The disruption caused by the pandemic has accelerated the need for businesses to adopt new strategies, and the benefits of digitally transforming frontline operations are undeniable. […] It just so happens that the requirements of enterprise augmented reality over the past five or so years have aligned precisely with the requirements of companies operating in a COVID-19 economy.”
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-Eric Abbruzzese, ABI Research Read “Enterprise Augmented Reality Meets a Market In Need of Solutions”
industrial organizations are turning to digital technologies to stay connected, productive, and resilient. With out-of-the-box solutions that deliver rapid ROI, industrial augmented reality (AR) overcomes thorny workforce challenges, speeds up on-the-job learning, and creates opportunities for employees to collaborate—even at a distance. This eBook gathers actionable tips from five experts who are using industrial AR to drive innovation and improve how frontline workforces get things done in today’s new normal. Each of these experts was asked to respond to the same question:
In today’s climate, what is the most important consideration for somebody ready to empower their employees with AR?”
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Expert Insights
Operations
Eyewear
Digital Manufacturing
Workforce Training
Systems Integrator
Key Takeaways
Introduction
Shawn has 37 years of experience working the sawmilling industry, particularly in management and operations roles. He has spent the last three years in customer support and service as the Implementation Manager of BID’s induction IoT solution called OPER8. Currently, Shawn is the GM of Reliability at BID Group and is responsible for implementing reliability programs in operations to improve equipment functionality and efficiency. His role and business unit utilize IoT data solutions to develop and implement practical solutions.
Shawn Metivier
General Manager Reliability, BID Group
One size does not fit all. Understanding the training and skillset needs of your workforce are critical to creating a functional, flexible platform.”
Disruption has permanently changed the way we conceive and deliver training—both to our employees and to our customers. In-person conferences and classroom training have been replaced with online conferences and remote sessions. But as companies accelerate their digital training efforts, many have looked to move training out of classrooms and into more immersive environments. Augmented reality has been key to this shift, enabling instructors to overlay digital content over the physical world, and providing students with training curricula and environments that are no longer restricted to a physical location. Every company will have a different approach to implementing the processes needed to make the program successful. One size does not fit all. Understanding the training and skillset needs of your workforce are critical to creating a functional, flexible platform. Develop your implementation plan with the agility to readjust as needed. Verify your hardware can deliver the experience you are developing. And finally, securing a top-down commitment to embrace change will go a long ways towards success.
How can AR empower and engage your frontline employees? What are the AR projects with the most immediate and meaningful impact? How can you close any skills gaps? The industry experts at LNS have prepared a survey-driven report that provides the answers to these pressing questions. Get your copy today.
Read the LNS Research Report
Andrew is an executive and board leader with a deep understanding of technology, innovation, and complex systems. Over his career, his experiences in developing teams and implementing strategies have enabled innovation, growth, and profitability improvements in aerospace, commercial electronics, fast-moving consumer goods, and industrial sensors and safety products.
Andrew E. Chrostowski
Chairman and CEO, RealWear
Build and deploy use cases that address specific pain points; you can always scale up solutions after their initial success.”
The real value in AR solutions is created by improving the user’s satisfaction, productivity, and safety. Given today's environment, AR is sometimes the only way to perform critical tasks—which makes it even more important. Getting it right involves five steps:
When it comes to AR hardware, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. What are the key distinguishing features? What environments are they best suited for? Browse an interactive videographic that shows off several eyewear choices, so you can refine your own AR hardware requirements. Explore them all today.
Commit to the change. Decisiveness is important; it’s not unrealistic to see three years' worth of digital transformation in as many months. As Goethe said, "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it."
1
Get the right device for the job. The needs of first line and frontline workers are unique; safety, reliability, and ruggedness are paramount on the job site. Select a unit rated to handle harsh environments, shocks, drops, and rough handling. IP66 ratings ensure important protection against dust and water. If you are subjecting hardware to an explosive atmosphere, it is imperative that it is ATEX Z1, Div 1, Class 1 rated.
2
Pick a use case that creates value. Wearable computers can support a number of software solutions, but they can’t solve for vague objectives. Build and deploy use cases that address specific pain points; you can always scale up solutions after their initial success.
3
Start with training. Skimping on training is the fastest way to sabotage new technology. Equip your people with the knowledge they need to be AR-proficient, so they can focus on the customer's challenges. An intuitive, voice-controlled interface may be as simple as "Say what you see," but users need to gain confidence and familiarity with their software applications.
4
Follow the three A's of change management: Alignment, Action, and Accountability. Communicate the need for change to secure alignment across the organization. Focus teams to act quickly, take initiative, and create islands of success. And frequent check-ins foster accountability. With proper planning, your team will likely prove more capable of than you imagined.
5
Tour our AR eyewear Gallery
Christian is a strategic leader with 15 years of experience supporting high profile clients accelerating the migration from the physical to the digital world, transforming and enabling smart connected operation by leading the journey from digital product definition, to Enterprise Operations and Business Orchestration. Christian has been a pioneer in the adoption of new technologies including augmented reality, data analytics to enable the prediction of failures in industrial equipment, additive manufacturing and product lifecycle management systems across multiple industry sectors.
