The AR market size is currently 16.58 billion USD, and it is expected to grow in the future. As more and more companies integrate AR technologies, AR companies will become more important.
Key takeaways:
- AR companies make 3D projections of objects and interface tools, and help companies integrate AR tech into their existing processes
- We will see significant innovations in the AR space when the technology matures
- ScienceSoft, Nvidia, and Snap are companies altering the AR scape
In late 2008, BMW ran an advertisement in three auto magazines to promote its newest convertible, the MINI Cabrio. Like any other advertorial spread, BMW listed the MINI's product features. The key difference being it also provided readers with a link to a custom-built website and a series of instructions. Users who accessed the site could use their computer webcams and see a 3D model of the car projected on top of the paper magazine ad. Moreover, when the advertisement moved, so did the 3D model in real-time.
The campaign was the first of its kind and was incredibly successful. Although the company did not see a major increase in sales owing to the global economic crisis, the losses were much lower than expected at about 10.4% the same year.
BMW not only managed to ride the curiosity of their customers, but they also attained excellent PR coverage through AR marketing. All this was possible due to the two media houses and augmented reality companies that ideated this campaign - Buzzin Monkey and die agentour GmbH.
What are AR companies?
Unlike virtual reality companies that primarily develop the technology to have VR experiences, AR companies deal with augmented reality products, services, and technology. The companies in AR develop the technology to make 3D and AR projections, make interface tools like glasses and help other businesses integrate 3D and AR tech into their existing processes.
HTC Vive, a VR company, for instance, develops controllers, adaptors, headsets and base stations needed for fully immersive digital experiences. While Microsoft Hololens develops AR/MR headsets integrating 3D digital objects into real-world environments.
AR companies also differ from metaverse companies. After all, the latter also builds the tools and technology required in the metaverse. Epic Games, a gaming-focused metaverse company, is currently investing in Unreal Engine for creating life-like experiences in its games. Previously, the company invested in animation capabilities to integrate story characters into the metaverse.
A brief history of AR companies
Up until 2008, AR was largely limited to sectors like military, defense, industry, or aviation. Only in the 2010s did AR open to the masses. Companies like Coca Cola, Disney, and Pepsi briefly made large-scale commercial AR campaigns. But never once was AR adopted en masse by companies. Even giants like Google tested the waters before committing to AR product development.
To work well, AR needs three things - a depth-sensing camera, motion sensing, and 3D software to project the 3D image onto the real-world environment. In the beginning, companies like Disney, Coca Cola, and Pepsi had to invest in all three every time they launched a new AR campaign.
Take the case of Pepsi Max's 2014 augmented reality campaign in London. The campaign's goal was to record the reactions of unsuspecting visitors as their bathroom mirror reflections turned into Halloween characters.
The beverage company partnered with multiple agencies, including advertising firm AMV, Faceshift, Add Music Media, and RAD London, to run the campaign. The brand had to invest in and install the necessary tech in the bathrooms to ensure the campaign was successful.
Pepsi earned 2M views owing to the campaign's success, but it spent a lot of money to get it running.
AR technology has become more accessible over the years owing to AR-compatible smartphones. AR glasses and headsets have complicated designs and connectivity issues. And companies still need to figure out how to deliver AR services to end users efficiently. All of this has led to the slower adoption of AR tech.
The current mobile AR market is worth 16.58 billion USD in 2022. And that figure is expected to reach 36.36 billion USD in 2026. With AR expected to grow this rapidly, companies sitting on the fence about AR tech should partner with AR companies and get started with it now.
3 successful companies in AR: ScienceSoft, Nvidia, Snap
- ScienceSoft: One of the oldest AR and VR companies in the market, ScienceSoft helps its partner companies with app development, content design, and creating photo-realistic 3D models. The company has helped develop AR apps for leading retailers, worked on digital signage for retailers, developed models for an interior design app, and more.
- Nvidia: This is one of the few companies actively involved in developing the metaverse. To enable openness and promote developer collaborations, it launched the Omniverse platform. Here, they can share 3D graphics in a unified format, no matter the tools they use to create them. Enterprises like Siemens and Ericsson are using the Omniverse to develop digital twins of their service areas and run simulations.
- Snap: A company that has already made AR tech more accessible to the masses, Snap has expanded to creating AR tech for companies over the past years. It recently updated its try-on tech for eyeglasses, making AR fittings more accurate. It partnered with Prada to help Snapchat users shopping over the app have a seamless experience through gestures.
