Why Do You Need AR Manual For Your Business
You definitely heard about AR manuals, at least once. But as soon as you get that blender you’ve been keeping an eye for months, you’ll find nothing but an old paper user manual that you don’t want to read. One day you may run into problems with the appliance and start skimming that instruction again. Eventually, you give up searching for appropriate information among warranties written in 8 different languages and leave it as it is.
Text user manuals lack visuals, are too complex, and it would be just awesome to find a more user-friendly alternative, wouldn’t it?
You are lucky enough, as there’s an alternative to that old-fashioned method. It is the augmented reality user manual.
What Is Augmented Reality User Manual?
Before we dive right into what kind of businesses use AR, you should get some context into what augmented reality user manual is.
How do augmented reality instructions stack up against traditional user manuals? Augmented reality manuals, otherwise known as interactive how-to guides, provide detailed information about operation and maintenance of a product. Generally, buyers don’t like reading dense, boring text, so augmented reality guide is a great addition that will make the whole user experience more enjoyable.
By pointing your tablet at different parts of the device, 2D and 3D overlays on the display will identify what goes where. With AR manuals you have required information within your fingertips in just a few minutes and solve any complex problem quickly without external assistance.
Augmented Reality vs Paper Manuals
Augmented reality allows you to replace printed manuals by just using your iOS or Android device and work with an object even if you see it for the first time. AR interactive instructions are available at any time, so you don’t have to pack your bag with thousands of pages, in case you forgot how to deal with alternator faults in your car.
Most products have strong visual interfaces for operation and the problem, though, is that most companies use text to describe how to use a certain product. This is where AR really come in handy. Interactive instructions developed by means of AR are completely visual, as they add some bits and bobs over the real world. More safe and less time-consuming, AR manuals are a perfect option for those who constantly operate new pieces of equipment.
As if that wasn’t enough, as printed instruction manuals become outdated quickly and the traditional process of creating new instruction manuals is complex, more and more companies opt for AR. When using AR apps, interactive user manual can be easily edited and published online within seconds making the whole process a lot less of a burden.
Where are Interactive How-To Guides Used?
If you’ve read how virtual technology is being used in the automotive market, it would be easy for you to see that sky’s the limit. Check out these AR business ideas to help you take advantage of this emerging trend:
Hyundai
Hyundai — South Korean multinational car company — was one of the early AR adopters among automotive sector. The AR manual displays information about 45 different features of a car. Just point your phone camera and you’ll see an overlay showing all of the components.
If you want to replace an air filter, just tap on it and the app will walk you through the process. You can even put it down and it will still show you the steps you have to take. When you are inside, pan around again and you’ll see what different switches do. You can look at the indicator screen and it’ll give you a map of all lights and tell you what they do. By using a pictorial index you can get even more information as an overlay or video.
Hyundai has also developed AR manuals for its 2017 G80 and G90 models in addition to traditional printed guides. By pointing the device camera at the engine bay of your car, you’ll see the detected and labeled components of your car engine in real time. Tapping an icon gives you augmented reality maintenance instructions for any selected part. There’s also a scanner and a bunch of instructional video on how to use each button inside a car. On top of that, they provide customers with 360 virtual reality experience of the interior.
IKEA Furniture Instruction Manual
You probably know that IKEA already uses AR to show potential customers how pieces of furniture might look in their home or just anywhere. It shouldn’t surprise you, then that another IKEA app can show you how to assemble the furniture you just have bought. Hold up your phone and the virtual guide will tell you where to put what.
Is AR Manual Right Choice for Your Business?
Sooner rather than later, the AR will bring us into a global network of intuitive devices, designed especially for our convenience. AR technology is reshaping the way we live and work with appliances, therefore it’s mandatory to incorporate technology into your business.
If you find it hard to offer beautiful and easy to use a manual for your customers, then it’s time for you to think about an efficient solution. Whether you are in the automotive or manufacturing business — if your products need some kind of guidance to be used — there’s no better option than interactive user guides. If you have any questions regarding AR solutions, please don’t hesitate to contact us, we’d be glad to help you.
