Augmented reality once was thought to be a thing of the future, but now it is feasible and evolving with the large-scale adoption of smartphones. The introduction of Oculus riff & HoloLens boosted its evolution process.

It took some time to understand its fundamentals, but the current augmented reality development in form application isn't an issue. Now it is only about determining the why's and what's of the process.

It doesn't imply that everything is perfect when it comes to the augmented reality industry. Augmented reality, like any other industry, has its challenges. 

In this post, we will explore the three significant challenges that the augmented reality industry is facing.

3 Challenges Of Augmented Reality Industry

1. Lack of Proven Business Models

The mysterious aspect of augmented reality is that even though it has a large-scale adoption and acceptance, it is not doing that well as per the business. It isn’t that the industry is not doing fine - there is a steady flow of investment in the augmented reality market, and its general perception is also positive. The reason behind it is that the market still lacks a particular AR business model that works in the long term.

Startups are popping out like mushrooms after rain and coming up with more outlandish concepts, whereas large enterprises are experimenting with AR solutions. The common thing among users by both startups and enterprises is adding it to their business models that may work with or without augmented reality. What I mean is that augmented reality needs its approach and is not used just as an accessory.

The major AR products are Pokemon Go, IKEA, and Amazon AR applications. In Pokemon Go, the brand power made it a hit, and the retention rate followed even after the hype died out. These real-life applications also illustrate the same fact that these ventures could also have survived without AR use.

Still, there is a viable possibility for augmented reality development in the form of industrial companies. They have many fields to use AR technology and adequate financial resources to invest in. To name a few, here are some projects for which they can use AR:

• Visualization of hidden infrastructure
• Checking discrepancy
• Proof of concept for construction projects
• Maintenance instructions
• Monitoring construction progress

Such applications have the capability to establish an augmented reality technology not just a visual treat but a viable tool to help improve complete end-product quality.

How AR Will Change The Way Businesses Operate?

2. Lack Of Standards For AR App Design & Development

It is essential to have standards as it is like a universal language. It sets parameters that work on a universal level when developing a software application or planning a marketing campaign. It helps guarantee contribution and compatibility to the entire technology development. And this is something that is still under progress for augmented reality.

If you are wondering why standardization is essential? You must know it is a vital aspect that has worked for every technology that brings stability and compatibility to the chaos that comes without standard parameters. Augmented reality is a new technology, and it's no wonder that we still have to figure out the standards in terms of software and hardware.

Without standards, you cannot unify solutions to help create the bigger picture. Due to lack of standardization, technology development is slow, and there are issues to keep everyone on the same page.

Moreover, technical standard implementation needs time, and its use will mean that the final stage to define the technology is the real deal.

3. Security & Privacy Issues with Augmented Reality

One of the significant challenges that the AR industry has to face is security and privacy concerns. There is a legitimate chance you can get into trouble without intending to do so because of the inconsistencies in the AR programming, negligence, and oversight.

The significant issue is that no regulation defines what is allowed and what should not be allowed in an Augmented reality environment. It is like a free pass that may cause a grave security issue. Some may use it with malicious intent as much as this technology can help you with entertainment.

For instance, a feature that is a real hit in retail and online shopping, try before you buy option helping you overlay the chosen apparel on your body. Just in case someone can use it to damage your reputation or blackmail you. It is one of the possible misuses of this technology. Other potential misuses involve hijacking accounts through data mining and surveillance by manipulating or overlaying AR content like it's done in ad stacking and fraud schemes.

Lack of awareness is also an issue that's part of this issue. People take this very lightly and do not deal with it more sensitively. Another aspect of this issue is the reluctance on the developer's part to take action before something like this happens. It is not something to be scared of, but something that every emerging technology has similar issues without proper standardization.

AR Is Still Raging On!

Even though these challenges still need to be defined and sorted, AR use is raging among top brands and businesses. This complication of the lack of a particular business model is being overcome by the short-scale use of AR to attract consumer attention and encourage them to invest more time in their planned campaign to boost brand awareness.

This small-scale version might not seem much, but it helps businesses understand the hoops and complications they may have o face when creating an extensive campaign around augmented reality.

There is definitely a lack of adequate standards to develop augmented reality development in both design and applications. Still, there is no shortage of businesses venturing into AR-based app development. It encourages them to invest more time due to the attractive visuals and helps improve consumer participation in the campaigns.

ImagineAR offers a platform for businesses of all sizes to implement AR campaigns without any programming or technology experience. So whether you're looking at professional sports teams, small retailers, or restaurants - everyone can create interactive AR campaigns that blend the real world with digital content in an instant.