Tamworth commercial real estate agents consider the impact augmented reality could have on business

It started with Pokémon Go and retail giants have been quick to jump on the trend that can show potential buyers how a product or space can look at the click of a button.

It's not in Tamworth yet, but Burke and Smyth principal Gavin Knee said it's a great development for larger scale projects.

"We'd love to implement it even for our shop owners who have a vacant shop," he said.

"If we can provide an app to show a tenant who walks in where they could put a counter, dressing rooms or displays - it's a good thing.

"People are time poor and otherwise designs have to be sent away to a draftsman who will draw the plan up, but it's hard for some people to visualise on paper."

Augmented reality, or mixed reality, is the practice of adding simulated graphics to a person's real world through a device.

Already big retailers like Sephora and Ikea use the technology to give customers a more 3D experience, the technology could see billboards come to life.

Even restaurants have gotten on board with the trend, where diners can see the most popular menu items just by pointing their smart phones at a menu.

Burke and Smyth is working on a development at Windmill Hill in North Tamworth, Mr Knee said AR would be a perfect complement to the project.

"We're in the process of thinking about how we can provide marketing and video and AR will eventually in the future be the next step," he said.

In the last month, Ray White Tamworth director Malcolm Campbell has leased five or six commercial properties.

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One of those was to a Melbourne business looking to open up shop in Tamworth.

"Augmented reality is an interesting thing and I potentially do so it being used," he said.

"The new business I worked with in Melbourne actually chose a location and beamed photos back to their office - within moments they had designed concepts."

At the moment a lot of Mr Campbell's clients prefer to use a more 'real world' option, with businesses offering office fit-outs in a turn-key solution.

"We use Formline who provide turn-key solutions, it's great for out-of-town tenants," he said. "We're not quite there on an app yet."

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