How augmented reality will shape web design in the next five years

Augmented reality, or AR, sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but it’s something that we’re all going to be seeing an awful lot more of in the coming months.

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An article in Forbes makes the startling claim that by 2020, one billion users worldwide will be making use of the technology. Businesses with an eye on the future need to be getting up to speed with the technology right now.

What is augmented reality?

Don’t confuse AR with its better-known cousin, virtual reality, or VR. With VR, the consumer is transported to a digital world via a headset for a completely immersive experience. With AR, on the other hand, objects that aren’t really there can be viewed from all angles through your device screen, making for a heady mix of real life and virtual reality working together.

What are the benefits of augmented reality?

With a little help from AR technology, your potential customers can view your products from the comfort of their own home in a more interactive way than ever before. If they want to see that pair of shoes that you have on special offer, they can view them in full 3D from every conceivable angle, unlike with photographs, which can only offer a two-dimensional representation.

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Once your prospective customers have seen your goods appear as if by magic in their own home, they are far more likely to go ahead and complete the purchase, so the technology is predicted to drive sales while also making it easier for businesses to operate without the expense of a showroom or physical shop.

How can my business benefit?

The word is spreading about the potential increase in sales offered by AR, so it’s important to get on board as soon as possible or risk being left behind.

Your first task is to find a web designer who can incorporate the technology into your website. Whether you’re in search of web design in Yorkshire or Yeovil, you’ll find plenty of great design teams, such as etempa.co.uk, who will take the time to understand your business and create features and apps that utilise AR to showcase your products.

Let your customers interact with your products in ways that they’d never imagined, and see how your business grows as a result.