Emerging Tech · 5 min
Augmented and virtual reality for business: use cases
Augmented reality (AR) overlays digital information onto the real world, while virtual reality (VR) immerses the user in an entirely digital environment. Together they form XR (extended reality). For businesses they are not gadgets: in specific contexts they improve training, sales and support in ways traditional tools cannot match.
Key points
- AR and VR (together, XR) add a visual and spatial dimension.
- They shine in immersive training, sales, support and prototyping.
- They are worth it when they solve a real problem better than the alternatives.
- You start from a focused, measurable pilot project.
The use cases that work
XR delivers its best results where the visual and spatial dimension matters. Immersive training lets people practise safely on complex or hazardous situations; sales benefit from virtual showrooms and product visualisation; technical support uses AR to guide interventions remotely.
- Immersive training on complex or hazardous procedures.
- Virtual showrooms and visual product configuration.
- Remote support guided through AR.
- 3D prototyping and design review.
When it is genuinely worth it
XR makes sense when it solves a real problem better than the alternatives: training on scenarios that are hard to reproduce, showcasing bulky or customisable products, reducing travel for support. Adopting it «because it is innovative», without a clear use case, leads to costly and underused projects.
Starting with a focused project
As with any technology, it is best to start from a specific, measurable use case — for example a training module or a configurator — assess its impact and then expand. A focused pilot project avoids scattered investments and builds internal expertise.
FAQ
Is XR only suitable for large companies? +
No. SMEs can also gain value on specific use cases, such as training or product configuration, starting from focused and proportionate projects.
Do you need expensive hardware for virtual reality? +
It depends on the use case: some AR experiences run on smartphones and tablets, while immersive VR requires headsets. The level of investment is assessed against the expected value.
Where is it best to start? +
From a single use case with measurable impact, such as an immersive training module, assessing its results before expanding.
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