AR/VR · 3 min read
The Revolution of AR and VR in Indonesian Business
How augmented and virtual reality moved from novelty to a serious business tool for Indonesian brands.
Five years ago, augmented reality and virtual reality were widely described as the next big thing — and equally widely dismissed as expensive novelties that only global tech giants could afford. That narrative has not aged well. In 2024, AR and VR are operational tools in Indonesian property sales offices, beauty retail, automotive showrooms, and corporate training facilities. The revolution happened quietly, driven not by a single breakthrough but by a convergence of forces that made immersive technology genuinely accessible.
What Changed
Three developments accelerated adoption simultaneously.
Smartphone capability caught up. The processors and cameras in modern mid-range Android handsets — the dominant device in the Indonesian market — are now capable of running sophisticated AR experiences smoothly. AR is no longer limited to flagship devices.
WebAR eliminated the app barrier. The requirement to download a dedicated application was the single biggest obstacle to AR adoption among Indonesian consumers. WebAR, which runs entirely in a mobile browser, removed that barrier entirely. A QR code or a WhatsApp link is now all that stands between a consumer and an immersive experience.
Content creation costs fell. 3D modelling, AR development, and VR production have all become faster and more affordable as toolchains matured. What required a large international studio five years ago can now be delivered by an Indonesian specialist like InReality Solutions at a fraction of the cost.
How Indonesian Businesses Are Using AR Today
The use cases have evolved from experimental to essential across several key sectors:
- Property: Developers sell units off-plan using AR walk-throughs of unbuilt apartments, and sales galleries use virtual tours to show buyers multiple units without multiple site visits.
- Retail and beauty: Virtual try-on is now a standard feature expectation for cosmetics and eyewear sold online in Indonesia.
- Automotive: Brands deploy AR configurators that let customers place and personalise a vehicle model in their own environment before visiting a dealership.
- FMCG: Packaging AR adds gamification, loyalty mechanics, and content layers to everyday consumer products.
- Corporate training: VR simulations train employees in high-risk procedures — machinery operation, safety protocols, emergency response — without the cost and danger of real-world practice.
Virtual Reality: From Consumer Gaming to Enterprise Tool
While AR has found its primary audience in marketing and e-commerce, VR's most significant growth in Indonesia has been in B2B applications. Architecture firms use VR to walk clients through buildings before construction begins. Industrial companies use VR for equipment training. Healthcare providers use VR for patient education and staff training.
The common thread is that VR excels at creating understanding of spatial relationships and processes — the same reason it works for gaming — applied now to practical business problems where understanding leads to better decisions and fewer costly mistakes.
Where This Goes Next
The trajectory is clear: immersive technology becomes a baseline expectation, not a differentiator. The businesses building AR and VR capabilities now are establishing habits, workflows, and assets that will compound in value as the technology becomes ubiquitous. Those that wait will face the same adoption curve, but from behind.
InReality Solutions helps Indonesian businesses at every stage of that journey — from a first WebAR product viewer to a full immersive content strategy. Get in touch to explore what AR or VR could mean for your business.
Content Specialist, InReality Solutions
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