B2B AR Marketing DONE RIGHT

Not just for B2C marketers anymore, augmented reality is quickly becoming the expected norm for consumers. With engagement rates at 200% higher than other non-AR equivalents (Reydar), it feels like the logical decision to use AR in your marketing campaign today… And yet, many are still dragging their feet. These B2B marketers run the risk of being left behind, especially by brands that have been in the AR game for years now. 

Our recent blog post covered 6 ways AR makes sense for your B2B marketing, and we touched on a number of different brands that are innovating with a variety of AR marketing initiatives for the B2B sales. Today, let’s take a deeper dive into five of these B2B brands that have hopped on the AR bandwagon, and get you inspired to start your own AR ad campaigns ASAP!

Cisco

In a stroke of AR brilliance, and with the use of Blippar’s AR creation tool, Cisco consumers were able to point their mobile device’s camera at a product and be given detailed product information, instantly. Plus, after you buy the product, the AR tool takes away the most annoying part of installation (reading the manual), speeding up the installation process by 30% with use of a virtual demonstration. 

This is not Cisco’s only foray into AR (or VR, for that matter). With the help of Kaon Interactive, they have also rolled out online interactive product catalogues, taking potentially boring content and processes into new territory. Available as both a desktop version, and apps that you can find on iTunes, Google Play, and others, these AR catalogues are easily accessible, user friendly, and most importantly - highly engaging.

Coca Cola

Coca Cola not only uses AR extremely effectively for their product sales to customers, but they have also seen the importance of including AR in their sales to businesses, and even in their charity events. Having almost fully mastered AR tech for their business processes, Coca Cola has even designed its own AR app for their agents on the ground in stores around the globe.

When an agent comes into the store, they'll show how Coca Cola’s refrigerators will fit into that space. The owner needs to decide where it goes or how it fits, and this can be done with help from these Coca Cola AR app-wielding professionals! Equipment is available through catalogues which agents have at any time access to; making presentations easy, efficient, and cost-effective. No pre-purchase or delivery needed, and products can even be presented well before manufacturing stages.

Ford

While not the first car brand to use AR in their marketing (looking at you, BMW!), Ford seems to have triggered a domino effect within the automotive industry since they unveiled their AR experience at the 2017 North American International Auto Show at Detroit’s Cobo Center. From aero testing as the Ford GT traveled at high speeds through a wind tunnel, to the 10-speed automatic transmission demo for the 2018 F-150, and also a look at Ford’s (new at the time) EcoSport.

Say goodbye to expensive concept cars - in just a few short years, we will no longer need to visit showrooms and physically touch or sit in front rows for demonstrations - all thanks to augmented reality units that allow consumers access digital versions on their own time with cost efficiency!

IBM

In the world of business, data is everything. IBM Immersive Insights takes the idea of 3D data visualisation to the next level, using AR technology to improve upon the data analysis process. While originally designed with data scientists in mind, the tech has potential for pretty much anyone with data they need to assess!

Rather than scrabbling across various spreadsheets, reports, complex graphics, and countless facts and figures, Immersive Insights lets users view and control the data right in front of their eyes. This helps them to easily see the bigger picture and spot patterns, all within minutes rather than hours, days, or weeks. Physical boundaries no longer exist, replaced by endless collaborative space. It’s exciting to think about where this initial idea can take us!

Project Color - Home Depot

The perfect design for any space often rests with just the right paint colour. We’ve all seen the paint swatches of various colours at the local hardware store, and many of us have selected samples to try on the walls at home before making the big decision on what colour we want our home. This is definitely one way to ‘try before you buy’... but of course, it doesn’t allow you to see the full picture. Home Depot reports that ‘upwards of 75% of customers decide to forgo a paint project because they cannot decide on a color.’ There are many factors like lighting, shadows, room decor, and wall materials that can all have an effect on the colour of wall paint.

Enter Home Depot’s Project Color app. Not only does it take room dimensions into account, but all of the factors mentioned earlier, providing the most life-like visual of your room and how the paint will look in it. It also has a ‘match it’ option, allowing users to match paint shades to their favourite pillow or artwork!

What are you waiting for?

Augmented reality is a great fit for brand awareness campaigns, lead generation, and demoing your product or service. It’s clear that augmented reality is moving marketing from modern day and into the future - and at a rapid pace. It’s also clear that NOW is the time for B2B sales to consider using AR in their marketing campaigns… or risk getting left behind. 

Want to talk about your very own augmented reality ad for Facebook or Instagram?

Book a FREE discovery call with us today!