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What Is an Augmented Product?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

An augmented product is a product with additional features and services that set it aside from similar competitors. Companies augment their products to increase revenues, and may create additional streams of revenue in the process, depending on the types of products and services they offer. Consumers may preferentially select an augmented product when they have an option, which puts demand on manufacturers to continue adding innovations to their products to capture and hold consumer attention.

The core product may be something like a computer. The manufacturer can add features like a warranty, customer support, membership with a club, or accessories that come with the computer, such as a laptop case or a keyboard. A computer manufacturer has a number of manufacturers who create products of similar quality that operate in a similar way, and consumers may differentiate between various offerings on the basis of the augmented product package.

Companies augment their products to increase revenues, and may create additional streams of revenue in the process.
Companies augment their products to increase revenues, and may create additional streams of revenue in the process.

Consumers weighing a choice between two similar options may pick the one with more apparent benefits, like the laptop that comes with a case and a year's support plan. It is also possible to get consumers to pay more through the use of an augmented product, because the consumer could feel like the extra features make it a better deal. Consumers view these options as value adders, and can interact with the product and the marketing much differently depending on the level of features available.

Costs to create an augmented product can vary. Often, small, cost-effective measures can add significantly to the retail price, which makes it a good deal for the producer, though not necessarily so good for the consumer. Some augmented product packages rely on the fact that few consumers will take advantage of the extra feature. An insurance company might add a free tow package to premium policies, for instance, on the grounds that it won't be used by every single customer, and thus towing costs should stay low.

Marketing departments work with product development teams to decide on how to develop new products, and what kinds of features to offer. The team may have suggestions for additions they feel could add to the value, and the marketers can use focus groups and other consumer studies to gather data. They may also create product tiers, where consumers can choose from low, medium, and high priced versions with more features at each step. This can underscore the benefits of the augmented product at the high scale, by showing consumers what they get at the cheap end of the spectrum, such as a computer with very low RAM, or a car with only minimal features.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

RoyalSpyder
Overall, I would say that augmented products have their pros and cons. First of all, one major pro is how beneficial the additional features are.

Some of these features are even a necessity. As an example, every laptop needs virus protection, and Antivirus Software as an additional feature (instead of buying it separately) is a great choice.

However, at the end of the day, the goal of a company is to make money from the consumer. Though additional features of augmented products can be very helpful, some of these features are nothing more than accessories. Added features like memberships and laptop cases seem more like ways to make money off of you, and aren’t actual requirements.

In fact, the article even says that consumers often pay for augmented products because they feel more is better. But it all comes down to being a smart consumer. Remember to shop wisely, and weigh the pros and cons of each product.

Chmander

Though augmented products are beneficial with their additional features, are they just another way for companies to make money off of you?

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    • Companies augment their products to increase revenues, and may create additional streams of revenue in the process.
      By: corepics
      Companies augment their products to increase revenues, and may create additional streams of revenue in the process.