We are all cyborgs. This can be jarring to think about but consider the definition from dictionary.com: “a person whose physiological functioning is aided by or dependent upon a mechanical or electronic device.” While there is no physical link connecting us, it’s fair to say that most of us are tethered to our mobile devices. They have become indispensable to how we function in our daily lives. They are also essential in the limited ways we currently interact with Augmented Reality (AR).
Most AR interactions take place through our mobile devices, whether that’s scanning a QR code to get a menu, playing Pokémon Go, or looking up product reviews or competitor pricing while in-store shopping. Big Tech is trying to change that modality. Meta has invested billions of dollars to commercialize the ways we experience AR. Their partnership with Ray-Ban took a baby step into AR but went a long way towards changing the form factor of wearables from ick to (almost) slick. More recently, Meta launched the next generation of AR-enabled wearables, Orion, which offer advanced AR capabilities while aesthetically regressing to nerd-wear.
Fashion considerations aside, all current marketing of these and similar products is geared for the consumer market. When they gain enough traction to drive widespread adoption is anyone’s guess. What’s being missed, however, is a huge present-day opportunity in the B2B space. Even with current technical limitations in mind, AR can be deployed across many B2B use cases with the power to unlock a new era of efficiency and productivity.
All Eyes on AR
There is no question that there are a wide range of AR applications that could add value to businesses spanning manufacturing, distribution, and logistics. The problem is that mobile devices are not ideal for these settings. On the factory / warehouse / shop floor, mobile devices are not only a distraction they can be dangerous. They occupy a user’s hand, while also shifting their focus from the task at hand. In many settings, the potential for workplace injury or even death offsets any potential productivity gains they may provide.
Shift the interface, however, and you shift the paradigm. When experienced through glasses or goggles, AR in the workplace takes on a whole new meaning. Both hands-free and heads-up, individuals can interact with their workplaces like never before.
AR in the Workplace
Without the need for any further technological advancements, AR could be employed ‘now’ to benefit businesses (where ‘now’ encompasses the time it would take to code, test, and roll-out an application). Here are just a few potential use cases that you can use as thought starters:
- Barcode scanning to:
- Check and track inventory
- Confirm pick, pack, and ship of orders
- Reorder spare parts and consumables
- Access product manuals and material safety data sheets (MSDS)
- View SKU-level product data and specs
- Call-up instructional videos
- Identify related product parts and accessories (belts, fasteners, etc.)
- Provide access to assembly, maintenance, or step-by-step repair instructions
- Verify machine lock-out prior to maintenance or repair
- Livestream equipment assembly or repair to solicit input from remote experts
- Access Industrial IoT information on equipment performance and operational data
- Interact with AI assistants to provide real-time answers and proactively information
- Supply delivery directions based on current traffic conditions via heads-up display
- Monitor employee alertness and other job and safety-related information
How could you deploy AR across your company? With your distinct, in-depth knowledge of your business, the only limit to how you could deploy AR to your benefit is your imagination.