In recent years, Augmented Reality (AR) has been a hot topic in a variety of fields, such as improving business efficiency for companies, optimizing marketing, and improving customer experience, and is being adopted. AR technology is gaining attention as a technology that displays digital information in the real world using smartphones, tablets, and AR glasses, and provides new communication methods and experiential content.
Downloading the app also allows for a more advanced augmented reality experience.
In this article, we will explain the basics of AR, examples of use in business situations, and key points to implementing it. We will also introduce in detail how companies can utilize AR, including the latest technologies and market trends.
Contents
What is AR? The importance of business use
Definition and basics of AR (Augmented Reality)
AR (Augmented Reality) is a technology that overlays and displays digital information on the real world. Virtual images, 3D objects, text information, and more can be displayed in real time in the scenery in front of you through devices such as smartphones, tablets, and AR glasses.
Unlike VR (virtual reality), AR is characterized by its ability to combine digital information while making use of the real world, rather than creating a complete virtual space. As a result, it can be used without any discomfort in everyday life and business settings, and is being introduced in a wide range of fields. In particular, there are more and more situations where companies are working together with their marketing strategies and digital advertising to provide new customer experiences.
For example, in retail, virtual try-ons allow customers to see the size without actually wearing clothes. By utilizing the facial recognition function using a camera, more precise fitting is possible.
In the manufacturing industry, displaying AR manuals for workers contributes to improving the accuracy and efficiency of operations.
In recent years, filters and games that use smartphones such as Pokemon GO have become popular, making them familiar to the entertainment field.
Market size and growth forecast
The AR market is expanding rapidly, and the introduction of AR technology is accelerating as companies promote digitalization.
Market research shows that the market size of AR technology will grow significantly over the next few years, and its use in the business sector is expected to expand. The reasons behind this growth are the following factors:
5G communications spread
With the establishment of a high-speed, low-latency communication environment, real-time data display is now possible.
An increase in high-performance smart devices
The evolution of smartphones and AR glasses has made it possible to create a more advanced AR experience.
Progress in corporate digital utilization
Along with business DX (digital transformation), more and more companies have adopted AR with the aim of improving their operations and improving customer experience.
In particular, the retail, manufacturing, education, tourism and entertainment industries are using AR technology in order to improve operational efficiency and provide new customer experiences. Recently, there has been an increase in interactive AR content that uses videos and videos, allowing for a more realistic experience on the screen.
It is expected that in the future, more advanced AR experiences will be possible by combining AI technology, and real-time data analysis and personalization functions will be improved. This will further expand the impact of AR on business and further expand the scope of AR technology utilization.
Examples of business use of AR
Augmented reality (AR) is used in a variety of industries as a way to make a visual impact and increase brand awareness and marketing effectiveness. Here we will introduce recommended ways to use the business based on actual examples provided by AR Works.
1. Tourism: Tomioka Silk Mill AR x Stamp Rally held
Source: https://promotion.ar-works.jp/20241121-2/
The World Heritage Site, Tomioka Silk Mill, has introduced an AR stamp rally in a quiz format that utilizes AR. When visitors hold their smartphones up, quizzes will be asked at each spot, allowing them to tour the facility like a game.
- Extend facility stay time and improve mobility
- Improve your tourism experience with digital content
- Acquiring visitor data and using marketing through questionnaires
2. Entertainment Industry: Toei Promotion
Source: https://promotion.ar-works.jp/20240412-2/
Toei has introduced AR photo spots as a promotion. When you hold your smartphone at the event venue, you will see an "AR photo frame" that allows you to experience the various countries that appear in King Oger 360 degrees, allowing visitors to enjoy sharing on social media.
- Improved event attendance satisfaction
- Creating natural word-of-mouth effects through social media spread
- We can offer special experiences that you can't experience at the event venue
3. Beverage manufacturer: Asahi Beer survey link
Source: https://promotion.ar-works.jp/20240514-2/
At Asahi Brewery, we not only promoted our products, but also made it easier to access surveys using AR. By smoothly directing consumers to a survey form after experiencing AR content on their smartphones, they have made it possible to obtain marketing data.
- Improved survey response rate through AR experience
- Naturally collected data
- Deepen understanding of products and contribute to improving brand image
4. Local government: Use of social media to commemorate the visit of Okaya City Hall
Source: https://promotion.ar-works.jp/20240604-2/
Okaya City Hall has run a social media campaign using AR content for event visitors. Visitors experienced AR on their smartphones, took and posted commemorative photos to promote the event and communicated the charm of the local community.
- Improved event participants' satisfaction
- Strengthening regional promotion through social media spread
- Realizing tourism promotion using AR
Advantages and disadvantages of introducing AR
Benefits of AR implementation
1. Efficiency in business
In manufacturing, AR manuals for workers make it easier to check procedures, reducing work errors and improving productivity. It is also used to support remote work, allowing support even without skilled technicians on-site.
2. Improve the customer experience
Retailers use virtual try-ons, allowing customers to try on at home, which increases their purchasing motivation. Tourism offers AR navigation and historic building restoration, bringing new experiences to travelers.
3. Strengthen your marketing
By leveraging AR advertising and interactive promotions, businesses can reach new ways of interacting with their customers. In particular, AR campaigns linked to social media make it easier for users to share content, leading to increased brand awareness.
4. Easy implementation and improved user convenience
AR allows users to easily experience the game by utilizing WebAR technology without downloading a dedicated app or requiring registration or login. This allows businesses to implement effective AR policies while reducing the burden on users.
