December 22, 2021 – Nextech AR Solutions Corp., a provider of augmented reality (AR) experience technologies and services, has announced a multi-year deal with Restaurants Canada, the largest foodservice organization in Canada with over 30,000 members.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, earlier this year Restaurants Canada chose to put on its annual RC Show as a virtual event hosted on Nextech’s platform. As a result of the success of the February 2021 virtual RC Show, Restaurants Canada has now signed the multi-year industry deal with Nextech.
The deal will see Restaurants Canada utilize Nextech’s ‘ARitize Events 3D’ virtual events platform and metaverse studio as a managed service, which will include 3D AR booths, human holograms, 3D AR product experiences, and augmented reality ads. Nextech will also build what it calls a “Metaverse Marketplace” for Restaurants Canada, which will allow members and vendors to virtually meet with one another and see all products and services under one umbrella.
Commenting on the Metaverse Marketplace concept, Christopher Barry, Director of Membership at Restaurants Canada, said: “The Metaverse Marketplace allows brands to market their product or service and set up live meetings. With the ability for operators to no longer have to physically travel to meet their supplier, this results in more engagement and conversion for brands within the marketplace. It’s a one-stop shop for people to come to do business”.
According to Nextech, the companies are planning on up to 5,000 virtual vendor booths serving 30,000+ members for the marketplace, thus providing a hub for e-commerce that will leverage Nextech’s 3D AR solutions for products and advertisements and allowing vendors to show their products in 3D and interact with customers on a higher level.
Nextech also noted that it anticipates it will be able to generate additional revenue from add-ons such as its ‘ARitize Ads’ ad network, which has the capability to display ads throughout virtual events and digital marketplaces.
Evan Gappelberg, CEO of Nextech AR commented: “This multi-year deal is a very substantial validation of both our virtual events platform and new 3D Metaverse Marketplace. The opportunity for revenue potential is significant and we are excited to partner with Restaurants Canada again while having the opportunity to showcase our ad network, AR features and 3D product visualizations to 30,000 industry pros.” He continued, “With the Omicron variant spreading globally live events are being scaled back or canceled and the world is once again looking for virtual event platforms, marketplaces, and 3D product visualizations which is causing a spike in our business”.
Todd Barclay, President and CEO, Restaurants Canada, stated: “The Nextech platform offered a much more sophisticated experience for our attendees and exhibitors. The engagement levels were high and created what felt like a personal connection, in what would otherwise be an impersonal platform.”
For more information on Nextech and its augmented reality-enabled virtual events platform, please visit the company’s website.
Image credit: Nextech AR Solutions Corp.
About the author
Sam Sprigg
Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.
