Dive Brief:
- Jeep Compass Visualiser is a new smartphone app from the carmaker which enables customers to explore the all-new Compass before it actually arrives in showrooms, according to a press release.
- The app leverages Google’s Tango augmented reality technology for smartphones, integrated sensor technology, motion tracking, area learning and depth perception capabilities so users can experience a life-size virtual car. No GPS or internet connectivity is needed once the app is installed.
- Developed with Accenture, the app is optimized for the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro, the first Tango-enabled consumer device. The customer experience is currently available in Jeep dealerships in selected markets in Europe and will roll out across the region over the next few months.
Dive Insight:
Consumers in the market for a new car are increasingly conducting research online to narrow in on their top choice and not visiting a showroom until they are ready to make a purchase.
With this in mind, car manufacturers have been tapping mobile technology for several years to provide app and web-based experiences for exploring the features of a car model. The Jeep Compass Visualiser takes this approach to the next level by leveraging augmented reality and pairing it with native smartphone capabilities like motion sensors to create an immersive experience.
Making the experience available at Jeep dealerships is a move by the brand to drive shoppers into these businesses by offering an opportunity to engage with cutting-edge technology.
The partnership with Tango reflects marketers’ growing interest in augmented reality technology for creating shopping experiences that bridge the real and online worlds, an approach that has picked up steam following the success of Pokemon Go last year. Through its use of computer vision, Tango is able to map the 360-degree environment around the user and to navigate the physical world.
