For XR agencies, AR apps present an exciting opportunity to create immersive new experiences for clients. However, developing AR apps has traditionally required extensive coding skills and AR development expertise. This has made building AR apps time-consuming and expensive.
No-code platforms are now revolutionizing AR app development by enabling anyone to create AR apps without coding. As a result, XR agencies can build Augmented Reality apps faster, cheaper, and with less technical expertise required.
How No-Code Platforms Work for Building AR Apps
No-code platforms provide drag-and-drop editors and pre-built templates to develop AR apps visually, without needing to write any code. Developers can add AR functionality like 3D models, animations, and interactions through simple menu interfaces.
Popular no-code AR platforms include PlugXR, ZapWorks, and BuildAR. Among them, PlugXR stands out as the most beginner and no-code friendly with its wide range of features and plans for different offsets and use cases. These platforms allow importing 3D models from libraries or CAD software, mapping animations onto trackers, and publishing finished AR apps to app stores. They abstract away the complexities of coding AR apps through intuitive click-and-build experiences.
For XR agencies, no-code AR platforms reduce development costs since apps can be built with less technical staff. Designers and non-developers can build AR prototypes rapidly without external or professional assistance. This enables quicker experimentation to deliver AR solutions that perfectly suit client needs while ensuring that the costs remain at the low end.
Key Benefits of No-Code AR Development
Using no-code platforms offers several important benefits for XR agencies building AR apps:
Faster Development
No coding speeds up development significantly. Instead of weeks or months, AR apps can be built in days or even hours. This enables quick iterations and improvements based on how you need it to change.
Lower Costs
There is Less need for expert coders that lowers the talent cost for development which can be crucial for any agency in its initial period. No-code platforms also remove costs associated with low-level coding, debugging, and testing.
Efficient Workflow
Since no coding is required, anyone at an agency can build Augmented Reality apps. This makes the workflow more divided and efficient for anyone to work through it and complete the task without professional guidance.
Easier Experimentation
Faster and lower-cost development allows agencies to quickly experiment with many AR approaches. This helps identify what resonates best with users and also implements unique ideas before finding what works best for them.
Multiplatform Publishing
No-code platforms allow publishing AR apps to multiple platforms like iOS, Android, smart glasses, and the web from the same project or if you are using a good publishing platform, even a single link.
Use Cases Showing No-Code AR in Action
No-code AR enables innovative new apps and experiences across many industries:
Retail
AR is transforming retail by allowing virtual try-ons and previews. No-code platforms let agencies quickly build experiences like virtual dressing rooms, furniture placement previews, and makeup try-on apps. IKEA and Sephora are among the prime examples of such use cases.
Education
Interactive AR experiences are perfect for engaging students. No-code development allows the rapid creation of apps like 3D anatomy models, solar system simulations, and interactive history lessons.
Training
AR also assists employees in training through the safe simulation of dangerous tasks. No-code tools can help agencies swiftly produce experiences like equipment assembly walkthroughs, vehicle maintenance demos, and situational readiness lessons. With more efficiency, even subjective courses can be created to aid faster learning.
Events
At conferences and live events, AR can provide information overlays, spatial directions, venue maps, etc. No-code development allows event-specific AR apps to be swiftly built for each event.
Tourism
AR adds a new dimension to travel by overlaying destinations with facts, historical info, and translations. No-code platforms allow agencies to easily turn locations into rich, interactive AR tours that can be quickly created and deployed.
The Future of No-Code AR Development
No-code AR platforms are still evolving rapidly. As the tools advance, here are some exciting directions expected:
Mass adoption
With wider device and platform support, including full integration across mobile, wearables, and smart glasses, AR is going to become much more acceptable and used. But No-code tools are going to play a much bigger role by increasing their use in agencies and businesses that have to limit their creativity due to coding.
Improved tools
With Improved 3D models deploying pipelines and well-designed model designers, AR and No-code are going to become the backbone for agencies looking to offer AR in their services.
AI and Metaverse
In a market where AI and Metaverse are popular, No-code tools that can quickly create content with appropriate support to these technologies will be a high priority assets for XR agencies.
Augmented reality (AR) has become an increasingly popular technology in recent years, with projections that the global AR market will reach almost $598 billion by 2030 according to Grandview Research, a prominent market research firm. AR is a booming technical area and XR agencies will be able to capitalize on it completely with the advent of No-code tools to facilitate an easier and more efficient Workflow without special resources focused on it.
Conclusion
For XR agencies, no-code AR platforms promise to transform development by significantly reducing costs and lead times. This will enable new experimentation with AR for a wider range of clients and use cases.
As the no-code tools continue to become popular and better in functionality and extensibility, they present an exciting way for agencies to deliver cutting-edge AR solutions without intensive coding requirements. While some coding skills are still beneficial, no-code platforms greatly expand who can build immersive AR experiences. If you still think coding is necessary, holding your horses as no-code will be a game-changer in making AR app development faster, cheaper, and accessible to all. Today, no-code AR tools like the PlugXR platform are transforming the immersive technology space with their easy-to-use yet powerful interface. Consider signing up for PlugXR if you are an agency looking to bolster your workflow.