Brands however could really move AR forward through sponsorship initiatives.Â
Imagine a hotel chain using AR to show potential clients what awaits them: How many times have you logged on to a hotel site to see what the rooms look like only to get there and realize the pictures are outdated? Perhaps a collective of hotels and local area POI’s can work together and created bundled AR ecosystems that will help drive traffic and dollars to the collective. For example, the hardest part of traveling for me is not knowing what awaits me. I spend a great amount of time just trying to get my bearings. Could AR reduce that for me? What about golfers or parks? A golf chain or club manufacturer could sponsor AR golf course assets, tie them in with GPS (course and store locations) and run a promo.
I headed to Topeka Kansas a few years back for the SCCA Runoffs and stumbled around trying to distill the best places to go based on a AAA narrative. Imagine being able to see the POI’s through AR, in my car, sponsored by a local gas station chain. Not only would it help me find where to go, but where I could get gas.
What I am suggesting is to think about LBS Social, AR and/or Telematics/Infotainment platforms as catalysts to create opportunity beyond their obvious utilitarian function. Rather than go it alone, brands should consider technology partnerships that compliment the core goal of getting consumers to your destination and/or tangential destination.