Is Reality Changing – AR, VR, MR In The Modern Enterprise

Recently, Vistara announced a plan to try Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) for training.  CEO Vinod Kannan said: “We are trying to improve…. our training. We are also looking at virtual reality and augmented reality. We are trying to see whether they can render some mock-ups, especially in the engineering space.”

Similarly, DHL, a global logistics company, uses AR/VR for various purposes, particularly remote work. For example, they use VR to gamify training, teach employees to load palettes and containers with shipments and simulate real-world situations to enable employees to learn safely.

Vistara and DHL are two among several enterprises that use AR/VR and mixed reality (MR) to streamline operations, improve training, and create a safe work environment.

What Are AR, VR, and MR Technologies, And How Do They Benefit Enterprises?

While AR overlays digital elements onto the real world through devices like smartphones and special glasses, VR creates an immersive digital environment that replaces the physical world. MR blends both physical and digital worlds and allows interaction between them. In other words, a user can see or interact with virtual objects as if they are present in the real world.

Enterprises are using AR, VR, and MR for:

• Remote training: Enterprises use technologies like AR to connect an expert with an on-site operator wearing smart glasses through a live video call, enabling both participants to see the same thing simultaneously. The experts can share instructions, sketches, and annotations with on-site operators. This first emerged during the pandemic when social distancing was a norm.

• Installations and fixing issues: Enterprises can provide field engineers with AR/VR/MR solutions to guide them with installation, inspection, and repair. These technologies also enable the field engineers to inspect the installations against checklists and perform functional tests to identify and fix issues.

• Improve safety: Worker safety has always been a concern for industries like manufacturing and construction. Enterprises can leverage AR/VR to train workers to work safely, monitor the environment and alert workers if they are close to a hazardous situation or object, and inform workers in advance if any machine activity poses a risk to other people.

However, another area that is catching the eye is video conferencing.

How AR/VR/MR Is Transforming Video Conferencing And Remote Work

Research shows that 22.8% of the Indian workforce has adopted a hybrid work model, while 12.7% work from home.

Despite the benefits, like employees saving time and becoming more productive, the overwhelming number of video conferences have also created loneliness, alienation, and exhaustion. Remember the Zoom fatigue that affected employees worldwide during the pandemic? It looks like employees are still reeling from it.

Additionally, continuous distractions during video conferencing and monotonous routines impact employees’ productivity and efficiency.

The over-reliance on virtual channels has increased the demand for reality technologies like AR, VR, and MR to mimic the physical meeting experience.

That’s why many enterprises have started using these technologies in video conferencing too.

Here are some ways in which enterprises are using these technologies:

• Enterprises can use reality technologies to create a distraction-free meeting environment for small groups of employees. These technologies can help employees pick up subtle body language signs of other participants more perfectly than the usual video conferencing tools and make the discussions more fruitful. Employees can also use VR headsets to eliminate all the distractions of the constant Slack, email, and other notifications and focus on a single thing.

• They can leverage AR to replicate in-office interactions. For example, participants can have side discussions just like in an in-person meeting or superimpose whiteboards into the real world to enable everyone to contribute actively to the meeting.

• The best part is that these technologies reduce the alienation among employees that accompanies remote work by creating an engaging and immersive experience. It can transform plain vanilla video conferencing into a more engaging and interactive session.

While AR/VR/MR successfully mimics the physical meeting experience, enterprises must not leave it at that. They can further elevate the video conferencing experience and improve collaboration and productivity using enterprise audio-visual (AV) systems.

The Role Of AV In Enabling AR/VR/MR

• Enterprises can integrate high-quality audio and visuals to create an immersive experience for employees. For example, combining 3D or spatial audio and holographic displays with AR applications can heighten the employees’ sensory experience and blur the lines between the physical and digital worlds.

• They can integrate AV technology with AR applications to produce high-quality, engaging, and informative content. This can be useful when delivering training or presenting ideas. For example, trainers can utilize a combination of AV and AR to showcase equipment operations or complex procedures, enabling employees to visualize and understand the concepts better.

• Enterprises can combine reality technologies and AV solutions to make presentations more interactive and engaging. They can also relay real-time data during meetings to help employees make informed decisions or solve problems.

Is Reality Changing?

The fact that India’s AR and VR industries will earn a revenue of $759.9 million in 2024 proves that reality is changing.

From being a part of the gaming and entertainment industries, reality technologies are now used by leading enterprises like DHL, Bosch, and many more to streamline operations, train employees, give presentations and product demos, and improve safety and compliance. With remote and hybrid work models gaining prominence, enterprises are also experimenting with AV and AR, VR, and MR technologies to make monotonous interactions exciting and engaging for employees.

There are challenges, such as investing in expensive reality technologies, and users may experience barriers due to their design and usability limitations. However, enterprises can overcome these challenges by using these technologies for the right use case and working with a reliable technology partner.

The remote and hybrid work model has brought the need for meaningful connection and communication between teams into the limelight. Reality technologies combined with AV can help enterprises fulfil this need.