Enterprise outsourcing and learning provider Computer Generated Solutions Inc. today announced the worldwide launch of its TeamworkAR platform, an augmented reality solution designed for use by enterprise organizations on any mobile device or wearable.

With TeamworkAR, remote employees can receive training or assistance with fieldwork and collaborate together using visual 3D models that can be viewed as “holographic” objects overlaid onto what the user can see. With this technology, it is possible for any device or wearable to be used to provide step-by-step instructions, real-time coaching, custom onboarding and training experiences.

This capability of AR has become especially useful given the continued disruption of workforces caused by the pandemic. With more workers working remotely and the need for social distancing, using AR for training and assistance has become a viable solution for collaboration and training.

“If you’ve worked in field services, it’s safe to say you’ve experienced ineffective training that hasn’t prepared you for the real-world job,” said Steven Petruk, president of Global Outsourcing division at CGS. “It is not just frustrating; it can be potentially unsafe for technicians or representatives, and it produces a less-than-quality customer experience when it comes to resolving issues.”

According to the latest AR survey by CGS, 54.5% of respondents said that the use of remote or guided repair, service, maintenance technology has become the “new normal” for field service.

TeamworkAR’s interface makes fieldwork much easier for employees by being able to change 2D paper manuals into interactive 3D views that interact with the physical world. For example, a worker repairing a complex circuit board could don a pair of smart glasses and view which screws to remove next in sequence with a holographic screwdriver in their vision. Alternatively, an expert could view what they’re seeing and collaborate by adding 3D annotations and communicating via voice.

For customers, this could also be used to provide remote troubleshooting. For simple repairs that a nonexpert could do with visual instructions, any mobile device could be turned into a visual guide, or provide collaboration, thus reducing the need to send a technician out to the field.

The market size for AR was valued at $17.7 billion in 2020, according to a report from analyst firm Grand View Research, and the market is projected to reach $88.4 billion by 2026. The report states that driving demand for AR products and services is remote assistance and collaboration applications in the enterprise that assist in employee workflow management.

“Industry leaders adopting technology such as TeamworkAR will be ready to meet the pace of change in the coming years and set themselves up for operational excellence,” said Doug Stephen, president, Enterprise Learning and TeamworkAR division at CGS. “We are seeing the future of business in the hands of many of our clients and their employees who are using the solution.”

Image: Computer Generated Solutions