The Department for International Trade (DIT) South West, Business West and AR specialists Render are launching the first-of-its-kind immersive augmented reality (AR) platform for cross-border sales within the Marine sector.
The ExportAR: Marine initiative will be delivered cost-free to 3 successful applicants, and will allow companies to showcase their Marine-Tech product in real-time to an international audience using a bespoke smartphone or tablet application. UK sellers will be able to present their product and communicate in real-time to international buyers in target markets using AR.
This is a unique opportunity to help trial an immersive, 21st-century sales and lead-generation tool, in addition to the possibility of boosting export sales within your company through enhanced international trade. An example of an AR-rendered piece of machinery can be found in the video below – this provides a snapshot of how augmented reality can bring a product to life and enable greater-understanding amongst users and potential customers.
The Solution
The COVID-19 pandemic and the 'new normal' has hindered and put a stop to almost all face-to-face international sales opportunities. ExportAR: Marine aims to solve this problem by transforming the way in which buyers and sellers communicate, enabling simultaneous videoconferencing with international buyers alongside the ability to showcase specific features of a product using animation and 3d rendering. Aside from this, the solution has also been created to help cut down on business travel and support the decarbonisation of international trade.
As part of this initiative, you'll be working closely with DIT trade advisers and our technology partners Render: an immersive innovation agency specialising in augmented reality. If successful, Render will work you through the process of showcasing your product using AR between January – March 2021. From April 2021 onwards, you will then have the opportunity to pilot the tool in front of international buyers through DIT’s overseas networks.
Is my company suitable?
To be eligible to take part in the ExportAR: Marine initiative, your Marine-Tech company will need to be based in one of the three participating Local Enterprise Partnership areas of Cornwall & Isles of Scilly, Heart of the South West, and Dorset. You will also need to meet the requirements of a detailed list of criteria, which have been designed to manage expectations and ensure suitability. The headline criteria are listed below but please also ensure you download and comply with a more in-depth list which can be found by clicking here.
To be eligible to apply you must:
- Own detailed CAD files/drawings of your nominated product. (.STL or .IGS, IGIS files)
- Have a product that in reality is no larger than 1-3 meters square, or can be scaled down to a similar spatial footprint.
- Have a product that would benefit from the use of augmented reality in a sales situation.
- Agree and be willing to work closely with Business West/DIT and Render throughout the course of the project. Your company will be required to nominate a 'Project Lead' that can facilitate this.
Submitting your application
To apply to take part in the ExportAR initiative you'll need to submit an application by midnight Wednesday 16th December using the link below. As this is a pilot project, spaces are limited and the initiative is currently only able to support 3 successful applications.
In 2021, a showcase video will be developed, to highlight and showcase some of the Great South West’s top Marine-Tech companies, in which all applicants will be considered for inclusion. Further details about this activity will be confirmed at a later date.
To find out more click here