Top 10: Uses for AR in the Workplace
Augmented Reality (AR) is revolutionising the modern workplace, transforming how we interact with our environment and enhancing productivity across industries. By overlaying digital information onto the physical world, AR is bridging the gap between virtual and real, opening up new possibilities for innovation and efficiency.
From streamlining complex manufacturing processes to facilitating remote collaboration, AR is rapidly transforming the workplace, offering innovative solutions to enhance productivity, training and collaboration. As we look to the future, AR is poised to become an integral part of many industries, with the global AR & VR market projected to generate revenue of US$40.4bn in 2024.
With this context in mind, this week Technology Magazine highlights the top 10 uses for AR in the workplace.
10: Marketing and Sales
Enabling the creation of immersive and interactive experiences for customers, AR is revolutionising marketing and sales strategies. Leading brands like Coca-Cola and Pepsi have leveraged AR in their marketing campaigns to bring their products to life, allowing customers to engage with virtual content through their smartphones.
In the real estate sector, companies like Matterport and RoOomy are using AR to offer virtual property tours, enabling potential buyers to explore homes remotely and visualise different interior design options. Retail giants like Sephora and IKEA, meanwhile, have implemented AR try-on features, allowing customers to virtually test products before purchase.
9: Data Visualisation
AR is transforming how businesses interpret and interact with complex data sets. Financial institutions like Fidelity Investments are exploring AR for data analysis and portfolio management, creating immersive environments where analysts can manipulate and explore financial data in three dimensions.
In healthcare, companies like AccuVein use AR to visualise patient veins for more accurate injections, while surgical planning platforms like Medivis allow doctors to interact with 3D medical imaging data. Tech giants like IBM and Microsoft, meanwhile, are developing AR data visualisation tools that can be applied across various industries, from manufacturing to urban planning.
8: Collaborative Meetings
Another use for AI is for remote collaboration, enabling shared, interactive virtual spaces. Platforms like Microsoft Mesh and Meta Horizon Workrooms are pioneering AR collaboration tools that allow remote teams to interact with 3D models, data visualisations and virtual whiteboards as if they were in the same room.
Tech companies like Magic Leap are developing AR headsets specifically for enterprise collaboration: technologies which are particularly valuable for global companies with distributed teams, as they help overcome the limitations of traditional video conferencing.
7: Workplace Safety
AR is also enhancing workplace safety by overlaying real-time safety information and hazard warnings in the user's field of view. Construction companies like Skanska use AR to visualise potential safety risks on job sites, reducing accidents and improving compliance with safety protocols.
Manufacturing firms such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin implement AR to display machine status and safety procedures, helping workers identify and avoid potential hazards, while companies like Vuzix and RealWear produce ruggedised AR headsets designed for industrial environments.
6: Customer Support
Customer support is another process being transformed by AR by allowing support agents to see and interact with what customers see in real-time. In the automotive industry, Porsche uses AR for remote diagnostics and repair guidance, while appliance manufacturers like LG and Samsung are incorporating AR into their customer support apps, allowing users to troubleshoot issues with their devices more easily.
These AR applications not only improve the quality and efficiency of customer support but also reduce the need for on-site visits, saving time and resources for both companies and customers.
5: Warehouse Management
AR is revolutionising warehouse operations by improving inventory management and order fulfilment processes. DHL has implemented AR smart glasses in its warehouses, reducing errors and improving picking efficiency by 25%. Amazon is exploring AR to optimise its vast warehouse operations, potentially transforming the e-commerce supply chain.
Startups like Picavi and LogistiVIEW are developing specialised AR solutions for warehouse management, offering features like barcode scanning, navigation, and real-time inventory updates.
3: Design and Prototyping
AR can also be used to revolutionise the design and prototyping process by enabling designers and engineers to visualise and manipulate 3D models in real space. Automotive giants like Ford and Volkswagen use AR for collaborative design reviews, reducing the need for physical prototypes and accelerating the development process.
Ford's use of Microsoft HoloLens in car design has cut design time from weeks to hours. Architecture firms like Gensler and Foster + Partners use AR to present designs to clients, allowing them to experience spaces before construction begins.
4: Maintenance and Repair
AR is transforming maintenance and repair processes by overlaying digital information onto physical equipment, guiding technicians through complex procedures. Lockheed Martin uses AR to assist in spacecraft manufacturing, reducing assembly time by 30% and error rates by 96%.
Thyssenkrupp employs Microsoft HoloLens for elevator maintenance, enabling technicians to visualise and identify issues more efficiently, resulting in a four-fold increase in service efficiency. In the automotive industry, Porsche uses AR for complex repairs, projecting step-by-step instructions onto the mechanic's field of view.
2: Training and Onboarding
Augmented Reality tech is also transforming employee training and onboarding by creating immersive, interactive learning experiences. Walmart has partnered with STRIVR to use AR for employee training, resulting in improved performance and retention, while Boeing uses AR to guide technicians through aircraft assembly, reducing training time by 35% and improving quality by 90%.
In the healthcare sector, companies like Osso VR and FundamentalVR use AR and VR for surgical training, allowing medical professionals to practice procedures in a risk-free environment. These platforms have shown to improve surgical performance by up to 230% compared to traditional training methods.
In the automotive industry, Bosch has developed the Common Augmented Reality Platform (CAP) for technical training across different vehicle models, reducing the need for multiple physical training setups.
AR training applications are not limited to specific industries. Platforms like Upskill and Atheer offer customizable AR training solutions that can be adapted to various sectors, from manufacturing to retail. These tools allow companies to create interactive, step-by-step guides for complex procedures, reducing training time and improving knowledge retention.
1: Remote Assistance
AR-enabled remote assistance is transforming how companies provide support and guidance to on-site workers, regardless of location. Microsoft's HoloLens is at the forefront of this technology, allowing experts to see what on-site technicians see and provide real-time visual instructions overlaid on the technician's field of view. Chevron has implemented HoloLens for remote assistance in its oil fields, reducing travel costs and improving problem-solving efficiency.
Honeywell’s Experion Orion Console uses AR for remote assistance in industrial control rooms, allowing operators to access real-time data and expert support when managing complex processes. In the aerospace industry, Airbus uses AR remote assistance for aircraft maintenance, enabling technicians to receive guidance from experts worldwide, reducing aircraft downtime and improving maintenance quality.
Companies like PTC and TeamViewer are developing specialised AR remote assistance platforms that can be used across various industries. PTC’s Vuforia Chalk allows users to draw and annotate on a shared live view. TeamViewer Assist AR offers similar functionality, with additional features like 3D object tracking and IoT device integration.