Christian Radillo
Global Technical Consultant for Extended Reality, Rockwell Automation
Focus on the value to people, then to organizations and finally evaluate the right device you may need to use either if it´s a tablet or wearable.”
The current reality has increased demand for AR and its ability to execute work remotely. Global challenges are compelling companies to accelerate their digital transformation. Employee empowerment has taken on new urgency—with initiatives to keep front-line workers safe, capture their knowledge to share with others, or find out new ways to shadow experts, all while maintaining social distancing and observing travel restrictions. Plan projects that can easily be implemented and quickly prove value. Judge solutions on their utility to individual employees. Evaluate the right device—whether it´s a tablet or wearable. Make sure you address infrastructure requirements. Assemble the proper team according your objectives—including developers, graphics designers, 3D modelers, etc. And finally, before creating something, make sure you are truly transforming existing procedures, so that deployment and adoption will deliver business success.
Want to understand how AR is actually being used in a manufacturing setting? Curious about how companies have used it to deal with social distancing and travel restrictions? Rockwell Automation is sharing how they’ve empowered thousands of technicians to better serve their customers.
discover rockwell automation's AR Journey
Matt’s role as a multimedia specialist creates many opportunities to embrace exciting new technologies and work with individuals from diverse backgrounds. He brings a broad range of experience in developing content—including video shooting and editing, 3d modeling and animation, to game and simulation design. Matt is currently part of a design team that creates technical training simulators for various medical equipment.
Matt Kwiatkowski
Global Learning Strategy & Technology Program Leader, GE Healthcare
Augmented reality training applications allow engineers to review and practice techniques, both in their homes before performing actual repairs, and in labs, following 3D guided service documentation.”
Augmented reality is a resource that can help Field Engineers perform at a higher level. AR supports better service across more products. It can also accelerate and deepen expertise in a given skillset. AR training applications enable engineers to review and practice techniques, both in their homes before performing actual repairs, and in labs, following 3D guided service documentation. With AR, procedures that would previously take hours can be done in minutes. AR also eliminates the risk of mistakes causing injury, damage, or waste. On top of these outcomes, AR based employee training and guidance can be produced at a fraction of the cost of traditional curriculum. This technology can drive excellence across many industries and job functions—from installation and repairs to clinical practice. Care providers and device suppliers who embrace these tools stand to benefit greatly.
Matt Kwiatkowski’s expertise far exceeds the snippets of key guidance we’ve collected here. We actually invited him to present to audiences in a recent webinar. Ready to learn how GE Healthcare is rebuilding their entire training curriculum around AR? Curious about how Matt was able to win advocates and buy-in to ensure project success? Watch the replay to get all of the details!
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Donald Brady is a Deloitte Digital Principal focused on delivering digital transformation strategies and execution to clients, and a leader of Deloitte Studios and Deloitte’s Digital Reality practice. Donald has led the sales and delivery of many of Deloitte Digital’s most publicly known, customer facing work with clients
Donald Brady
Principal, Deloitte Digital
Target a specific business problem or opportunity area and scope your digital reality program with a desired business outcome in mind.”
Digital reality is helping organizations achieve new heights of agility and efficiency by elevating the human experience with interactive digital content. Organizations implementing augmented reality, or any digital reality initiative, should think big, yet take a phased approach where they first learn to crawl, then walk, and finally run. Use cases for augmented reality range from first line worker enablement to 3D video-based learning experiences, so when starting up you should target a specific business problem or opportunity area and scope your program with a desired business outcome in mind. A variety of organizational capabilities will be needed to make any digital reality initiative a success, including executive support, cross functional buy-in and change management, software/hardware evaluation and procurement, systems integration, internal consulting, and more. Working with a well-established AR provider and their trusted partners helps to ensure that you define and execute on a strategy to capture maximum value and can scale your solution across the enterprise quickly.
AR’s benefits are perfectly suited for today’s challenges. Want to know why AR is so effective in the current environment? Do you need a pragmatic way to evaluate AR’s potential against your specific pain-points? Get this complementary report from IDC that unpacks key considerations, and the urgency behind the AR boom.
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Be specific. AR Use cases should address tangible pain points or optimize existing processes. Accelerate to value. Champion a culture that commits to digital transformation. Invest in equipment and training that will help you scale successfully. Don’t delay. Getting started with AR now will help your workforce be better prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.
How can AR support my business? Claim your copy of PTC’s eBook about using AR to support your business continuity priorities. How can I improve my odds of AR success? Dive into this pragmatic whitepaper that walks you through key decision points—from planning and pilots to fully scaled success. What are PTC’s AR capabilities? PTC’s Vuforia family of AR products offer a wide range of capabilities and address many different business needs—including yours. How can I try AR in my business? Start your free, 30-day trial of Vuforia Chalk, and see how AR-supercharged remote assistance can empower your field techs—almost immediately. Can I speak to an AR solutions specialist? Contact a member of the Vuforia team and get your AR and business challenge questions answered.
Regardless of where you are in your decision-making process, we can help provide you with valuable information.
