Last month, we hosted the very first Zapworks meetup for our talented community of AR enthusiasts. Hosted at Groucho Club in central London, the breakfast meetup was an opportunity for fellow Zapworks users to mingle, share ideas and help each other with common challenges faced on their collective journeys to becoming AR creators. 

The morning was also a chance get the inside scoop from the horse's mouth(s), with Caspar (CEO), Connell (CTO) and Max (Marketing Director) giving keynotes on industry trends, the Zapworks roadmap and case studies from Zappar’s eight years in the industry. 

As a company, we were extremely excited to “get our hands dirty” and meet some of the amazing Zapworks users (old and new) who invest their time and money in the platform and make it a special place to learn, develop and grow together.

If you couldn't attend the meetup this time around, don't fret, we're already planning the next meetup which you can have your say on using this Google form.  

 

 

Key insights

Given this was our first meetup, I wanted to share some key insights from the day. 

 

1) The future of AR is right now

The opportunity to get ahead of the game and write and define the rules of AR as a medium is huge and is something the Zapworks community recognize and are already leveraging to carve out their slice of the AR pie. 

2) Zapworks users are an awesome bunch

We were completely blown away not only by the turnout but also the distance that some users traveled to make the meetup. Shout outs to Valentin Jesenko from Animani Studios and Paola and Marco from Viewtoo, who win the prize for the furthest traveled - flying in from Ljubljana, Slovenia and Milan, Italy respectively. 

3) Understanding the AR ecosystem

To best take advantage of AR...you first need to understand the constituent parts of the AR ecosystem.” - Caspar Thykier. Having a strong knowledge of the tracking systems available, from image, world and face tracking as well as knowing the benefits of embedding AR into a client’s app alongside the available connection partners is, and will be increasingly important as the ecosystem evolves. 

4) There’s never been a better time to be an AR creator

With consumer readiness, device scale and development infrastructure now firmly in place, designers and developers have everything they need to own this newly created canvas in spatial computing. 

5) Community is everything

Giving Zapworks users the chance to chat and share their experiences with one another other was what the meetup was really about. It was amazing to see first-hand how supportive, helpful and enthusiastic the Zapworks community is. This network is laying the groundwork for future creativity and connection.

6) Companies big and small want AR

Businesses of all sizes are quickly realizing the power that AR can bring to their marketing, print and internal L&D programs. Zapworks users are delivering on a diverse range of briefs and projects, for clients ranging from small mom and pop shops to global brands. 

7) The proof is in the pudding/breakfast

Having case studies on-hand still remains the best and most effective way of showcasing AR’s potential and how it can be implemented across the complete customer journey

Oh, and let’s not forget to mention the delicious spread of pastries, yogurts, sandwiches, teas and coffees on offer (thank you Groucho Club)!

 

Final thoughts

We couldn’t be happier with how the day went and the positive feedback we received from users - we can’t wait to host the next Zapworks meetup! Developing an active community of AR creators who share the same values, ideas and beliefs as we do, is central to our mission as a business and something we’re 100% committed to growing (with your help, of course). 
 

 

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Have your say on the next Zapworks meetup

It wouldn't really be a community if we didn't get the input of our Zapworks users. With this in mind, we've created a handy Google form for you to register your interest for the next Zapworks meetup and leave your thoughts on the content and topics covered.