Augmented reality, the technology of overlaying graphical objects on the real world, is radiating everywhere, and all industries are trying to shine by leveraging this sophisticated real-time piece of advancement. One such niche is the automotive sector. This is one of the fastest expanding verticals whose market share falls in the category of trillion dollars.
As we are accepting more technologies in our lives, car manufacturing companies are trying to bring traditional vehicles on this digital platform. Nowadays, vehicles are getting so smart that a user doesn’t even need search for car’s manual to figure out how a particular thing operates.
The augmented reality platform is truly driving value for auto companies as well as customers. This tech is a win-win situation for all. Let’s dive deeper and have a look at how AR is transforming the complete automotive industry and how it is preparing us for the future.
AR is changing the automobile buyer persona
One of the biggest impacts of AR on the automobile industry is the complete shift of the buying persona of a customer. Traditionally, customer must walk into dealerships to check out the cars of their choice. And if a particular model or color is not available, they would probably settle by checking out some other car or another color.
Enter AR. With augmented reality, customers can check out their favorite car model, color, and specification just by projecting the car’s digital image onto the real world. They can have a look at the “virtual car” and make up their mind accordingly.
Not only is this adding value to car companies for upselling their products, but the customers are also having an unforgettable buying experience, which is completely different and more engaging. Companies are also integrating AR with social media to create compelling marketing campaigns.
Using SLAM (Simultaneous localization and mapping) technology, the car dealership can project the car’s 360 degrees impressions, and a user can walk around as if it were a real vehicle. That’s not all, using enhanced computer vision ecosystem, the buyer can also take a virtual test drive.
AR provides better education for customers
Gone are the days where the salesperson brought boring catalogues to educate customers about the new features of the vehicle they are buying. It didn’t add any value to the customer’s buying experience.
By using mixed reality, we can experience a comprehensive car tour or guide just by using smart glass. Many companies are shifting towards virtual studios where they can demonstrate each and every perk of a new car to the buyers. This is a more practical approach than 2D diagrams and reading manuals.
The virtual reality platform provides an interactive navigation system where the buyer can see how the engine works, what are the safety features and additional perks a car is offering. This process has slashed the customer training part by more than by 60 percent and also helped automobile companies to establish a firm relationship with buyers. Manufacturers are now having tie-ups with augmented reality technology companies to work on the consumer buying behavior and glean valuable insights.
AR is enhancing car safety
The most vital contribution of augmented reality in the automotive industry is security and awareness. Companies are implementing advanced safety systems which are backed up by augmented reality services as well as internet-connected safety features. For example, in case of a functional failure, drivers can get help from an AR app that will assist them in understanding the actual issue rather than forcing them into making a wild guess.
AR systems are also improving drivers’ focus by providing all the necessary navigation and car status information in front of them. So they don’t need to look at the central fixed dashboard. Just by using simple eye gestures, a driver can perform various activities without disrupting the concentration.
An example where this feature is showing promise is Australia, where several AR development companies are providing services to install AR safety features on cars.
The future is autonomous vehicles
The future belongs to self-driving cars and transportation vehicles. Where safety is concerned, companies are doing extensive research on how to make this whole concept more usable and safe. By using AI technologies such as machine learning, many companies have demonstrated successful trials of autonomous vehicles.
Others are fueling innovation by integrating augmented reality in vehicles. In Melbourne, researchers are working toward creating an entire driverless ecosystem where safety will be elevated. As the user still has an augmented reality app to handle the vehicle in case of emergency, but the complete automation will change the entire industry.
To wrap this, we can say that AR is one of the most promising technologies of our era. This is just the beginning, and we will experience more exciting innovation in the next couple of years.