Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies are set to take the world by storm. According to a report published on PR News Wire, the global AR and VR market is expected to grow by $162.71 billion between 2021-2025, especially with the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As we noted in our post ‘Case Study: Unity Powered VR Apps’, the market has grown beyond gamers; non-gamers and companies are now finding a purpose for AR and VR tech in applications like virtual tours and training simulations. In particular, these technologies are expected to revolutionize sales and marketing for healthcare organizations. Here are some ways that healthcare organizations can take advantage of AR and VR:
Experiential marketing
Potential customers enjoy trying products before making a purchase; think fitting rooms, cosmetic samples, and automobile test drives. Likewise, medical organizations can simulate medical scenarios and offer experiences to better engage with patients. AR and VR devices would allow doctors to visualize human anatomy or patients to view how exactly a drug would work for their body — without “actually” experiencing it.
Instead of common voice, print, and digital methods to provide information on products and services, AR/VR technology gives customers a 360-view before they make a purchasing decision. For example, doctors can have hands-on experience with a new surgical device, or patients can test out motorized wheelchairs in different settings to see which one best fits their needs. This way, even smaller healthcare organizations can add value to their sales and marketing processes without needing to invest heavily in inventory or storage space costs.
AR SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) is a key strategy in modern sales and marketing efforts. Implementing SEO techniques helps boost your visibility on search engines like Google, which can drive more web traffic and potentially increase the number of appointments you book. A well-rounded SEO marketing strategy is a must, especially for small practices trying to compete with established healthcare organizations. A digital marketing guide on Ayima Kickstart outlines how Google’s ranking algorithms are more likely to reward large brands that have already accumulated large amounts of link equity (incoming backlinks) and a robust content library.
In order to stay ahead, healthcare organizations should look at future SEO developments. When AR becomes more mainstream, it will likely affect the way users browse the web. Someday, users will walk around and point their smartphone camera to your healthcare organization, and the AR interface will show them your profile and relevant reviews — a practice we’re already seeing with restaurants and shops. By optimizing your content to align with local, geographic metrics in mind, you can remain ahead of the competition.
VR storytelling
VR devices offer a lot of potential for advertisers and marketers to create branded content. Unlike traditional forms of advertising — where end-user interaction is limited — medical companies can build rich, resonant experiences with their audiences.
The Starship Children’s Hospital is a public hospital in New Zealand that lends children a VR headset to show them what to expect during the hospital visit. A friendly robot will guide the children through certain medical procedures in a video game format, to help the children manage their anxiety and make treatments feel less daunting. Incorporating this type of storytelling into patient care allows smaller practices to set themselves apart from other healthcare providers.
The future of AR/VR in the healthcare industry is promising, with many more potential applications across their business processes going beyond marketing and sales. Keep an eye out for our future blogposts for more insights in the future.
Over the years, Akvelon has worked with AR/VR to develop games, fitness technology, virtual visual dashboards for remote group communication, and more. Learn more about Akvelon’s experience with AR/VR here.
Article exclusively submitted to akvelon.com
Written by Rita Jordan
