AR-TECHNOLOGIES – EXAMPLES AND APPLICATIONS FOR BUSINESS

Modern technologies are rapidly transforming our environment, opening up new horizons for interaction with information, products, and each other. Augmented reality has become one of the most impressive tools of digital transformation. In this article, we will understand what AR technologies are, how they work, where they are used, and what benefits they provide to business and society.

What is AR (Augmented Reality) technology?

AR (Augmented Reality) is a technology that combines the physical environment with digital visual elements in real time. This means that a user sees not only the world around him or her but also additional objects created by a computer through the screen of a smartphone, tablet, or augmented reality glasses: 3D graphics, text, images, animation, or sound.

Simply put, augmented reality technology is a tool that allows you to expand your usual experience of interacting with the world without leaving it.

How does augmented reality work?

AR works by combining several technologies:

• A camera and sensors capture the physical environment.
• Data processing interprets visual information.
• Rendering adds digital elements to the real space.
• The interface allows you to interact with virtual objects.

Unlike virtual reality, where the user is completely immersed in a digital space, AR technologies are a way to complement reality, not replace it.

Where AR technologies are used – an overview of industries

1. AR technologies in advertising and marketing 

AR technologies are becoming key in modern advertising. They help to create unique user experiences: interactive packaging, bringing billboards to life, or virtual product fittings.

For example, using an AR app, you can try on furniture at home. This is exactly the need we addressed with our ShopAR service, a specialized augmented reality platform that allows customers to place virtual furniture in any room in seconds. Thanks to a simple interface, the user can evaluate how the selected piece of furniture will look in their space in just 2 clicks and 30 seconds, which significantly increases conversion and reduces the number of returns.

2. Education

Augmented reality makes learning more interactive and visual. Textbooks come to life, complex concepts become clearer thanks to 3D visualizations, and students are motivated to learn.

A practical example of this approach is our project with an interactive book cover. By pointing a smartphone camera at an ordinary cover, readers can see and hear the author personally presenting her work and reading a foreword. This creates a special connection between the reader and the author, making the book experience more personal and engaging.

3. Games and entertainment

AR games allow users to move around in the real world and interact with virtual objects. This combination of physical activity and gamification attracts a wide audience.

The simplest examples of AR entertainment are the interactive filters on social media that we see every day, from masks with effects to mini-games activated by facial movements or gestures. These filters not only entertain, but also encourage users to create and share content.

More complex and exciting are AR quests, which we have successfully implemented in Ocean Plaza and Respublika shopping centers. Participants of such quests receive tasks that need to be completed in real space using augmented reality – finding virtual objects, solving puzzles and interacting with AR characters. This creates a unique experience that combines shopping entertainment with innovative technologies, engaging visitors and extending their time in the mall.

4. Tourism and cultural heritage

Thanks to AR, tourists can see reconstructions of historical sites or receive information about objects through a smartphone camera.

AR reality as a way to tell a story allows museums and guides to engage visitors with multimedia content.

A striking example of this use of technology was our AR Independence Square project. With this app, visitors to Ukraine’s main square can see a virtual reconstruction of key events that took place on the Maidan. By pointing the camera at certain locations, users can observe historical moments in augmented reality – from the “yolka” to the barricades of the Revolution of Dignity.

This approach allows not only to preserve historical memory but also to make it accessible to new generations in a modern, technological format. Tourists and residents of Kyiv get the opportunity to “travel in time” by standing in the very place where the country’s landmark events took place.

5. Art and exhibitions

Interactive installations, digital galleries, and exhibitions are becoming more accessible and spectacular thanks to AR technologies.

An example of innovative use of augmented reality in the cultural sphere was our project of AR-mirrors with famous Ukrainian writers for the Book Arsenal festival. Thanks to this technology, visitors could see “animated” writers who read their poems in their own voices and shared their thoughts with the guests of the exhibition.

Standing in front of the AR-mirror, people seemed to find themselves in a personal conversation with their favorite authors, which created an incredibly emotional and memorable experience. This approach demonstrates how modern technologies can revive cultural memory and make art more interactive and accessible to a wider audience.

Foreign experience of using AR technologies

1. Duolingo is revolutionizing language learning. The popular app has integrated AR for interactive learning, offering users tasks to recognize objects in the room and compose sentences. This makes memorizing new vocabulary much more efficient and fun.
2. Adidas is a showroom without physical shoes. In Sydney, the brand has created a revolutionary space where visitors can experience the Adizero collection exclusively through augmented reality, exploring each model and its functionality in detail without the need to try it on.
3. AR configurator for architects. Professional solutions allow architects to abandon paper layouts by creating interactive 3D building models that can be explored and modified in real time via smartphone.

These examples show how AR technologies are making our daily lives more interesting, convenient, and exciting. From education to entertainment, shopping to creativity, augmented reality opens up new opportunities for interaction with the world around us.

How AR technologies improve business processes

AR technologies for business are:

• Reduced costs for presentations and training.
• Increased conversion in e-commerce.
• Improved customer service quality.
• Innovative brand image.

AR is a tool that can increase audience engagement and simplify decision-making.

A comparative table: AR vs VR vs MR

The conclusion

Augmented reality technology is not just a fashion trend, but a powerful tool for solving practical problems in business, education, and culture. Its capabilities are growing every year, and the scope of its application is expanding from simple AR filters on social media to complex professional solutions in marketing and medicine.

AR technologies are about accessibility, engagement, and efficiency. Statistics speak for themselves: virtual fitting increases conversion by 40%, and interactive content increases audience engagement by 3-5 times.

With the right approach, AR technologies can become a catalyst for company growth and improve the quality of user experience. The best thing about this technology is that you can start with minimal investment – a simple AR filter or web AR solution is available even to small businesses.

Companies that experiment with AR today are setting the standards for tomorrow. They don’t just adapt to changes, they create them. Today it is a competitive advantage, tomorrow it will be a basic necessity.

By implementing augmented reality technologies, you are not just keeping up with the times – you are shaping the future.