Our Innovation Analysts recently looked into emerging technologies and up-and-coming startups working on innovative solutions for the FMCG sector. As there is a large number of startups working on a wide variety of solutions, we want to share our insights with you. This time, you will discover 5 promising AR/VR startups in FMCG.
Heat Map: 5 Top AR/VR Startups
Using our StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering 1.379.000+ startups & scaleups globally, we looked at innovation in the field of fast-moving consumer goods. For this research, we identified 309 relevant solutions and picked 5 to showcase below. These companies were chosen based on a data-driven startup scouting approach, taking into account factors such as location, founding year, and relevance of technology, among others. Depending on your specific criteria, the top picks might look entirely different.
The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights 5 startups & scaleups developing augmented and virtual reality solutions. Moreover, the Heat Map reveals regions that observe a high startup activity and illustrates the geographic distribution of all 309 companies we analyzed for this specific topic.
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OmniAZ – AR Packaging
AR and VR provide FMCG brands an opportunity to gain an edge over their competitors, in terms of customer experiences. Virtual sommelier and augmented reality mobile apps engage customers by educating them about wine selection while simultaneously entertaining them. AR-enhanced packaging solutions improve brand visibility and transparency to engage customers with interactive product packaging.
OmniAZ is a startup based out of Singapore and Poland that provides an end-to-end AR solution for the retail and FMCG sectors. The startup transforms spaces and product packaging into engagement channels to digitize brick-and-mortar FMCG stores. OmniAZ enables brands to provide extended product information, recommendations, and gamified content. OmniAZ develops business platforms and consumer mobile apps to further improve consumer engagement and data analytics, especially in the beverages industry, to help consumers make better drink choices.
Gorilla in the room – Customer Behavior Analysis
AR and VR open up numerous opportunities for studying new features for product development and testing concepts before building solutions. AR/VR technologies also enable brands to showcase their product designs and prototypes to the customer and predict which products they prefer. FMCG companies increasingly see value in researching the brand impact and customer insights. For example, VR simulation of shopping situations enables studying customers’ behavioral responses to improve decision making.
British startup Gorilla in the room offers AR and VR research solutions that integrate the underlying behavioral economics principles. The solutions are designed to immerse respondents in a real-world context and prompt customer behavior. Powered by mobile platforms for research, the 3D stimulus is delivered directly to respondents’ mobile phones. This also provides a qualitative insight, at a quantitative scale, to predict which product will sell best. FMCG brands are then able to efficiently test new designs and packaging to align their messaging with customer preferences.
Receive – Virtual Mirror & Try-On
Virtual and augmented realities create new radically futuristic methods for digital marketing teams to help brands easily connect with their customers. For instance, AR and artificial intelligence (AI)-based solutions enable beauty companies to provide accurate product recommendations, as well as virtual try-on options. As a result, customers receive a more personalized and engaging experience while choosing and buying products.
The US-based startup Receive provides beauty brands with a co-branded solution to take the initiative in beauty e-commerce and create customized interactive consumer experiences. The solution integrates across all touchpoints on mobile- and web-based AR for e-commerce companies. The startup’s proprietary AI and AR beauty technology enable real-time personalized engagement with customers. The solution is particularly useful for skincare, health, wellness, and color-based cosmetics products. The AR Makeup Advisor and Virtual Try-on allow consumers to virtually try cosmetics before they buy them. Further, Receive intends to transform the beauty experience with advanced 3D live-video makeup try-on and personalized recommendations. For example, by allowing customers to use an AR mirror or other novel AR-enabled hardware.
ImmersiveGaze – Beacon-based Apps for FMCG
Integration of the internet of things (IoT)-based smart objects and AR-based solutions are receiving significantly high attention from FMCG companies that intend to create interactive shopping experiences. Data from the IoT devices is first captured and then analyzed to inform the physical-world engagement approach for customers. Such smart beacons make the customer shopping experience easier and more entertaining.
The US-based startup ImmersiveGaze develops 3D animation-based augmented and virtual reality apps. The startup offers beacon-based apps for FMCG companies to bridge the gap between digital and physical environments. The beacons provide mobile-based contextualization to location-based services. They enhance shopper’s experience by offering on-tho-go information on discounts, rewards, and deals by deploying proximity payments. The company also offers beacon app design, development, and maintenance solutions, as well as beacon integration and testing services.
Azmi Studio – Virtual Try-On Solutions
Virtual try-on solutions enhance customer engagement with real-time and realistic 3D experiences that allow customers to make quick decisions in today’s fast-paced retail sector. AR technology further allows potential customers to visualize, customize, and experience products such as watches, jewelry, and cosmetics, among others. In this way, brands provide customers with an opportunity to open a camera, pick a product, and try it on. As a result, companies minimize the time and cost spent on retail advertising.
Bangladeshi startup Azmi Studio specializes in tailor-made mobile or desktop platforms and virtual try-on solutions that help brands engage their customers and boost the retention rate. The startup offers its Virtual Try-On AR Store, enabling brands to integrate AR experiences into social media platforms. The solution also integrates into physical stores, making it easier for companies to create and manage 3D models for their products.
What about the other 304 Solutions?
While we believe data is key to creating insights it can be easy to be overwhelmed by it. Our ambition is to create a comprehensive overview and provide actionable innovation intelligence and enable you to achieve your goals faster. The 5 AR/VR startups in FMCG showcased above are promising examples out of the 309 we analyzed for this article. To identify the most relevant solutions based on your specific criteria, get in touch.
