Augmented reality overlays digital images and content on top of existing objects or features of a real-world setting. Unlike virtual reality, which creates completely immersive environments, AR does not require a headset.
Restaurants can use augmented reality to offer fun, interactive experiences to keep diners entertained. It is also a powerful tool for marketing their food and beverages.
Visualize Your Food Options
Sometimes it’s hard to tell what a dish will look like from the single photo on your menu card. Augmented reality lets guests see what a meal looks like in its real-life setting before they order, making it easier for them to decide.
Restaurants can also use AR to promote new menu items. This can help them differentiate themselves from competitors and leave a lasting impression on their customers. AR can also be leveraged to provide gamified experiences that encourage customers to try the new menu item and share their experience with others, amplifying the reach of the promotion.
In addition to boosting customer satisfaction, restaurants can also use AR to increase employee efficiency and quality of service. The ability to layer additional information over what employees can see naturally allows them to quickly learn and practice food preparation and other work-related tasks. This can lead to reduced training costs and more satisfied, competent employees.
Educate Your Guests
Guests often have questions about your menu items, like what ingredients are used or how much is in each portion. Using AR, you can display a life-size 3D image of food and overlay nutritional information so that guests can clearly see and understand their options.
Augmented reality is one of many emerging technologies transforming customer experience in a variety of industries, including fashion and retail, home design and architecture, and restaurants. AR changes the user’s perception of their environment by adding computer-generated content, while virtual reality immerses the user in a completely different environment.
Restaurants can also use augmented reality to create an engaging dining experience for their customers through in-restaurant apps. For example, some chains are converting pizza boxes into games that function as both dining entertainment and marketing tactics for their brand. Restaurants can also use augmented reality to streamline and simplify training for their employees. This method of training can decrease costs and time spent on manuals, and it allows employees to self-direct their learning.
Engage Your Customers
The Pokemon Go craze may have passed, but AR is still a hot technology that’s used across a variety of industries. AR can provide customers with more immersive brand experiences to boost engagement and improve sales.
Augmented reality enhances the natural environment through digital augmentations, creating a seamless and more engaging experience. It is different from virtual reality, which creates a completely new environment.
Projection-based AR uses projectors to display 3D imagery or digital content onto a flat two-dimensional surface, such as a wall or table. It is often used in events and movies to create holograms, but it can also be used by retailers and real estate agents to showcase properties.
Marker-based AR identifies specific objects or features in the user’s view, such as a product label or landmark, and overlays information on top of it. It can be a great way to give customers directions, or for products like electronics, to display step-by-step instructions.
Increase Sales
Augmented reality has the power to transform how we interact with food, giving diners an experience that is one of a kind. AR can also help restaurants convey information that would otherwise be difficult to communicate with menus, such as allergens or dietary restrictions.
Another key aspect of AR that makes it a great choice for restaurant menus is that it can provide textural, design and other cues that give customers more confidence in their purchase decisions. This is especially true for products that are less mainstream or more expensive, as AR can help to stimulate demand and increase sales by lowering customer uncertainty and risk.
Another way that AR can boost your restaurant’s bottom line is by reducing return rates, which is a huge benefit given how costly it is to acquire new customers. By allowing your customers to try out their purchases, they’re more likely to keep them and recommend them to others.
