

6. Glenlivet's interactive games

A 200-year-old Scotch whisky company might not seem like an easy fit for cutting-edge digital technology, but Glenlivet used AR to create a unique experience for its customers. Users were able to hold their smartphones up to the whisky packaging to watch a presentation from the master distiller, and then participate in an augmented reality game that tested their taste buds. In doing so, Glenlivet managed to deliver a modern digital experience while maintaining its traditional brand image.

7. Smithsonian's AR Dinosaur

The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum, educational, and research institution. In a large-scale application of augmented reality (AR), the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History has exhibited dinosaurs of various sizes, allowing visitors to see a huge digital T. rex moving around the building in a lifelike manner.

In addition to the museum’s AR experience, the Smithsonian has digitized many of its collections so you can interact with them from home, from life-size airplanes to jazz musician Charlie Parker’s saxophone.

8. AR Book by Quivervision

QuiverVision , an AR company, has developed an application that turns children’s drawings into 3D animated images. These AR experiences go beyond simple coloring and help children engage more actively with topics and educational materials in a way that feels like they’re jumping off the page.

9. Ikea Place

Ikea Place , an augmented reality (AR) app from Ikea, lets you virtually place furniture, from a new computer desk to a sofa to a dresser, in your room. You can move the furniture around on your phone to see how it fits in your space. The AR app uses digital information from your phone to automatically scale and place the furniture in your home. This lets customers see how the furniture will fit in their space, helping them make better purchasing decisions.

10. Pokémon Go

Pokémon Go allows players to take on Ash Ketchum ( Like Ash Ketchum, you can now fulfill your dream of catching Pokémon in the real world. The mobile game emerged at a time when AR apps were becoming accessible on smartphones and became a pop culture phenomenon.

The Pokémon Go app places Pokémon characters on a map. When the user finds a Pokémon in that location and points their smartphone at it, a digital image of the Pokémon is superimposed on a live video feed of that location. When the user gets close to the animation, it feels as if they are approaching a real animal.

11. AR Wine Label from 19 Crimes

California wine brand 19 Crimes is using augmented reality (AR) to add a storytelling element to its packaging. When a customer holds their smartphone up to a 19 Crimes label, the brand’s AR app uses object detection technology to identify which bottle it is (no QR codes required).

The characters depicted on the labels come to life and deliver short monologues about their crimes, adding a sense of real-life crime to an evening of wine. This creative use of technology has generated a lot of press coverage and social media buzz about 19 Crimes.

Augmented Reality (AR) Case FAQs

What is the difference between VR (Virtual Reality) and AR (Augmented Reality)?

Virtual reality (VR) uses goggles to block out the user’s surroundings and provide a fully immersive experience. VR is designed to disconnect the user from the real world and completely immerse the user in a virtual environment. Augmented reality (AR), on the other hand, mixes digital elements with the real world, allowing the user to experience virtual content overlaid on the real world.

Where is Augmented Reality Used?

Augmented reality technology is being used across a number of industries. For example, the Smithsonian Museum is using AR to create interactive and educational museum exhibits, and fashion brand Rebecca Minkoff is using AR to allow consumers to interact digitally with its products.

What are the benefits of using augmented reality in marketing?

The biggest advantage of using augmented reality in marketing is interactivity. AR allows potential customers to interact with your product or brand without having to visit a store. Customers can experience how your product fits into their everyday life from the comfort of their own home. This can help them make purchasing decisions and create a deeper perception of your brand.