As consumers eschewed brick-and-mortar stores for online shopping and as people distanced themselves from each other, businesses needed new solutions to fill the gaps brought on by Covid-19. Although augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) existed before the pandemic, they were catapulted into the mainstream by necessity, and many adaptations and adoptions have been made since the start of the lockdowns.
As our world gets used to living more digitally, even industries that once seemed to have no use for AR or VR could find benefits from the technologies. Below, a panel of Young Entrepreneur Council members lists a few of those industries and why they believe they could benefit from these innovative technologies.
8 Industries Poised to Benefit From Augmented and Virtual Reality
- Construction.
- Rescue operations.
- Furniture.
- Real estate.
- Entertainment.
- Education.
- Health and wellness.
- E-commerce.
1. Construction
The construction industry has a great deal of potential to make use of AR and VR in its operations. Augmented and virtual reality can help with design, making alterations and training. They can also help improve safety and make sure that projects are complying with the right standards. —Syed Balkhi, WPBeginner
2. Rescue Operations
Rescue operation professionals like firefighters and disaster management teams can benefit from AR and VR technology in their training. These tech tools can be used to simulate hazardous circumstances. It’s an opportunity for rescue operation personnel to practice skills in a safe way and prepare for real-life scenarios. —Blair Williams, MemberPress
3. Furniture
The furniture industry should be using AR and VR technology to help consumers see what pieces would look like in their homes and how they would fit in available spaces. My company sells mattresses and bed frames in a variety of sizes, including custom shapes. I can’t wait for the day when AR and VR make it easy for customers to choose precisely what they want because they know exactly how it will fit and look. —Jonathan Prichard, MattressInsider.com
4. Real Estate
VR enables real estate professionals to showcase properties to buyers in a realistic way, complete with measurements and a 3D tour of the whole property without actually going to the space. It will benefit a lot of real estate professionals, as it can also target more buyers — especially those who don’t have the time or the ability to visit the place during the pandemic. —Daisy Jing, Banish
5. Entertainment
Content creation and entertainment are poised for great things from AR and VR. The possibilities here are boundless. Social media already gave us a way to get to know each other like never before, but I believe we can deepen our relationships with online connections and followers through events, games and more, all brought to life through the power of augmented reality and virtual reality. —Tyler Bray, TK Trailer Parts
6. Education
One industry that could make better use of AR and VR is the education sector. In the pandemic-ravaged world, educational institutions have already shifted to the virtual space to impart knowledge to their students. Educators can create their own VR content using EON Reality for a better experience. They can also organize virtual field trips to allow students from different locations to attend. —Josh Kohlbach, Wholesale Suite
7. Health and Wellness
I think there is a lot of room in the health and wellness area for innovation in augmented reality. Exercising can become more exciting and interactive. Being able to take the huge success Peloton and MIRROR had with interactive workouts and moving that to an outdoor realm would be extremely popular. —Salvador Ordorica, The Spanish Group LLC
8. E-Commerce
I believe the e-commerce industry as a whole could make better use of AR and VR technology. Businesses that let customers “look” at products through this tech tend to see more conversions and engagement because people are more receptive to new products and businesses if they can see what they are buying before entering their debit card number. —Chris Christoff, MonsterInsight
