UK Augmented Reality Market Report 2019
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Report Summary
Key points included
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Covered in this report
Augmented Reality (AR), along with virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR), forms part of what are broadly known as immersive technologies. Immersive technology attempts to emulate a physical world through the means of a digital or simulated world, thereby creating a sense of ‘immersion’. AR can help brands and companies to create engaging content, promote services and products, inform, educate, assist and entertain. Consumers can use the technology to enhance different facets of their everyday lives, from what to wear in the morning, how to navigate to where they are going to and what they might wish to buy when they get there.
Expert analysis from a specialist in the field
Written by Joe Birch, a leading analyst in the Technology sector, his extensive knowledge delivers in-depth commentary and analysis to highlight current trends and add expert context to the numbers.
Augmented reality is a technology with the potential to shape how consumers interact between the real and digital worlds, enhancing everyday experiences and interaction with companies and brands. However, friction points to experience AR will need to be eroded for the technology to become mainstream. Companies will need to overcome current modest usage and preconceptions to focus on delivering practical experiences that offer inspirational assistance and functionality 
Joe Birch
Technology Analyst
Table of Contents
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Overview
- What you need to know
- Products covered in this Report
- What you need to know
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Executive Summary
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- The market
- UK AR app market worth nearly £40 million in H1 2019
- Figure 1: UK consumer spend, by AR app categories, combined iOS and Google Play, H1, H2 2018 and H1 2019
- Smartphone and tablet ownership can drive take-up of AR content
- Figure 2: Personal ownership of technology, August 2019
- Companies and brands
- Snapchat raises $1 billion to further its AR capabilities and drive retail proposition
- Google’s search facility showing potential for retail opportunities
- Facebook lays out its mixed reality vision of the future
- Instagram looks to grow its ecommerce capabilities through AR
- Apple’s Developers Conference indicates scope of firm’s ambitions in AR
- Microsoft soft launches HoloLens 2 squarely aimed at corporate and commercial customers
- The consumer
- Nearly four in 10 smartphone or tablet owners have tried AR
- Figure 3: Current use of AR activities, August 2019
- Tangible utility is key to successful future AR experiences
- Figure 4: Future uses of AR activities, August 2019
- The phone is the dominant medium, but tablet owners also use a wide variety of features
- Figure 5: Current device usage to access AR activities, August 2019
- Consumers can see the potential in AR technology
- Figure 6: Attitudes towards AR activities, August 2019
- Current AR users keen on the concept of rewards and engaging features
- Figure 7: Attitudes towards AR activities, August 2019
- VR edges out AR for future interest
- Figure 8: Use of VR headset, August 2019
- What we think
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Issues and Insights
- AR’s impact has already been felt in enterprise solutions, providing a platform for consumer innovations and engagement
- The facts
- The implications
- Targeting early adopters and removing barriers to use
- The facts
- The implications
- AR which can deliver functional utility to meet consumers’ needs and priorities will stand out
- The facts
- The implications
- AR’s impact has already been felt in enterprise solutions, providing a platform for consumer innovations and engagement
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The Market – What You Need to Know
- UK AR app market worth nearly £40 million in H1 2019
- Smartphone and tablet ownership can drive take-up of AR content
- UK government provides funding for immersive technology development
- UK AR app market worth nearly £40 million in H1 2019
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Market Size and Background
- UK AR app market worth nearly £40 million in H1 2019
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- Figure 9: UK consumer spend, by AR app categories, combined iOS and Google Play, H1, H2 2018 and H1 2019
- UK AR app market worth nearly £40 million in H1 2019
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Market Drivers
- UK government provides funding for immersive technology development
- Smartphone and tablet ownership can drive take-up of AR content
- Figure 10: Personal ownership of technology, August 2019
- Tech giants continue to lay the groundwork for market expansion
- Snapchat raises $1 billion to further its AR capabilities and drive retail proposition
- Google’s search facility showing potential for retail opportunities
