Many businesses worldwide have started exploring augmented reality (AR) technology to enhance the productivity, safety and capabilities of the workforce. While the wave of AR may not have been as widespread as some predicted, Nathan Cheng, associate product manager, augmented reality at Epson America, Inc., shares why it’s safe to anticipate tremendous rollout and usage of commercial AR across industries and manufacturing environments in the next three to five years. Â
According to IDCOpens a new window , spending on AR/VR hardware, software and services will grow from about $13.8 billion in 2022 to $50.9 billion by 2026, with industrial maintenance and training as the key commercial use cases to receive the largest AR investments.
AR can have a significant impact on workflow by improving efficiency and collaboration across teams. For businesses interested in implementing it, taking the first step can seem challenging. However, there are a few ways to get started for long-term success with AR technology.Â
Start with Mobile AR
A great first entry point is to leverage a company’s existing IT infrastructure, such as AR-enabled mobile devices, smartphones and tablets. Businesses can leverage mobile AR to plan and modify projects, make measurements, simulate life-size products, and perform walk-throughs of an entire project before it is executed, improving the project life cycle. Mobile AR can also provide quick and real-time access to inventory information, lead times, specifications, and updates, without disrupting the flow of production.Â
Use Current Apps
Businesses can also start by using the apps they are already using, such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, TeamViewer, and more. There’s no need to spend significant time learning new features and implementing new processes with familiar apps. There are also a variety of popular collaboration apps that businesses can try without additional costs and several video tutorials and instructions available to help with setup.
Leverage Hands-free Solutions
After businesses become experienced with mobile AR and start maximizing return on current app workflow and implementation, it can be beneficial to start exploring wearables and smart glasses for advanced applications. According to IDCOpens a new window , businesses will spend more on standalone and tethered head-mounted displays (HMDs), and host devices and tethered HMDs will see the fastest spending growth with a five-year compound annual growth rate of 59.5% and 57.9%, respectively.Â
To accommodate today’s hybrid working environments and improve collaboration between team members across multiple locations, remote assistance and digital transformation is becoming a necessity to improve service and communication in day-to-day operations. AR wearables and smart glasses help support convenient, hands-free “see-what-I-see†collaboration and can help streamline a variety of remote assistance and collaboration applications. Benefits include:
- Streamline collaboration: Businesses can bridge employee knowledge and experience gaps by connecting field personnel with remote experts to complete difficult tasks with fewer mistakes. This can result in less equipment downtime and reduced execution time.
- Maximize productivity: The deployment of AR remote assistance allows professionals around the globe to provide expertise and instructions without the need for costly and time-consuming travel. Â
- Optimize ROI: Providing on-site, in-person services for all jobs can be costly and challenging. Leaning on AR remote assistance, businesses can save money by potentially reducing re-work and travel expenses and ongoing maintenance by getting the job done correctly the first time.
See More: Emerging VR & AR in Recruitment – The Simulation process
Identify Solutions to Meet Business Needs
In recent years, there have been major developments in the AR space. When exploring the advantages of the technology and AR solutions to invest in, there are a variety of factors to consider.
- Work environment: One of the most essential factors when it comes to selecting smart glasses is the worker’s environment and situation. For example, ruggedized solutions are required for hazardous environments with dust, dirt, noise pollution, and specific temperature demands and light conditions. Solutions that are built with a tough, robust design – with high shock and dust resistance – to withstand the most demanding and dynamic work environments are necessary for manufacturing, automotive, field service, IT, logistics, or construction. With an adjustable headband and helmet mounting options, they can easily fit a variety of frontline work attire and helmet models for added comfort and flexibility.
- Image quality: For projects and sessions that require significant documentation and visual-heavy instructions and diagrams, it’s ideal to invest in solutions with excellent image quality to create a seamless viewing experience. Advanced cameras with optimized angles precisely capture the wearer’s point of view, allowing for a true, seamless “see-what-I-see†experience between the wearer and the remote expert. For audio-heavy sessions that may not require the highest resolution, consider solutions with built-in audio, integrated speaker and noise-canceling microphones to enhance the quality of hands-free communication.Â
- Vendor service and support: There are several players in the AR market with small-scale operations. It’s important for businesses to take the support, reputation and credibility of vendors into consideration when selecting partners. A vendor that provides advanced solutions compatible with a wide range of software and host devices can help provide the tools to support any industry’s AR needs.
Key Takeaways
While IDC notes that overall spending will be almost evenly split between consumer and commercial applications, we see AR continuing to gain significant traction with enterprises across multiple industries, with remote assistance as one of the top applications. Although it may seem like a daunting task to get started, incorporating AR doesn’t have to be a difficult and time-consuming process.Â
By leveraging the devices and apps already in use and investing in the right equipment, businesses can bridge knowledge gaps, boost efficiency, improve workflow, and facilitate growth in the long run.
How are you using AR to enable your business processes and customer focus? Share with us on FacebookOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , and LinkedInOpens a new window . We’d love to hear from you!
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