In the age of digital transformation, traditional business cards are getting a tech-savvy upgrade with the advent of Augmented Reality (AR). An AR business card is a new-age digital business card that uses AR technology to overlay digital information on real-world objects. When viewed through an AR app on a smartphone or tablet, the card comes to life, offering interactive features beyond the static information of a traditional business card.
These new-age cards can provide more information in a more interactive and fun way turning the task of viewing a card into an experience. Through this blog, we will look at 6 major associated benefits. But let’s start by understanding a few basic foundational details of the technology.
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A New Era of Networking
AR Business Cards leave a lasting impression on your contacts and offer a better way to represent your business interactively. Especially with WebAR technology, these AR Cards can now be viewed on the browsers of your mobile devices.
The biggest challenge with a traditional business card is the need for more space; you can only use text and graphics. AR Business cards offer a wide range of options by integrating media files on top of the physical card. They are not just about displaying contact information. They can be a gateway to a whole new world of interactive experiences.
Creating an AR Business Card
Creating an AR Business Card is a straightforward process. It involves designing the card, creating the AR content, and linking the two together. The first step is to design your AR business card.
The back of the business card can be designed with isometric 3D blocks that become AR navigation menu items and that act as a good quality image anchor for AR tracking. A QR code can be created online that points to the location where the AR experience will be hosted on your website.
The AR content can be created using various tools. For instance, Reality Composer, a tool by Apple, allows you to create interactive AR experiences without writing a single line of code. The AR experience can include business information like social media profiles, Geolocation, web links, services offered, awards, and more. AR offers a wide range of options to open the limited business space by integrating video of a business prospect.
The Impact of AR Business Cards
AR Business Cards are not just a novelty; they have a tangible impact on business networking. They make you look technologically advanced and offer complete information about your enterprise. Moreover, they create a memorable brand experience and leave a great first impression.
AR Business Cards are also versatile. When scanned, they can be used for product catalogs, offering details about the product, its features, dimensions, price, etc. They can also be used for personal profiles/resumes, scanning and personal profiles, and giving details about a person, his qualification, and experience.
Top 6 Benefits associated with them
Now, it’s time to understand our discussed benefits and whether they can make an impactful difference.
1. Enhanced First Impressions
First impressions are one of the most important parts of creating a brand image, and an interactive business card can be handy to create a lasting first impression. They show that you are innovative and ready to embrace new technologies. A company named Augmentop, for instance, has been creating AR business cards that turn into interactive AR experiences when the QR code on the card is scanned by a camera phone.
This has resulted in a significant increase in interest and engagement, with people even requesting to be mailed the cards to experience it themselves. This shows the potential of this business tool to create a memorable brand and leave a great first impression.
2. Increased Engagement
Engagement is a crucial stage to increase the outflow of products and services for a business; these cards are interactive, which can significantly increase engagement. Users can tap to view a portfolio, click a link to make a call, or even watch a product demo right from the card. This level of interaction can lead to deeper connections and more meaningful conversations.
AR cards can also be used in a product catalog that gets regularly updated and informs the users about the new launch of products and services. Will this keep you engaged for a longer duration than any simple business tool and be useful at the same time? At Least for now, it has been successful in doing that, and as the technology develops, it will only become more creative.
3. Showcasing Your Creativity and Innovation
An AR business card is a reflection of your creativity and innovative spirit. It shows you are unafraid to step outside the traditional boundaries and try something new. In today’s competitive business world, showcasing your innovation can give you an edge.
In this age, every technique that can give you an upper hand over your competition is valuable, and business cards are a very effective tool in that process. If you can make your business card innovative, it’s almost an assurance that your customers will see you in a different light and, to say, a company where they can associate their emotions. Have you seen the recent trend of trying to establish a personal connection? Then why do you have to be behind? Show that your brand got something that no one else can provide!
4. Shareable and Accessibility
AR business cards can be easily shared and accessed. They can be sent via email or messaging apps, eliminating the need for physical distribution. Plus, they are always accessible if you have your smartphone or tablet, ensuring you never miss an opportunity to share your contact information.
86% of people who have tried to use AR have used their phone for it, so why not use a card that takes away the hassle of physical carrying when all you have to do is share a smartphone that most of your customers carry these days.
5. Environmentally Friendly
In an era where sustainability is becoming increasingly important, AR business cards offer an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional paper cards. They reduce the need for physical materials and the waste associated with discarded or outdated cards.
More and more people are becoming aware of the importance of environmentally friendly options. As a brand that serves these people, it’s your duty to ensure that the practices adopted and deployed by it are environment-friendly and associate your goals with that of consumers. Green brands also have favorable support on all the platforms and thus can garner more customers while contributing to the environment, a win-win for both sides.
6. Detailed Analytics
AR business cards can provide valuable analytics. You can see how often your card has been viewed, what links have been clicked, and not just how much time one has spent viewing the card and the various details of the service present on it. This data can provide insights into customer behavior and help you refine your business strategies.
Key Takeaways
These AR cards can help overcome the limitations of traditional business cards. For instance, conventional business cards often end up in the trash bin without being used. But these cards and the tech behind them are different, so the customer can instantly save your contact details by scanning the QR code on the card, making it more likely for the card to be used again and the information to be saved.
AR business cards are always working for you. They are always accessible and never have dead zones or internet outages. They can be viewed anywhere; it doesn’t matter where you are or what you use to view them. Suppose you have a physical AR card. You can view them as a map even if your phone is not working or the network isn’t there. They are an incredible way to enhance your brand positioning.
So, if you are losing business, traditional business cards can be a major contributor. Professionals and businesses today use no-code platforms to create interactive business cards on the go. You can consider one such free platform like PlugXR to create one for your business.
