The recent COVID-19 pandemic has impacted nearly all businesses and sectors. Due to the outbreak, quarantine measures have been implemented globally, forcing companies to shift operations online and consumers to stay at home. Consequently, citizens have reduced in-person shopping, vacation bookings, and event attendance. This has resulted in millions of euros in lost revenue until the virus is contained.
Fortunately, many companies have a business continuity plan, and there's a way for companies to not only reduce losses during COVID-19 but even generate profits. Utilizing technologies can mitigate some of the coronavirus's impact on businesses, with virtual and augmented reality standing out.
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality for Retailers During a Pandemic
All retail stores and shopping centers are currently closed, meaning they not only lack revenue but also face ongoing expenses such as inventory storage, employee salaries, and other costs. Many companies have adopted online sales, but they encounter a significant challenge: customers often hesitate to purchase products without physically examining them. This is particularly relevant in sectors like apparel, as people generally have reservations about buying clothing without trying it on.
Thanks to augmented reality, it's now much easier to see how something fits with a level of realism almost identical to reality. In fact, we've seen successful implementations of a similar technology used in high-end retail centers – ‘AR mirrors.’ Essentially, instead of going to a fitting room, you simply hold the clothing up to a mirror, and it will show you the result as if you were wearing the garment. Practical, isn't it?
AR / VR for Testing Your Makeup Style
If you miss the experience of trying on different makeup products and experimenting with new looks, you can now continue to do so thanks to immersive technologies. With augmented reality, we can try individual items or pre-designed looks to see the final result. For example, Skywell Software has developed one of these products, called Cosmia AR, which offers buyers various benefits, such as the ability to emulate the makeup looks of their favorite celebrities.
AR / VR for the Tourism Industry
We all longed to take a few days off during Holy Week to escape the stress caused by the pandemic. However, unfortunately, most countries have closed their borders and commercial flights are operating at a minimal level, with the exception of emergency evacuations. Despite this, there's a positive aspect to this situation. We can undertake virtual tours to transport ourselves to destinations we've always wanted to see. This is a great way to begin deciding which cities we'll travel to once everything returns to normal!
If you're interested in cultural experiences, many museums are bringing their galleries and exhibitions to your home through personalized virtual tours. If you want to explore some of the best cultural experiences in virtual reality, don't miss this article we wrote on our blog about VR in museums and monuments.
Remote Learning, Training, and Work
Even during quarantine, we have the opportunity to maintain some of our routines. We can continue studying, working, and learning new things remotely. We're all familiar with technologies like Zoom and Skype for virtual meetings. However, what if we wanted a more immersive experience and a sense of everyone being together in the same room? Virtual reality and its level of immersion make this possible. Companies like Meeting VR have developed virtual meeting rooms for friends and colleagues, providing the feeling of being physically surrounded by others.
Similarly, we can leverage this time to continue training and maintain the skills we've worked so hard to develop. Doctors, law enforcement officers, and even professional athletes are already using this technology to make training more productive, safe, and realistic.
Virtual Reality Conferences and Events
Just as we can attend daily work meetings, we can also attend large conferences and events in virtual reality. Companies are connecting people virtually in real-time. This is particularly useful for maintaining networking events and professional conferences, without being hindered by quarantine restrictions. In fact, hosting events in virtual reality will save money on travel costs and can also enhance product or service presentations.
Things will eventually return to normal, but VR and AR will be stronger than ever.
We hope these applications of AR and VR technologies have inspired you to envision a new future for your business, even with the COVID-19 pandemic presenting challenges. Isostopy continues to provide virtual and augmented reality services and can help your business thrive and gain a competitive advantage during this period. When this concludes, we'll be prepared to address your specific challenges. In the meantime, please prioritize safety and adhere to all recommended safety guidelines. This will allow us to return to what we're most passionate about: doing our jobs effectively.