The Future of Augmented Reality in Medicine Packaging – What to Expect?

Imagine seeing the human body’s inner functioning in front of your eyes or watching how a medicine dissolves and works in a certain area. That seems like a sci-fi movie scene. What if it becomes a reality, too? Thanks to the Augmented Reality (AR) feature in custom packaging that brings this futuristic vision to the pharma industry. Soon, medicine companies will add this feature to their custom medicine boxes to hike up their marketing game.

In the past, packaging was limited to carrying a product and delivering it to a key customer. However, with technological advancements, the packaging industry has also surged. Now, packaging not only keeps a product safe but also engages the consumer. The arrival of AR is about to alter the way buyers see products on the shelves and their phones. It will also elevate their shopping experience. AR will be a game-changer in the Medicine Packaging industry, as it can be used to transform the packaging of medicines. In this blog, we will discuss how this technology will take over the medicine packaging to make the patient experience smooth and interactive.

What Does Augmented Reality Mean?

Let us first learn what AR means. Augmented Reality means the use of images, sounds, and graphics in such a way that they are shown in 3D in the real world on digital devices like smartphones, tablets, or smart glasses in the labs. It is an engaging technology and reveals the content instead of immersing it in the virtual world like in Virtual Reality (VR). AR is the most efficient way to enhance the real-world experience via digital elements coming to life. In the wake of medicine packaging, AR can take the product packaging and user experience to a new height. A simple medicine box will speak to the patient directly on how to use it and when to take it. It looks magical. What patients will need to do is to just scan the QR code and get all on dose usage, its ingredients, benefits, side effects, and other valuable information in a fist. That is how AR is going to bring a change in the medicine packaging industry.

Key Benefits of AR in Medicine Packaging

When it comes to using AR (Augmented Reality) features in the packaging, its benefits are manifold. One of the key advantages is the “enhanced user experience.” In today’s time, consumers want to know more than what is printed on the packaging box. They want to interact with the packaging and discover beyond the present. Let us put it another way. A patient enters the pharmacy and picks up the box of his desired medicine. When he takes out his phone and scans the packaging, he steps into a 3D world. Here, he can go beyond reality and learn about the benefits of the medicines without needing to memorize what the doctor or pharmacist advised on usage. Such an engaging patient experience will not only assist the buyer but also build the value of the medicine brand.

Secondly, AR will help in educating patients about the medicine. Instructions on many medicine boxes are written in a very sleek and small font, hence, not even legible. This makes it hard for elderly patients to read correctly. They can be confusing for even those who are not familiar with the medical terms and vocabulary. So, to relieve the buyers of this stress, AR will be a lifesaver. AR will turn complex information and graphics into simple and easy-to-understand bits of information. Moreover, this technology will also enable the users to have a full-fledged view of the workings of the medicine.

Builds Transparency

AR is a good way to build trust and showcase transparency in pharmaceutical products. The Pharma industry has always put immense effort into building its loyalty and value on the buyers. By integrating AR in their packaging, they can leap over other medicine brands in no time. This tech-driven approach will demonstrate the product in an engaging way that will mesmerize the customer. Consumers, with a single tap, can step into the new world and learn about what kind of ingredients are being used in making. They can learn about the data of how many people have used and gained from the drug and what measures can be taken to avoid any bad effects.

Apart from bringing innovation in medicine packaging, AR has a lot of potential to serve healthcare experts. Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists can scan the codes and access vital information about the usage. They will no longer need to research little details about the dosage. Instead, they will all get it in a quick snap. They can assist elderly or illiterate patients with the use of medicine. For instance, healthcare staff can reveal to them the proper plan, time to take medicine, and quantity of the drug to build trust. Moreover, AR will also help to maintain stock levels. In the inventory, AR can keep a record of the medicines and their expiry dates to help in stocking, discarding, and organizing the levels.

Potential Challenges of Using AR in Packaging

As AR is going to revolutionize the medicine packaging industry, it will come with key challenges for the brands, too. No doubt that it will provide amazing benefits to the healthcare sector, but handling it can be hard. The first and foremost challenge is tech education. Not everyone is smart enough to understand the ins and outs of technology quickly. It can be a real struggle for the elderly ones whose ease it promises to offer. Therefore, it is important to consider this aspect and make AR features easy to use and understand by all age groups.

Secondly, it is very costly. Brands will need to set aside a large sum of their budget to develop this in custom medicine boxes packaging. However, in contrast to the benefits AR will offer and the cost it will take in its development can be of no match. Benefits will always weigh more. Lately, technology usage has always been risky. The user can never believe it blindly. Therefore, medicine companies will need to ensure that they will handle their buyers’ data with care and, hence, prioritize privacy.

What AR Holds in the Future for the Medicine Industry?

With the growth in technology, the medicine packaging industry is going to fuse AR in its custom medicine boxes. It will educate the patients on understanding complex information easily. In the future, AR will also find a way to seep into smartwatches with an in-built health tracking system. It will help patients to keep a record of their dosage easily without worrying about carrying a smartphone.

Wrap Up

Augmented Reality is soon going to become an exciting trend in the packaging of custom medicine boxes. The pharma industry will shift to this novel packaging feature to not only build a loyal brand value but also assist the customers. AR will create new ways to educate patients, enhance patient experience and create a differentiation in medicine brands with its cutting-edge features. Packaging Mania has a keen eye for novelty in packaging. It uses the best methods and creative ways to enhance engagement and elevate a brand’s image in the market. Contact us to get your Custom Handle Boxes infused with tech-savvy features.