Augmented reality apps are hugely popular and profitable. It’s a trend, says Juniper Research, that isn’t like to be change.
Based on the latest report from Juniper, brands and retailers are “increasingly keen” to use augmented reality capabilities within their apps and marketing materials.
AR applications will generate close to $300 million in revenues globally in 2013, says Juniper’s report.
The report found that while the traditional pay-per-download payment model would continue to account for the largest share of revenues in the medium term, the scale of retailer engagement with AR suggested that adspend had upscaled dramatically in 2012 and was poised for further strong growth next year.
Perhaps more importantly, retailers now perceive AR to represent a key means of increasing engagement with consumers.
“Technological limitations of AR-enablers such as the phone camera, GPS, digital compasses and markerless tracking meant that in many cases, the AR experience was failing to live up to consumer expectations,” Juniper finds. “Even some higher-end smartphone cameras lacked sufficient sensitivity to trigger an AR experience unless light conditions were optimal.”
