Virtual and augmented reality have the potential to alter a wide range of sectors. Imagine if instead of getting in your car and commuting to work, you just put on a virtual reality headset and view the office digitally.

You may then launch a virtual keyboard to begin typing and build as many virtual displays as you want. Processing power will be handled by thousands of dispersed cloud computers, providing you with virtually limitless performance.

You’d be able to turn to your colleague next to you and converse with them as if they were physically present, even though they’re on the other side of the planet.

Do you find the workplace atmosphere too confining? Then, with a wave of your hand, you might transform it into a lovely island. None of this is far from a possibility.

However, VR is already transforming particular businesses and one of the industries that is already changing dramatically is the tradeshow and conference industry.

So, in this blog, let’s unlock the potential of AR at trade shows and how it enhance the marketing capabilities in number of ways.

How AR at Trade Shows Works?

There are several ways to include AR at trade shows. You may be tweak your innovation accordingly.

Offering App Powered by AR at Trade Shows

Offering visitors the option of downloading a product app powered by AR on their smartphones is one of the most prevalent and cost-effective choices. When people aim their phones at precise markers on the stand, they will be immersed in an immersive experience. The information you want to offer and the amount of interactions you may have with the product via the app are only limited by your creativity and money. The more ideas you have, the more intricate animated 3D models or interactive components you may make.

Capture Visitors’ Movements with Special Cameras

Another option is to build a compound stand that will use specific cameras to record visitors’ movements. A large-format screen, a computer, and a contactless controller are required. When a person enters the controller’s viewing range, virtual objects and pictures appear on the screen, allowing the user to interact with them.

Placing an Interactive Table Solution

You may also experiment with an interactive table solution, which entails outfitting a stand with a large-format screen, a touch panel, a video camera, a computer, and multiple tablets. A touchpad allows visitors to manage the presentation panel and simply swap between parts. This technology enables firms to deliver all relevant product information to trade fair attendees in an interactive manner.

So, with all those, interactive way here comes the question is it mandatory to implement AR at trade shows? Well, your answer comes here.

Why use AR at trade shows?

Expos and trade shows create a high-stakes environment in which firm’s battle for leads. Companies construct beautiful designs for their expo booths and provide freebies to visitors in order to stand out from their competitors.

Using AR during a trade show may provide firms with the competitive advantage as they attract the attention of a potential consumer. Exhibitors may create an immersive experience and increase engagement by utilizing AR-powered technologies such as smart glasses, iPads, or mobile applications. According to a Deloitte survey from 2022, 55% of customers believe that augmented reality (AR) at trade shows makes purchasing more entertaining and engaging. It’s logical to infer that the same holds true for exhibition visitor experiences.

Real-Time Scenarios of AR at trade shows being implemented by Big Corporates

Let’s discuss in handy about the real-time examples of how “Toyota” and “Lufthansa” offered an AR at trade shows.

1. The famed automaker, “Toyota” created an AR Kit-based app that uses an iPad Pro camera to monitor the Toyota TRD Pro trucks on exhibit at the show. A series of hotspots were put on the screen of the car, and a touchscreen allowed customers to tap on each hotspot to trigger special animations that demonstrated the technologies developed by the development team.
2. Lufthansa created an AR app demonstrating how to install an antenna on a Boeing 737 at the international Aircraft Interiors Expo 2018 in Hamburg. It scanned a marker that added a virtual 3D model of the antenna using a life-sized section cutout of an airplane fuselage and Wikitude’s image recognition technology. This allowed visitors to witness and better comprehend the antenna installation process.

Likewise, top giants in the manufacturing industry such as Honda, PureCycles, Volkswagen and many more have already started to create 3D catalogues for their product and showcasing the realistic 3D models of their products.

Not only in the car manufacturing, if you’re owing the jewelry business then you can play around the AR at trade shows. Yes, by using a customized 3D catalogue to display a 3D model of a diamond ring or necklace in a high-quality rendering can assist to fulfil the expectations of the most demanding clients.

Benefits of AR at Trade Shows

Make an Impression with AR Print Materials

When you go to a trade event, everyone is handing out traditional print materials like brochures and business cards. With AR elements, the material becomes more dynamic and interactive, and it might include additional information that would not display on a conventional page. By combining these materials with an augmented reality experience, you may make your print products considerably more memorable and striking.

You may have customers see your brochure using a smartphone app that adds a variety of elements to the layout. Flat photographs might be transformed into 3D models, with text that pops up to answer inquiries or provide important messages. You may even utilize animations to bring print material sceneries to life. You might also include icons that drive users to different pages on your website or social media.

Showcase Product in Versatile Manner

As previously said, you may be able to bring some of your items to a trade exhibition. However, constraints such as booth space and logistics typically preclude you from bringing every product for a showcase. Furthermore, many goods are impractical to demo during a trade fair. AR goes a long way toward resolving these issues.

Instead of just displaying brochures or a video clip demonstrating the goods, an AR presentation may deliver a far more effective experience. You may show the product precisely as it is in real time and straight in front of the user. This gives customers with an immersive experience that is a more accurate portrayal of how the product works in real life.

Create Engaging Experiences

The utilization of a product may be effectively simulated with augmented reality. A prospective consumer feels much more like they are actually using and viewing the product when they use your AR demo. They may experiment with various aspects, alter how it looks, and view it from various perspectives. This engages the person far more effectively than simply providing some print items or a video would.

A user feels a sense of ownership when they use an AR at trade shows to test out a product. They get a sense of what it would be like to possess it and the feeling that they have already utilized it. You can’t accomplish it using the more typical techniques employed by businesses at trade shows.

Increase Sales

Experiencing AR at trade shows will get people’s attention. It draws more visitors to your booth and engages them while they are there in a way that distinguishes your brand from the other options available at the event. Additionally, it will generate conversation and excitement about what your business is doing.

More leads and sales are generated by drawing more visitors to your booth and providing them with an engaging experience that sets you apart from the competition. You may generate interest in your business and its products by offering an experience that gets people talking and even having them demonstrate the experience for people they know. Due to this increased attention, AR at trade shows is now recognized as a technology that may help your business stand out from the competition at trade shows and immediately affect your bottom line.

Businesses must have the ability to adapt the change and test out the novel ideas if they want to stay ahead of the competition.