AR Virtual Events Boom In 2020

he Covid-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the world in just a few months and to overcome some of the barriers, the technology sector has been forced into hyperdrive to develop and deliver effective solutions that enable the rapid transition to remote working and communications, the events industry and safe reopening of businesses.

AR in particular is showcasing its true potential during the pandemic by allowing us to feel closer to one another, moving us beyond the confines of social distancing, and connecting us to our families, friends, coworkers and the rest of the world despite the necessary restrictions. 

More and more businesses are experimenting with AR and discovering ways it can help business and as the benefits become clearer, industry voices are taking note and looking at how AR is opening up the world.

AR can offer unique experiences, and especially during the pandemic, many brands and events companies are looking into other ways to reach their audiences. One of the trending ways that brands are using and seeing serious results from is the use of AR virtual events, by bringing the event directly to an audience's home where they are able to interact as if they were at a real world event. 

In 2019, the global [nofollow] virtual events market size was valued at USD 77.98 billion and is predicted to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.2% from 2020 to 2027. Virtual events cover a broad range of activities, from broadcasting, live streaming and audio and video conferencing, but the most common form is AR virtual events including; summits, sales-meetings, trade shows, company conferences and job fairs which can be hosted from a single platform which allow collaboration and increase productivity.

Virtual events offer an efficient and cost effective way to safely bring people together from around the world. The event can have digitally simulated features using a web based platform to connect attendees to each other and the organisers using interactive engagement features, such as polling, Q&A sessions, and chat boxes. By incorporating advanced technologies such as AR and AI can give the experience a more engaging and interactive feel for attendees. 

AR virtual events are significantly growing in popularity in both attendees and event organisers as they are also both financially and time effect, these factors are also anticipated to fuel the market growth over the coming forecast period. 

Businesses are constantly striving to gain an advantage over their competitors by launching cutting edge products or solutions. Unilever owned brand, Pot Noodle, approached Aircards to create a Web-based Augmented Reality careers fair for students as a replacement for their live event, after it was cancelled due to the coronavirus. The current COVID-19 situation has forced companies to drastically reassess their marketing strategies and think of innovative ways to provide an experience for consumers. Instead of shutting down operations, innovative companies like Unilever see the benefit in utilising exciting technologies like Web AR to deliver immersive, brand-led experiences to consumers.

The AR virtual events industry is anticipated to grow significantly due to businesses attempting to expand their worldwide footprint, this increases the demand for AR virtual events which reach a mass population without any physical boundaries.