Augmented Reality Development

The choice between native AR (ARKit/ARCore) and WebAR depends on your use case requirements. Native AR provides higher tracking accuracy, LiDAR depth sensing (iPhone Pro), persistent anchors, and access to all device AR capabilities. It is the right choice for industrial applications requiring precision (field service instructions, training simulations) and applications needing persistent anchors across sessions. The trade-off: users must download an app (higher friction). WebAR (8th Wall) delivers AR through the mobile browser no app install required, lower tracking quality, no LiDAR access, no persistent anchors. WebAR is the right choice for marketing campaigns, one-time experiences, and e-commerce product visualisation where the app install friction would kill conversion. For cross-platform apps (iOS + Android from shared codebase), Unity AR Foundation provides one development codebase targeting both ARKit and ARCore backends reducing development and maintenance cost compared to separate native implementations.

For a manufacturing or field service organisation with 500 technicians, the cost of AR deployment: HoloLens 2 hardware ($3,500/device à 500 = $1.75M), AR development ($25,000-50,000 per procedure), and annual support ($50,000). ROI drivers: reduced procedure time (20-25% faster with step-by-step AR overlays technicians do not consult paper manuals or separate tablets), reduced error rate (component selection errors, missing steps, safety violations each error event costs hours or equipment damage), reduced expert travel ($2,000-5,000 per remote site visit replaced by $50-100 remote assist session), and quicker new technician onboarding (new technicians reach proficiency in weeks vs months). For a high-value equipment manufacturer with high-accuracy maintenance requirements (aeronautics, energy, medical devices), the ROI case for industrial AR is often positive within the first year of deployment.