AR Labels: What Is It and How Does It Work?

AR labels are stickers usually placed on different products that have an additional value proposition. Using a smartphone camera and screening such visuals allows users to see a bigger picture of the brand or item sold. The AR label may direct to images, animations, videos, and even games.

The great thing about an augmented reality label is that it can manifest differently. The triggering element may be a full-fledged picture, object, or QR code. This versatility lets companies approach the AR element creatively. By finding new ways and designing extraordinary labels, brands increase the engagement level and customer experience rate.

With the growing competition on the market, more brands dwell on how to engage with people and convert them into customers. Perfecting the product and designing a visually appealing website is a must, but it’s crucial to spark people’s attention here and now.

And there is no better way to do that than by AR labels. There are numerous ways to adopt AR labeling technology and make any brand stand out. From old-school brand storytelling to location labeling, AR is the thing every ambitious entrepreneur should adopt. Read on to learn more about augmented reality labels.

Content types for AR Labels

There are numerous approaches to crafting content for AR labels. Exclusively for you, let us take a closer look at the main types of AR labels and explain where they hit the scene and what makes them so effective.

Product insights

Showing people what they see when looking at the package can make them much more inclined to buy the product. For instance, take the coffee drinking process. Simple as it might seem, harnessing and selecting coffee beans is a colossal work. Showing how the beans are picked and delivered to the end user can positively influence people’s purchasing behavior.

Beauty is in simplicity – the unspoken motto of Pure Origin, a coffee brand that’s been operating in the market for years. Using Web-Based AR, the brand showcases the work on the product in various stages. Scanning the label gives gripping insights about Pure Origin, letting people learn more about the brand. If you have some exciting info to share, why not give it a try with AR labels?

Brand story

It is not uncommon for brands to use AR labels to tell their story, and that’s not for no reason. Augmented Reality allows for squeezing plenty of data into one object, icon, or QR code, whatever you choose. Perhaps, one of the most vivid examples of successful storytelling through Augmented Reality labels is Jack Daniel’s.

Several years into its creation, the label is still a thing to get excited by. Unlike the previous example, Jack Daniel’s has its own AR app that serves as an entire digital storybook. By uploading it, the user dives into the world of pop-up stories about the creator himself, the crafting process, and, above all else, the distillery. Jack Daniel’s AR application is a fascinating example of how to leverage AR technology in story depiction.

Video tour of your business

Adding a video tour of a business to the AR label allows people to get familiar with the brand remotely and evaluate whether the product matches their expectations and interests. Currently, video tours are viral among fashion boutiques that strive to attract more customers, which is why they double down on AR labels. Machine-A uses Augmented Reality labels in the form of QR codes scattered around the city to let people visit the virtual boutique, observe new collections, and bond with the brand.

The fashion industry has relied on AR for years, as the technology allows for cutting costs and enhancing shopping functionality. And needless to say, with Metaverse being on the horizon, we will likely observe the rapid inflow of businesses using Augmented Reality labels.

Gaming

Besides providing an account of the brand, it’s sometimes necessary to keep people engaged and entertained. After all, tapping into Gen-Z’ers is no five-finger exercise, as they are often picky and think twice before making a purchase. In such instances, fueling their enthusiasm and letting them play a game upon scanning an AR label might yield fantastic results.

How Immertia utilized the AR label is a clear example that a creative approach always works wonders. After you point your smartphone to a beer can, you gear up with the blaster, and your job is to eliminate aliens. Wouldn’t you fall for that and buy the beer afterward?

Safety information

As a brand owner, you want your employees to be as well-informed about their work scope as possible, whatever the business you run. Therefore, making your product or service safe is a thing that must not get overlooked. With the AR labels, you can provide instructions about the item so that the workers are fully aware of how to conduct risk-free operations. Besides, an AR label can come in handy and be an interactive step-by-step guide.

Stock identification and location labeling

Not only are AR labels used to entertain customers, but they can also be a game-changing attribute in a workplace. Large corporations are already reaping the fruits of such things, with Walmart being an avid user of Augmented Reality. Scanning augmented reality labels allows workers to control inventory and fill out emptied places significantly faster.

Although this approach is used by employees only, the benefit is also observable from the buyer’s perspective. Since the time before the items fill the empty shelves decreases, the employees become more productive, and clients get a more pleasing experience.

AR Labels: Pros & Cons

When it comes to the benefits Augmented Reality labels bring, we can boil them down into the following list:

• Increase engagement: Augmented Reality labels put much more meaning into the product, reinforcing people to be more than bystanders. Users can get incentives like vouchers by scanning packaging and viewing specific visuals, making them more excited.
• Assign value: Creating content for AR labels may not be easy, but it provides your brand with added value. By introducing labels to customers, you demonstrate that you are not a mere producer but a company that takes utmost care of its reputation and perception.
• Easy to use: Customers can enjoy the content behind the ar label with just a few taps, making it a helpful feature for any brand that wants to rank high in the market and maintain a growing retention rate.

Although Augmented Reality labels can take your brand to a new level, it’s important to remember that the technology also has its downsides and concerns. The core demerits of AR labels are:

• Price: The price of an AR label will range depending on what experience you want users to get. While the price of a label including a simple, web-based animation may be affordable, coming up with something more profound, like a branded app, will be more costly.
• Privacy risks: AR systems usually collect and analyze data to provide the users with the best experience. And although many generated labels allow for rejecting data collection, people are still wary of the privacy of their information and may avoid scanning stickers and objects.
• Efforts: Whether you work on the AR label yourself or look for a turnkey solution, your efforts to deliver the best experience may fall short. It is especially the case with large projects, which is why we encourage you to begin gradually and create small-scale projects first.

How to Create an AR Label

In wanting to create an AR label, it’s crucial to remember that you’ll often need to have some background knowledge in coding and web design to make animations work well and smoothly. Also, keep in mind that building a branded app will be even more demanding than a browser-based solution.

Still, if you decide to approach this undertaking yourself, platforms like ZapWorks or Blippar will provide you with different tools necessary to craft a basic augmented reality label. But if you want something more profound, eye-catching, and attention-grabbing, WE/AR studio experts are ready to tackle any requirement so that your company gets into the spotlight promptly. Contact us at hello@wear-studio.com to describe your expectations and collaborate with us on your AR labeling idea!