Though AR (Augmented Reality) is yet to be utilized with full potential, it has started disrupting the corporate sector. This emerging technology is capable of revolutionizing workflows and critical processes across various industry sectors. Let’s take an example of an Augmented Reality remote assistance solution. It enables companies to get real-time assistance for maintaining and repairing their remote equipment.
These days, enterprises, irrespective of their size and scale, tend to integrate AR-based solutions from augmented reality development companies into their systems. AR is useful to achieve various objectives including improving brand awareness, enhancing customer experience, streamlining workflows, and providing training to new employees. What’s more, you can implement AR technology for other purposes like quality assurance and spreading awareness about new trends and techniques.
Let’s go through some important use cases of Augmented Reality solutions across major industry sectors.
How Industries Leverage the Benefits of Augmented Reality Technology?
We will start with the thriving manufacturing sector, which we can consider as one of the biggest beneficiaries of Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality (A concept that combines Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality).
1. Manufacturing :
With the advent of 5G, this sector will start getting the benefits of AR technology to improve many processes and workflows. What makes AR a preferred technology option to manufacturers is the fact that it needs a fraction of the cost as compared to complex hardware.
Also, Augmented Reality-based devices can easily exchange data as there are no physical restrictions like cables or devices between them. Here the data is transferred and stored virtually for anytime access. New joiners can see interactive hints and important instructions about the usage of machinery and equipment using AR. It can increase the safety of new employees and reduce the ramp-up time significantly. AR headsets have AI-based features to help employees get from one point to another efficiently. It leads to higher productivity over the period. What’s more, engineers can send the request to the supply department simply by pointing or showing it using AR technology.
Augmented Reality remote assistance solution is useful for real-time monitoring, maintenance, and repair. AR-powered elements in the manufacturing plant can give easy access to information about the performance of existing equipment to employees. Finally, AR technology has a vital role to play in ensuring the safety of employees by sending them real-time alerts. In case of emergency, AR assistance solutions can transmit an interactive beam with employees’ locations.
2. Entertainment :
In the thriving media & entertainment sector, AR technology enhances content consumption. This technology can add immersive experiences into written content and act as a visual aid in non-fiction writing to illustrate concepts more effectively. Another use case of AR technology in the entertainment sector is interactive 3D board games. Here, the physical board stays the same while all its elements turn virtually.
In a way, the media and entertainment sector can leverage the benefits of thriving augmented reality technology.
3. Automotive :
Another big beneficiary of AR technology is the automotive sector. These days, mechanics find it difficult to maintain and repair advanced cars due to complex technology and cutting-edge tools. There, automation and digital transformation can bring revolutionary changes in various workflows and automotive maintenance processes. Let’s see the scope of AR in this sector.
Augmented Reality remote assistance solution enables engineers to show field workers or remote engineers how to conduct servicing and repair of vehicles. For example, Mercedes-Benz US uses Microsoft HoloLens 2 along with Dynamics 365 Remote Assist to help technicians perform various activities remotely for maintenance and repair.
Another use of AR technology is in the training of inexperienced mechanics. Mixed Reality-based workshops can provide a safe and efficient way to share workflow, training, and other important information. It is easy for engineers to enroll in digital training where they can learn the mechanism of complex hardware and assembling. The AR-powered app can easily solve various issues related to car repairs. Porsche has already tripled the usage of augmented reality in their workshops. It has improved the customer’s experience and the employee’s efficiency significantly.
Another cost-effective use of AR technology in the automotive sector is vehicle prototyping. This technology enables automotive companies to save big on expensive prototypes, especially when multiple iterations are necessary. This technology assists workers know quickly whether the component will fit in the first phase of production. Using AR technology in prototyping can also decrease the need for performing test startups before actual production.
4. Military :
Soldiers can use AR for transforming sensor data into visual input. It can give them more insight into their surroundings while enhancing navigation. AR technology enhances situation awareness among soldiers with the help of sensors and cameras specifically during the night patrolling. Other crucial information can also be fetched through sensors and fed into a headset for soldiers. Army headquarters can also send useful information through these devices.
Talking about the aviation sector augmented reality can make charts and maps more interactive into a pilot’s field of view, thereby reducing the frequency of checking the information on displays. Another interactive use of AR in the military is to guide dogs through lasers or hand gestures. Even if soldiers cannot remain close enough to the dogs for giving commands, AR goggles can enable soldiers to guide dogs virtually. The dog finds that a soldier gives commands and as a result, all the commands are followed. The US Army already uses such AR goggles for dogs.
Apart from this, the chemical, travel, and logistics sectors also leverage the benefits of AR technology. As per PwC prediction, GDP will get a boost with the adoption of AR and VR across various industry sectors in the short term. AR technology can bring disruption in industries by making the processes more interactive for employees and stakeholders.
Concluding Lines
It is fair to mention that Augmented Reality has a high potential to bring disruption to the workplace. In the coming years, we will see innovative use cases of this technology in the corporate sector. Sophisticated hardware and reduced prices for AR devices will further boost its adoption. We can also expect that the technology will work wonders by combining it with artificial intelligence.