- Instagram looks to grow its ecommerce capabilities through AR
- Apple’s Developers Conference indicates scope of firm’s ambitions in AR
- Facebook lays out its mixed reality vision of the future
- Microsoft soft launches HoloLens 2 squarely aimed at corporate and commercial customers
- AR in education and healthcare could pave the way for more advanced consumer applications
- AR being used to enhance education and learning
- Adoption of AR in the healthcare system helping drive efficiencies
- AR aids treatment for young people with depression and anxiety disorders
- Helping people to take a more active role in their healthcare management
- UK government provides funding for immersive technology development
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Launch Activity and Innovation
- Nike gets fit with AR
- Puma brings AR to shoes and stores
- Smart displays can be the navigation tools of the future
- Retail and financial services exploring AR applications
- Home furnishings and DIY retailers follow IKEA’s lead
- Car retail pre- and post-sale can be enhanced through AR applications
- The driving experience can be safer with AR applications
- Technical assistance for car maintenance
- Using AR for holiday planning
- AR tour guides
- Providing localised information and services
- Engaging consumers through immersive packaging
- A practical and innovative tool for food choices
- The arts sector can enhance visitor experience through AR
- Nike gets fit with AR
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The Consumer – What You Need to Know
- Nearly four in 10 smartphone or tablet owners have tried AR
- Tangible utility is key to successful future AR experiences
- The phone is the dominant medium, but tablet owners also use a wide variety of features
- Consumers can see the potential in AR technology
- Current AR users keen on the concept of rewards and engaging features
- VR edges out AR for future interest
- Preference for VR across all age groups suggests AR has work to do
- Nearly four in 10 smartphone or tablet owners have tried AR
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Current AR Use and Future Interest
- Nearly four in 10 smartphone or tablet owners have tried AR
- Figure 11: AR activities ever done, August 2019
- Young males fit the stereotype
- Social media can help unlock wider AR use
- Use of AR is heavily linked with age
- Figure 12: AR activity overall, by age, August 2019
- Tangible utility is key to successful future AR experiences
- Figure 13: Future AR activities, August 2019
- Higher-income households hold the key for future use of AR
- Families a flourishing segment for AR
- Non-users could be open to AR if it displays practical utility
- Nearly four in 10 smartphone or tablet owners have tried AR
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Device Usage for AR Activities
- The phone is the dominant medium, but tablet owners also use a wide variety of features
- Figure 14: Devices used for AR activities, August 2019
- Wearable technology could be what really unlocks AR’s potential
- Smart mirrors and interfaces can also be a driver for AR use
- Figure 15: AR activities ever done, by devices used to access AR content August 2019
- The phone is the dominant medium, but tablet owners also use a wide variety of features
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Attitudes towards AR
- Consumers can see the potential in AR technology
- Figure 16: Attitudes towards AR activities, August 2019
- Inhibitors to AR use need to be overcome for companies to unlock potential
- Consumers can see the potential in AR technology
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Interaction with AR Advertisements
- Current AR users keen on the concept of rewards and engaging features
- Knowing what consumers value and meeting an unmet need needs to be AR’s priorities
- Social media can be a key advertising medium
- Figure 17: Attitudes towards AR advertising, August 2019
- Current AR users keen on the concept of rewards and engaging features
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AR versus VR
- VR edges out AR for future interest
- Figure 18: Use of VR headset, August 2019
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- Figure 19: Interest in future use of VR vs AR, August 2019
- Preference for VR across all age groups suggests AR has work to do
- Wearables and smart screens could bring AR to the masses
- Figure 20: Interest in future use of VR vs AR, by age and gender, August 2019
- VR edges out AR for future interest
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Appendix – Data Sources, Abbreviations and Supporting Information
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- Abbreviations
- Consumer research methodology
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About the report
This market report provides in-depth analysis and insight supported by a range of data. At the same time, introductory and top-level content is provided to give you an overview of the issues covered.
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