What you have heard, even if only once in recent years, is the adoption by various fields of industry , the so-called Augmented Reality (AR) technology. This technology offers an interactive experience between the real world and the information integrated in it. These manuals are supported and enriched by AR technology with elements of computer visualization making the given information easily understandable. This technology makes it possible to superimpose a computer-generated image, graphic or 3D model on the surface of the real product, providing customers with assistance that allows them to better understand the received instructions.

What you can hear when AR technology is mentioned is the improvement of remote assistance or even the training of the workforce. Now another use of this technology comes in the form of AR manuals. Manuals of different products have always been of special importance especially because they are delivered immediately to customers, avoiding the various questions and problems that may be encountered for a particular product or service.

In fact, in the time we live in, where technology prevails in every aspect of life, we can freely say that these traditional manuals are going out of trends also because of the difficulty in understanding them. Ultimately, this technology is bringing a powerful wave of change in conveying the information we need in real time and in a more simplified way. All this is already achieved thanks to these AR based manuals which provide information in detail about the operation and maintenance of a specific product.

Let’s see how this technology is enabling this effective way of delivering manuals to customers by replacing traditional printed manuals with multiple texts and in most cases incomprehensible.

Correct and impressive presentation of products and services that a business offers are of great importance as it is the moment that creates the connection between buyers and the business. These presentations should be clear and provide a summary of the functionalities and features that a particular product has. AR manuals are already being used as a tactic to visually introduce certain products giving buyers a detailed view of the product they want to buy. Thanks to these manuals empowered by AR technology already potential buyers are able to explore the product virtually up close, getting acquainted with every detail of it. These manuals, through the presentation they offer, make it possible to offer potential buyers a new and innovative experience. All this leads to increased attraction to a particular product and pushes these potential buyers towards the purchase decision. This means business expansion with lower costs for large fairs, more customers and higher profit generation.

The relationship between business and customers does not end with the sale of a product or the provision of a service. After making the purchase, the process of installation and assembly of the purchased product begins. In most cases, traditional manuals contain step-by-step information for this process, but these instructions are incomprehensible due to the large amount of information and the lack of a visual side.

AR based manuals are a key point in the process of installing a product thanks to the superimposed instructions on the physical product itself to be assembled. Understanding these instructions by customers is done faster and more effectively, this leads to the assembly and installation of the product purchased quickly and successfully. This self-assembly by the customers through AR manuals at the same time eliminates the need for bringing technicians to the customers’’ location.

The many problems that customers may encounter after purchasing a product are one of the most troubling issues for many businesses. This is because sending a customer service technician to the customer’s location requires extra time and money. Now the process of finding answers to various problems and solving these problems is greatly facilitated by AR manuals. The visual and interactive help that is made possible thanks to these manuals provides clients with clear instructions and enriched with visual elements thanks to AR technology.

Effective solutions to various problems made possible through these manuals significantly increase customer satisfaction as they understand information easily eliminating even long calls with customer service agents. The success that AR manuals make possible in providing the necessary answers to the encountered problems is essential in the relationship formed between business and customers.

As mentioned above, these AR based manuals day by day are showing their very useful role for customers and not only. Starting from the presentation of certain products, their installation after purchase and detailed instructions for problems that may appear during their work are some of the stages in which these manuals have an extremely important role. At every critical step during the non-functioning of a product, the customers already feel safer and clearer in the steps that need to take for solving the problems that appear.

These AR manuals empower the customers with the right knowledge and ability to perform maintenance and repair processes without the need for a technician. This comprehensive experience is a major step forward for businesses operating in different fields, making a giant shift from traditional printed manuals to guidelines provided through AR-based manuals. At the same time businesses provide better results in customer satisfaction which leads to strengthening customer relationships as well as reducing the sending of technicians to the customer’ location. As an effective tool to bring many benefits and facilities, the adoption of these AR manuals is now widely encouraged for businesses.

Augmented Reality User Manuals for Businesses was originally published in AR/VR Journey: Augmented & Virtual Reality Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.