Disadvantages of AR installation
On the other hand, there are also challenges to implementing AR, such as cost and technical hurdles.
1. High initial cost
AR systems are costly to develop and install. In particular, when creating original AR content, high development and maintenance costs will be incurred, making it a particularly heavy burden for small and medium-sized enterprises. Furthermore, in order to provide a high-quality AR experience, it is necessary to develop high-performance devices and dedicated apps, and the current hurdles to implementing them are high.
2. Hardware constraints
Today, many AR experiences are offered through smartphones and tablets. However, these devices have the challenge of using a large battery consumption and not being suitable for long periods of use. Furthermore, since you need to keep your smartphone while operating it, it is not suitable for continuous use in business purposes.
It is believed that this problem will be improved if AR glasses become more popular in the future. The reason is that major companies are focusing on developing AR glasses, including the evolution of Apple's Vision Pro and Meta's Quest series.
In particular, the weight reduction and visibility has progressed, making it possible to experience AR hands-free, making it possible to use the business more practically.
3. Handling of personal information
By utilizing AR technology, you can obtain user location information and behavioral data, providing a more personalized experience. However, appropriate management is required as regulations regarding the handling of personal information and privacy protection are required.
In particular, when companies collect customer data through AR, it is essential to comply with laws such as privacy protection and GDPR (EU General Data Protection Regulation). Building an appropriate data management system and providing transparent explanations to users is the key to gaining trust.
Key points when installing AR
When implementing AR in your business, it is important to clearly state your purpose and choose the right technology and partner. To succeed, you need to keep the following points in mind:
1. Clarify the purpose of the introduction
Before introducing AR, it is important to clarify which issues it will be used to solve. For example, you can choose the appropriate way to use the product by clarifying your purpose, such as improving customer experience in retail, or improving business efficiency in manufacturing.
2. Choose the right technology and device
AR offers a variety of experience methods, including smartphone AR and AR glasses, depending on the device you use. Choosing the right device for your application is the key to increasing practicality. For example, AR glasses are suitable for working support, and smartphone AR is effective for marketing purposes.
3. Select a development partner
AR development requires specialized technology, so collaboration with external development companies is important. In particular, selecting partners with success stories for each industry will allow for smooth implementation. By choosing a company with extensive development experience, you can achieve high-quality AR content while keeping costs down.
4. Estimate operation and costs
AR implementation not only involves development, but also costs operation and maintenance. It is necessary to calculate cost-effectiveness from a long-term perspective and consider the ROI (return on investment). In particular, when using AR glasses or dedicated apps, you should also consider the cost of implementing and updating the device.
Future prospects for AR business
AR technology is expected to evolve further in the future, and its use will expand in various fields of business. In particular, we can predict that the spread of 5G communication and the integration with AI will greatly improve the practicality of AR, and that more companies will consider adopting it.
The evolution of 5G x AR
With the spread of 5G, a high-speed, low-latency communication environment has been created, allowing for high-definition AR experiences in real time. For example, telemedicine will allow for more accurate surgical support, while workers can display design data in real time at construction sites, making business more efficient.
The benefits of AI x AR
By combining AI technology and AR, a more advanced user experience is possible. For example, in the retail industry, services are being developed that propose the most suitable product on AR based on customer purchase history and behavioral data. In the field of education, interactive teaching materials are provided that suit the level of understanding of learners, creating a more flexible learning environment.
AR glasses popular
In recent years, major companies such as Apple's Vision Pro and Meta's Quest have been developing next-generation AR glasses, and lighter, higher-performance devices have been appearing. This will allow for a more intuitive and practical AR experience than traditional smartphone AR, and is thought to increase its use in particular for business purposes.
Metaverse integration
AR is expected to create further business opportunities through collaboration with Metaverse (virtual space). Companies can create new customer contacts through virtual shopping and online events using AR. This has accelerated the movement to unlock new markets without being bound by traditional marketing techniques.
As AR technology advances in the future, it is expected that companies will seek more effective ways to utilize it and create new business opportunities. By properly incorporating AR, you will be able to provide competitive services and products and accelerate business growth.
summary
In recent years, AR (Augmented Reality) has been used in a wide range of industries, including tourism, entertainment, sports, beverage manufacturers, local governments, and commercial facilities, and has contributed to corporate marketing, branding, and improving business efficiency.
In this article, we introduced specific examples such as the AR stamp rally at Tomioka Silk Mill, Toei's promotion, Tokyo Verdi's 3D mascot, and Asahi Beer's AR x survey measures. As can be seen from these examples, AR combines the appeal of "experienced content" and the practical aspects of data utilization.
In particular, technologies such as AR photo frames, stamp rally, 3D content, survey linkage, and location information control are combined to produce results such as improving consumer and visitors' satisfaction, extending time spent stays, and improving marketing effectiveness.
In the future, it is expected that the spread of 5G, collaboration with AI, and the evolution of AR glasses will become possible to create a more realistic and sophisticated AR experience. In particular, real-time information provision and personalization will advance, and AR will become increasingly popular as a means of promoting companies and improving business operations.
Choosing a proven partner is important to introduce AR and lead to business growth. By receiving appropriate implementation support and guidance, you can make use of AR smoothly. If you are considering introducing or using AR, please feel free to contact us for details.
![[AR experience available] The dinosaurs start moving on the spot! Examples of use of AR dinosaurs and their introduction points](https://promotion.ar-works.jp/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/icatch.jpeg)
