3 Augmented Reality Trends in Labeling

Augmented reality gives companies an exciting, new way to engage with customers. While we’ve seen augmented reality most commonly used to bring food and beverage labels to life, it may seem a bit intimidating for businesses unfamiliar with the technology. Here’s a quick breakdown of how augmented reality labels work and some popular ways that businesses are putting it to good use.

How Do Augmented Reality Labels Work?

Augmented reality (AR) allows you to communicate with your consumers through special smartphone apps and scannable images. Each label is made with a special visual cue, microtext, or some other detail that will tell the app to load computer-generated images. From there, users can interact with the newly-generated augmented reality.

Of course, you’ll need to invest in an AR app or leverage existing AR apps if you want to use the technology for your labels. There are some customizable AR apps solutions available online such as ZapWorks or Blippar , but you may want to hire a mobile app developer to create a branded version for you if you can’t find what you need. Next, you’ll need to work with your designer and printing company to make sure that the images or cues needed to trigger the app are included in your labels. After that, it’s all a matter of having customers use the app and see the results for themselves.

Three AR Label Trends to Try

Give Customers a Look Behind the Scenes

When you compete with hundreds of other products, your labels need to be able to attract potential customers. Unfortunately, you don’t always have a lot of space to humanize your brand so that people get to know what your company is all about. AR can help you showcase your brand through behind-the-scenes content that gives buyers a more intimate look at your business.

AR technology can allow customers to see a sneak peek at the people and processes that make your business tick. This allows buyers to see the human side of your brand, which can help them develop a closer relationship with your brand. There are several different behind-the-scenes routes you can choose:

• Offer customers some insight into how your products are made or highlight the team members who make it possible
• Highlight new developments or experiments that’ll show up on shelves in the future
• Provide a video tour of your business
• Show off your company’s personality through some jokes or other endearing content that shows off your more humorous side

Jack Daniels serves as an example of one of the strongest uses of augmented reality labels yet. The whiskey maker educates consumers about the company by turning the classic black-and-white spirits label into a pop-up storybook. When using its AR app, consumers can learn about whisky manufacturing, check out the distillery, and get to know the man behind the brand, Jack Daniel.

The path you choose is up to you. What matters most is that customers see that there’s more to your brand than a can or bottle and that they can connect to the people and message behind your products.

Dazzle Customers with Special Animation

Did you ever wish that certain aspects of your product label could move? More businesses are turning to AR technology to animate certain aspects of their label designs, giving customers even more reason to examine their packaging.

Australian Wine brand 19 Crimes is a great example of a company using AR technology to animate its wine labels. While 19 Crimes played up its brand name to showcase the stories of past Australian criminals, Snoqualmie Brewery and Taproom decided to go a more humorous route with its AR-assisted beer label design for its Sno Falls American Pale Ale.

The path you choose will largely depend on your animator, your AR partner, and what type of vibe or message you’d like to create. You can use some subtle movements to call out important aspects of you label or have the whole design come to life. Either way, it should grab your customers’ attention so that they’ll remember your product in the future.

Add Some Fun and Games to Your Label

If you really want to have potential customers interact with your products, tap into their competitive side. Some businesses have taken advantage of AR technology to add some extra fun to their packaging. That includes Pringles, which used AR to turn their tube into an essential part of an AR game. When users scanned the Pringles container, they could then use the tube during the game itself.

Adding an AR game to your packaging is a good way to have customers relate your product with a sense of fun, whether it’s a basic game or something more ambitious. Either way, it can help customers remember your products the next time they’re ready to buy.

How to Print Augmented Reality Labels

AR labels offer a lot of opportunity for creativity, but it’s important that you work with the right printing partners to make sure your packaging project is a success. Your AR developer, label designer, and digital printing company should all be on the same page to create AR labels that will wow your customers.

If you need a printing company to bring your labels to life, Blue Label Packaging Company can help. We are a full-service digital printer with the knowledge and expertise to create quality labels that will stand out on the shelf and trigger any AR apps you need. Contact us today to talk to one of our experts about your next label project, whether it involves AR technology or not.