Alternative Reality Ripe for Enterprise Adoption: GlobalData

The rising number of enterprises is leveraging immersive technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in order to improve their operational efficiency, lower costs and overcome skilled labour shortage, said the data and analytics company.

Commenting on the matter, Venkata Naveen, Disruptive Tech Analyst at GlobalData, said that “by combining the virtual and real-world, immersive technologies are creating more engaging experiences, leaving a significant impact on an increasing number of areas of businesses. Enterprises are starting to pilot one or two use cases of AR/VR technologies within their operations, before expanding them on a global scale, giving them the much-needed nudge for digital transformation.”

Here are the data and analytics company showcased how AR and VR technologies are being used across the value chains of various industries by citing few examples such as:

American multinational conglomerate General Electric (GE) has partnered with industrial augmented reality software provider ‘Upskill’ to use its smart glasses and AR platform to help employees speed up assembling wind turbines at its factory in Pensacola, Florida.

Before GE commenced using Upskill’s AR platform, the company’s staff at its turbine assembly plant had to check process manuals or seek advice from experts to ensure that they were assembling the parts correctly. But with Upskill’s smart glasses, technicians can easily pull digitized process manuals and documents on to their line of sight. The glasses overlay data and instructions in their line of sight digitally, which helps workers to improve the assembly time of wind turbines.

Another software firm Autodesk has launched a new solution by integrating InsiteVR with it’s BIM 360 construction management platform to help engineering teams to coordinate, plan and resolve issues virtually, irrespective of their geographical location.

Here users can join the virtual platform through their desktops, wearing a VR headset to carry out discussions and walkthroughs, review complex systems, evaluate issues and make changes to construction models inside the virtual environment. Moreover, the virtual platform helps in improving communications across project teams, which can eventually reduce delays in project completion timelines.

Besides, Royal Dutch Shell has joined hands with AR and VR software developer EON Reality to adopt its AVR Platform for workforce training. This AVR Platform acts as a centralized delivery system and helps the company’s workforce with knowledge transfer and VR-based experiential training. It offers on-demand immersive VR training related to standard operating procedures and emergency scenarios without causing any hindrance to day-to-day operations. All the procedures are provided with step-by-step instructions, where the employees can complete the sessions with full guidance or without any assistance.

Naveen further explained that “alternative reality technologies are rapidly evolving out of the roller coaster-like hype cycles to alter the operations landscape of traditional industries. To minimize uncertainty associated with the rapid adoption of immersive technologies, enterprises need to partner with experienced technology providers to tackle technology-related issues and drive digital transformation.”