To provide an effective and memorable user experience, it’s essential to understand the inevitable challenges you’ll face with the augmented reality development process.
Key Takeaways:
- The current state of the augmented reality industry
- Creating a viable and long-term business model
- The absence of technical standards
- How to overcome the challenges of AR development
- Why Shockoe is an optimal solution to the challenges of AR development
With the increasing interest and demand for augmented reality, developers have their work cut out for them. It’s evident that there are vast potential integrations for this type of technology, yet the industry itself is still finding the best way to achieve this. From a development standpoint, the demand puts a lot of pressure on expectations.
Although AR has found its way into a variety of commercial settings, this is still being implemented on a global scale. A lot of work still needs to be done to provide the most immersive experience possible, and much of it pertains to the challenges that come with the development of augmented reality.
It’s projected that there will be over 110 million AR users in the U.S. alone in 2023. As this number continues to increase, it will only add more responsibility to what developers need to accomplish. Moreover, augmented reality has yet to reach its full potential, leaving plenty of space for developers to expand ideas and take advantage on a corporate and commercial level.
The current state of the industry
Most people relate augmented reality to smartphone technology, as AR can be found in a variety of apps. But AR is capable of much more than just this one platform – it’s a part of supportive technology in architectural design, education, medical training, and many other industries. There are a range of challenges that the AR industry is facing that could be a hindrance if left unchecked. Many augmented reality development companies are still figuring out how to separate themselves from the rest, and this will require a unique and immersive approach that stands out.
The current technological landscape of AR capabilities isn’t universal, and developers face challenges on the business and consumer side of this technology. Some issues need more attention than others, and AR developers must understand the main challenges creating roadblocks between the industry and the users.
Creating a viable and long-term business model
Some of the complications augmented reality development companies face pertain to their business model. As the industry is still creating space for innovative leaders, it’s important now more than ever for developers to create a business model with a bit of hindsight. This isn’t always easy, but many companies are creating ideas that end up being overshadowed by the next big thing.
For an AR product to make a lasting impact, it requires a few unicorn ideas to grab the attention of a broad demographic of users in the long term. Although the technology can be used for entertainment, it can significantly benefit businesses looking for more ways to connect with their customers. Those who have tried AR technology immediately see its benefits, which shows that it’s highly advantageous for companies to spend time integrating the tech where they can.
Some use cases that can benefit from augmented reality include:
- Maintenance companies from a customer and training standpoint
- Visualizing hidden infrastructure for construction, city planning, and more
- Immersive experiences for project conceptualization
- Checking potential discrepancies before diving into industrial projects
These are just a few examples outside the common AR use cases of entertainment and shopping online. Right now, the industry needs to focus on expanding the types of business models that employ augmented reality. However, this requires a workforce that can make it happen, and many development companies can’t handle the workload. What makes this difficult for many developers is that there aren’t many direct development standards to work from, making it difficult to generate a clear roadmap for an AR project.
The absence of technical standards
Regardless of how talented developers may be, many need technical standards that act as a starting point for any development project. Unfortunately, in the space of augmented reality, this is still being formulated as the technology continues to evolve and the demands are widening.
These standards are fairly common in application design development, but AR technology is constantly improving and adjusting for different use cases. As the standards are still changing, it can have an adverse effect on the development and creation of solutions that lead to an impressive end product.
Many companies resort to outsourcing development to handle the workload, which can aid the overall roadmap of an AR development project. In the same vein, outsourcing potentially leads to further issues if you don’t select the right development partner. You’ll want to pick a company experienced in mixed reality who can bring big ideas to the table with the skills to make them a reality.
How to overcome the challenges of augmented reality development
It’s relatively common for tech companies to outsource development tasks, but this can create a gap between the company and its workforce, causing numerous issues for the project’s pipeline. Everyone involved must be on the same page for an augmented reality project to succeed, but this isn’t always easy for an outsourced workforce.
It’s vital to work with the best development partner to ensure you don’t encounter the following potential complications:
- A lack of communication between developers
- Longer roadmaps from start to finish
- Limitations on training and collaboration
- Differences in time zones can cause communication issues
However, this can be mitigated by taking a comprehensive approach, working with dedicated professionals instead of an array of outsourced talent. Many individual developers require effective leadership with AR development, which can overwhelm those in charge. From another perspective, if you work with a company that has the specific experience to handle these challenges, those working on AR projects will be better suited to achieve their goals.
Working with Shockoe can make a difference
With years of experience operating as a multi-faceted digital agency, Shockoe is well-versed in handling the woes that come with developing augmented reality projects. We assist with not only the development aspect but also the management of the project’s timeline. We aim to provide an all-encompassing approach to development services so companies don’t have to worry about the downsides of outsourcing developers.
We have the expertise, tools, and resources to develop immersive AR experiences, in addition to custom applications, product design, and mobile strategy. What separates us from other digital agencies is that we can support the progress of your AR development from every angle so you reach the consumer and make an impact on the end user. Contact Shockoe today to learn more.
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