According to BBC research, by 2024 the augmented reality (AR) industry could reach a market valuation of $162 billion. The increasing demand for AR-based devices and gadgets contributes to the steady growth of mobile apps, meaning that AR is starting to influence the way applications are being developed. Industries like healthcare, finance, and real estate are turning to mobile application companies to help them deal with current market changes and customer behaviors.
AR, a direct influence in mobile application development worldwide
Today’s digital world is governed by iOS and Android smartphones. To preserve their scope, AR-based apps will have to consider cross-platform development to stay relevant. IKEA, for example, one of the world’s most renowned furniture manufacturers, trumped the competition when it launched its AR-based mobile app. The aim of the application was to enable customers to see products in real-time from their smartphones.
Providing an outstanding user experience is one of the main purposes of augmented reality. As a result, increasingly more companies are realizing that customer preferences are changing. To keep people engaged, realistic visualization of products seen from behind the screen of a smartphone makes a mobile application stand out from the crowd.
Geo-AR for relevant user experiences
Location-based AR leverages geo-location data to enable users to visually interact with physical locations around the world via an augmented overlay. For users, the experience is fully immersive as it can provide a vivid picture of a city, landmark, museum, etc. Mobile applications using geo-AR are gaining momentum, and the best example is Pokemon Go, one of the world’s most successful mobile games created. In 20 days from the launch, the AR-based mobile app reached $100 million in revenue.
Google Lens, for example, uses cloud computing to identify landmarks, text, objects, and images within photographs taken with a smartphone. AR selfie camera YouCam Makeup makes virtual make-up testing a lot easier. It enables users to test in real-time various beauty products (e.g. eye makeup, lipstick, foundation) from some of the world’s top brands.
Innovative eLearning for streamlined education
Mobile apps featuring AR technology can make the education sector a lot more efficient and creative. Before the pandemic, eLearning was barely accepted let alone embraced by schools and universities. But Covid-19 has been a catalyst in education because it made online learning mandatory.
AR mobile apps can benefit both tutors and scholars. On the one hand, they provide a streamlined curriculum based on animations and graphics to ease teaching; on the other hand, students and scholars can interact in real-time with their teachers, thus remaining interested and active during class.
Real-life simulations & outstanding in-store experience
AR-based mobile apps are revolutionizing the world of mobile app development with their ability to provide real-life product simulations. Sephora, for example, enables customers to test makeup via its live Virtual Artist 3D mobile app. In retail, such mobile apps allow potential customers to try on different garments via virtual fitting rooms. To some extent, it saves them time and money because it prevents them from buying clothes that don’t fit.
The main challenge of AR in mobile app development is that it comes with a price. Small to midsize companies don’t have the technical know-how or the budget to develop AR in-house. The solution would be to partner up with a trusted mobile app development company in Dallas such as App Maisters to help streamline the process.
There’s no doubt that augmented reality is gaining momentum in the mobile app development industry. Although the main drawback is that it comes at a hefty price for small and midsize companies, the key is to take a risk and partner with the best in the industry to get things started.
