AR and Virtual Events: Augmenting Reality in the COVID-19 Era

Do you need to launch a new product? Would you like to have a more interactive and engaging training workshop? How can you extend your reach to a broader audience on your opening day without having to step out of your office or home?

With the help of an efficient and innovative virtual event platform, you can conduct events that will provide a safe environment while still achieving your brand and business goals.

AR as a Vital Tool in the New Normal

COVID-19 has undeniably changed lives. With it came numerous adjustments that people must make to be able to cope with its effects. It has affected businesses, livelihoods, and whole economic and social systems. To say that it has wreaked havoc on the world is an understatement.

Yet, humans are designed to cope with changes. As the days move on, humanity continues to find solutions to situations that the pandemic has created. For example, the use of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR), and extended reality (XR) technologies has escalated.

In retail alone, the COVID-19 pandemic has propelled the shift to digital shopping by about five years, according to IBM’s 2020 U.S. Retail Index Report. With the pandemic as a crucial turning point, the International Data Corporation (IDC), in its Worldwide Augmented and Virtual Reality Spending Guide, shares that AR/VR is forecasted to grow from over $12 billion in 2020 to $72.8 billion in 2024.

This figure is not surprising, seeing how COVID-19 has brought on physical distancing orders and spurred contactless interactions and transactions. While AR has been around since 1968, its value has grown exponentially since the pandemic started. Businesses and consumers both have realized the need for a different approach in conducting their affairs while coping with current realities.

These days, organizations turn to AR and other deep technologies to augment the discrepancies caused by the COVID-19 crisis. For example, real estate businesses use AR/VR/MR when showing fully furnished apartments for sale to potential buyers. Even fashion and beauty brands like Estée Lauder, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and MiuMiu have turned to these modern technologies to supplement their branding and business efforts.

The events industry is one such field where AR and similar technologies are gaining ground. Here are some examples of events where AR, VR, MR, or XR can play a crucial role and help to turn them into a success:

1.        Virtual Career Fairs

If your company usually holds career fairs to vet potential employees but couldn’t do so anymore because of the pandemic, then AR can be of great help. With AR or MR, you can launch a Virtual Career Fair. Whether it is to connect companies with the most qualified candidates or scout new hires, a digital career fair can open new doors to both organizations and job seekers.

With AR technology, you can conduct virtual career fairs in the comfort of your own home. You can have an appealing and effective AR-powered job event that allows you to create customized registration forms, gamify content, and deliver meaningful information through live webinars and discussions.

Applicants are provided a rich and interactive environment with AR booths and stands that give them brochures, images, presentations, or videos that may help them know more about the company. Connecting and networking are also made easier with the use of digital communication tools. Exchanging business cards, sharing resumes, and even conducting interviews can be done in real-time through unlimited text chats or one-to-one voice calls.

2.        Virtual Conferences, Ceremonies, and Meetings

Impress your audience as you host a virtual conference, ceremony, or meeting in a 3D world complete with live Q&A sessions, reaction emoticons, polls and surveys, and other innovative functionalities. Move forward from the usual video conferencing tools and switch to a highly engaging and unique platform.

With AR and XR technologies, you can captivate your audience by using customizable content and tools such as tailor-made registration forms, personalized avatars for guests, and custom-designed virtual auditoriums, conference halls, or meeting rooms. You can even gain insightful information with a personalized report of your event through analytics and metrics.

3.        Virtual Education and Learning

The pandemic also hastened the impetus to switch to online learning, training, and workshop sessions. If you are in the education or learning field, augment the need for a more interactive learning experience with AR, VR, or MR.

Create a virtual learning environment using an AR platformthat encourages personalized learning for every student. Depending on your specific requirements, an experienced and proficient AR developer can customize a learning platform that makes it easy and engaging to use.

Live discussions, pre-recorded sessions, and other study materials are made available through different communications tools. Connecting, conversing, and exchanging information and ideas with classroom participants are made more enticing and exciting as AR can be used to include interactive games and challenges, all designed to promote learning.

4.        Virtual Exhibitions, Product Launches, and Trade Shows

Whether it’s a new product that you are launching, or you’re showcasing the different products of your association, you can do so without fear of breaking COVID-19 health and safety protocols with the help of virtual exhibits and shows.

There’s no need to worry about physical distancing guidelines as AR-driven events can captivate, engage, entertain, and sell to your audience without you leaving the confines of your home or office. Through ingenious digital tools, you can build a highly interactive environment that will support your event objectives.

Show a virtual replica of the car you’re launching, allow guests to virtually try on your new spring/summer fashion collection, and encourage buyers to shop virtually at your online trade show. There are many possibilities because you can ask the AR/VR company to customize the platform according to your specific requirements.

You can find out the event turnout, sales revenue, or which booths got the most number of visits through a detailed report.

AR as a Road to the Future

AR and other deep tech tools can lead you, your business, or your organization closer to achieving your goals. Just make sure to partner with an AR company specializing in a broad spectrum of extended reality services and solutions. Look for one with an excellent track record in providing clients with outstanding virtual events, AR and MR solutions, and excellent customer service.

The pandemic may have prevented people from doing things they used to do, but going the AR route is proof that change may not necessarily be a bad thing. Facing changes, like switching to AR and other digital solutions, maybe the road to a better future.