Use Cases of Augmented Reality in Field Service | Unvired

Augmented Reality (AR) is a blend of reality and the virtual world. It overlays digital data on the physical world. AR can enable the interactive experience of a real-world environment and display information about an object. If implemented successfully, AR can significantly improve the field service team’s productivity and impart more effective training.

Many decision-makers see AR as a far off futuristic technology, but in reality, AR is here and its adoption in field services is accelerating. In the next 3–8 years, 33% of Field Service Organizations would implement augmented reality technology to optimize their field service processes. AR in the field service scenario can be implemented through mobile phones and smart glasses.

Here are some of the use cases of Augmented Reality in field service:

• Live-view annotations and accurate measurements: Measuring tapes are difficult to use to effectively measure complex and odd-shaped equipment. AR can be used to capture accurate measurements with live-view annotations regardless of the size or structural intricacies. One of our customers in the US replaced measuring tapes with an AR application using Apple AR Kit and Google AR Core to measure rope length during rope inspections.
• Remote Assistance to Field Technicians: Field technicians may face a situation where they need expert support to fix complex or unknown issues. With an AR app, they can get live support from an expert in real-time view to provide step by step instructions, improving the first time fix. With AR, field technicians can view the 3D model of complex components and infrastructures such as pipelines and cables.
• Training of Field Service Technicians: Field service companies are facing a talent shortage in the workplace with many senior employees retiring. AR can be leveraged to train new hires (field technicians)to upskill in their new roles. New hires can go through pre-recorded training simulations and 3D models so that they can gain a better understanding of the equipment components. This delivers in-depth training with higher information retention.

We are finding that the adoption of AR is rapidly growing in field service organization as it is more effective, efficient, and a safer way to perform field service jobs. If you would like to discuss more on the subject, let’s connect over a call to discuss how your organization can benefit by using AR in field service.

Originally published at https://unvired.com on March 31, 2020.