Advancements in technology have always triggered improvements which have made life better. Technology making life better continues in the pharmaceutical industry, the mining industry, the healthcare industry, and even the automotive industry for instance.
Making life better for everyone is the purpose of implementing technological advancement in the first place.
Two such advancements are that of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), and the effects of its implementation in the automotive industry as we know it.
Virtual the reality is a simulated experience which can be similar to or different from the real world.
It enable you to impart entertainment and educational experiences. Other distinct types of VR include mixed reality and augmented reality.
Augmented reality is an interactive experience of a real-world environment.
AR is where the objects that reside there are enhanced by computer-generated perceptual information, sometimes across many sensory modalities including auditory, visual, haptic, olfactory and somatosensory.
The primary big difference between AR and VR is that augmented reality adds digital elements to a live view.
AR and VR tend to be delivered through the use of the camera on a smartphone, etc. Virtual reality implies a whole physical immersion experience that eliminates the physical world.
How do AR and VR play a part in the automotive industry?
That’s simple. Gone are the days when whatever you did was in person and on-site, and where products and services had to be examined by pressing them.
Advancements in technology have allowed us as both manufacturers and consumers to create an even more intimate relationship with people and objects than anyone might have ever imagined early in the day.
The way manufacturers have had to promote their products and services has changed since the advent of the internet. Manufacturers who once relied on mass advertising, now focus on more a targeted method of the way their goods are offered.
What we aim to achieve is an understanding of the several applications that augmented and virtual reality have in the automotive industry thus far.
Immersive virtual reality.
Some say that you can judge a person by the car they drive. That is normally said as cars like all non-commercial vehicles are expressions of the owner’s personality. Automotive manufacturers are actually implementing an immersive virtual reality experience to not only influence the purchasing decisions of their prospective customers but to create and reinforce strong brand loyalty.
There are a few ways that automotive manufacturers missout on snagging loyal clients for several reasons, be it, lack of relevance that’s unique to a customer, poor transparency, and failure to meet up customer expectations.
By implementing immersive technologies like AR and VR, automotive manufacturers can cause a realistic comparison of the look and feel of the actual product. An authentic view and understanding by consumers goes a long way to lessen post-purchase dissonance and increases transparency.
With a virtual showroom, automotive organizations can make the process of purchasing a new vehicle less stressful.
By applying this experience, clients can toggle between a variety of options to ensure that they end up picking a final product that most useful suits their needs and personality.
These options can be any such thing from the color of the interiors, customized seating arrangements, and seats among other options. The possibilities are endless. Another great advantage of a virtual showroom in comparison to a full-scale showroom is that the costs required to setup a virtual showroom are much lesser.
Having virtual models doesn’t require manufacturers and retailers to keep up variations of a variety of physical models. Always being required to have every model in the showroom can cause the possibility of unsold cars as a result of unpopular color code, for example, whose value depreciates with each passing day, and will sooner or later become a loss for dealers.
With the help of this technology, dealers can manage their inventories and permit them to better anticipate customer preferences.
AR customer experience
AR usage in the automotive industry has bought a huge change in the automotive industry. BMW was the first to use AR in the automotive industry. It has been unearthed that over 40% of individuals are willing to buy a product that’s AR compatible. And, that is no exception for the automotive industry.
An example of how manufacturers have found on this insight is that of BMW partnering with Accenture to construct an AR app that allows prospects to explore future car models and never have to leave the comfort of their domiciles.
It also allows them to produce customizations to these AR models based on their preferences.
Virtual car simulation.
Simulators have been in use for some time now. Think like, simulators for pilot or astronaut training, military applications, and other teaching modalities. It’s understandable that the application of simulators in the automotive industry exists.
Virtual simulators aren’t only found in driver training facilities but can also allow manufacturers to operate trials, test theories and carry out general market trends. For example, manufacturers can run controlled tests to determine the greatest ergonomic settings for drivers, which, subsequently, improves road safety and this will result in greater brand loyalty.
VR test driving.
Harnessing the power of VR, manufacturers have begun investing in 360-degree videos to provide potential customers a notion of what it will be prefer to own and drive a specific model. It has been shown to be as effective as possessing a virtual showroom. A virtual showroom works particularly well for terrain-specific vehicles like a vehicle from Jeep or BMW that is created to conquer off-road terrain.
Virtual simulators allow prospects to have a virtual try out and experience a vehicle of their choosing in a safe environment. At the same time, manufacturers and dealers need not purchase expensive test vehicles that may reduce their overheads quite significantly.
The dealers can help by allowing the customer to produce better-informed decisions than they’d have by examining a vehicle in a showroom.
AR for self-servicing.
Augmented the reality is a very purposeful technology as it can certainly help clients carry out tasks that do not want a mechanic. And, that is something that manufacturers can offer as an ingredient of a self-service package. Self-serve AR allows users to connect to the real-world using computer-supported graphics.
Augmented reality can be used to complete simple tasks such as how exactly to replace the windshield washer fluid in your car to more complicated tasks like ensuring the wiring under your car’s bonnet is configured.
The use of AR enables a customer to determine what is wrong with the vehicle before they have to go to a mechanic and this will foster a better relationship between an individual and the manufacturer.
VR for nostalgia.
Nostalgia is a superb marketing tool. Using the feelings originating from nostalgia is just a brilliant way of reminding people of where your brand has been, where it stands and the direction it’s headed in. Through nostalgia, patrons form an emotional connection with a brandname and this subsequently increases brand loyalty.
Manufacturers can record and share 360-degree videos of expos, auto shows or even pop-up booth stores globally and this has been shown to be a great technique to implement to boost engagement levels with prospects of a brandname.
Nostalgia enriches the entire story-telling process of a brand.
Conclusion
Although relatively new, the use of immersive technology such as for example augmented reality and virtual reality in the automotive industry is gaining traction. The number of its applications are increasing aswell.
Automotive companies which can be investing in these forms of immersive technology are projected to gain a competitive edge over other market players. These days, the idea of a ‘sharing economy’ has brought center stage, making the art of selling new vehicles a much more challenging process.
Through the effective implementation of these technologies, automotive manufacturers and dealers can turn to increase safety norms, keep your charges down, and make the entire experience of purchasing a new vehicle all the more fun, which, subsequently, is anticipated to take the automotive industry to new heights.
