Pros and Cons of Emerging Technologies in Marketing (AI, AR, VR)

Marketing tools are evolving rapidly, thanks to new cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), and Virtual Reality (VR). As a marketing agency, embracing these innovations can open up new opportunities to engage with consumers for our clients in new and engaging ways. However, alongside the benefits come challenges.


Here are a few pros and cons of these emerging technologies in marketing, viewed from us at CMe Media.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) What are the Pros?

1.Personalisation at Scale:

 

AI is transforming how brands interact with their audience by delivering highly personalised experiences. As emerging technologies, Algorithms can analyse vast amounts of consumer data to predict behaviour, preferences, and needs, allowing for highly targeted marketing campaigns. AI can recommend products, suggest content, and even craft tailored ads in real time, ensuring that consumers are receiving the most relevant information possible.

2. Automation and Efficiency:

AI-powered tools like chatbots, email automation, and predictive analytics allow us as marketers to automate repetitive tasks, improving efficiency. These emerging technologies enables us as an agency to focus on strategy, creativity, and higher-level tasks. For instance, tools like Google’s AI-driven ad platforms optimise bids and ad placements, reducing the manual workload for marketers while increasing campaign effectiveness.

3. Data-Driven Decision Making:

AI enables agencies to make better, data-backed decisions by analysing customer behaviour and predicting trends. These emerging technologies like AI-driven analytics platforms can help marketers understand which campaigns work, which don’t, and what can be improved. This reduces guesswork and improves ROI on marketing efforts.

What are the Negative Aspects Of Using This Technology?

 While AI enables scalability and efficiency, it often lacks the emotional and human touch that’s crucial in marketing. Relying too heavily on AI can create a cold, impersonal experience for customers, especially in industries where emotional connection and storytelling are key components of brand loyalty.AI requires significant investment in tools, software, and talent. For smaller agencies or businesses, the costs of integrating AI-driven emerging technologies into their marketing strategies can be restrictive. Moreover, maintaining AI systems requires ongoing investment in terms of both finances and time to ensure optimal performance.

So What about Augmented Reality? (AR)

AR allows customers to interact with products and services in a highly immersive way. By bringing virtual elements into the real world, brands can provide a unique and engaging customer experience. For example, beauty brands are using these new emerging technologies through  apps to allow consumers to try on makeup virtually before making a purchase. AR experiences can captivate audiences, leading to longer interactions with the brand. Whether it’s through interactive ads or virtual product demonstrations, AR keeps consumers engaged and entertained, which can result in better brand recall and higher conversion rates.

What Are The Setbacks To Using AR?

While AR has tremendous potential, its adoption is still limited to a specific demographic of tech-savvy users. Many consumers are still unfamiliar or uncomfortable with AR experiences, which can limit the reach and effectiveness of AR campaigns. This is particularly true for older demographics, where AR adoption is much lower.Creating AR experiences using these emerging technologies requires specialised knowledge and technology, which can be expensive. Not all consumers have the necessary hardware to access these emerging technologies, creating a barrier to participation.

Virtual Reality (VR) What are the positives to using VR?

1. Immersive Brand Experiences:

VR offers an unparalleled level of immersion, allowing consumers to fully engage with a brand in a virtual environment. Brands can create entire worlds or experiences that would be impossible in real life, offering unique opportunities for storytelling and engagement. For instance, real estate agencies use VR to give virtual tours of properties, saving time and money for both the seller and the buyer.Showing how these emerging technologies can be used across a range of industries. 

2. Memorable Marketing Campaigns:

 VR is still novel for many consumers as an emerging technologies, which makes it a memorable and impactful marketing tool. Because VR campaigns are so immersive, they tend to leave a lasting impression on users, increasing brand recall and emotional connection.

3. Appeal to Younger Demographics:

 VR is especially popular with younger, tech-savvy audiences who are more likely to adopt and engage with new emerging technologies. For brands targeting Gen Z and millennials, VR can be a highly effective tool for engagement and loyalty.

What are the drawbacks of these Emerging Technologies?

Developing high-quality VR experiences requires substantial investment in both technology and talent. VR experiences are complex and time-consuming to create, making it a costly endeavour for both agencies and clients. Additionally, consumers need access to VR headsets, which can be expensive and are not yet widely owned. The need for VR headsets limits the potential audience for VR marketing campaigns. While the emerging technologies are exciting, its adoption is still relatively niche. Until VR headsets become more mainstream, VR campaigns will have a limited reach compared to other digital marketing efforts.

Emerging technologies like AI, AR, and VR offer exciting possibilities for marketing agencies to enhance customer engagement and deliver unique experiences. However, these emerging  technologies also come with challenges, including high costs, technical barriers, and data privacy concerns. 

What Are The Setbacks To Using AR?

 

As a marketing agency, the key is to balance innovation with practicality, ensuring that these emerging technologies are used in ways that truly add value to both clients and consumers. By carefully weighing the pros and cons, agencies can harness the power of these tools to stay ahead in an ever-evolving industry.


To learn more about AI interaction and these new emerging technologies, get in touch with our team at CMe Media. We cover all things media, digital and marketing – we are looking for new clients so that you can grow your business and enhance your website. We look forward to meeting you soon.