In the past, the digital age has been viewed as a central part of the workplace. Digitalization has given rise to new forms of work that require complex data handling and analysis.
This is where augmented reality comes in, which transforms workplaces by creating virtual objects that can be interacted with just like physical objects. This article will get a holistic view into how AR is transforming industries.
What is AR
Augmented Reality, most commonly referred to as AR, is a technology that has the power to alter the way we view the world. Simply put, it’s a mix of the real and virtual world which creates a unique composite of both.
It combines digital information with one’s surroundings to get a better understanding of their surrounding environment. It allows users to interact with real-world environments in seamless and exciting ways.
What is AR in Workplace
Augmented reality in the workplace is a set of technology that has been built to provide you with the most accurate information and best solutions. Companies are now considering AR as one of the key technologies that can be used to streamline their workflow, improve operational effectiveness and at the same time, create a competitive advantage.
Why should they do that? Because they understand that AR-based technology can enable workers to have a better work experience by providing them with the most valuable information when they need it.
Anyone who is familiar with AR knows that it’s a technological innovation whose concept is far ahead of today’s technologies. Basically, AR is all about overlaying virtual content on top of a real-world environment and making it possible for people to interact with them. This is what helps people connect with a real-world workspace in a better way.
According to Jacob Loewenstein, companies such as Spacial, which creates a virtual reality version of Zoom, have witnessed a 1,000% rise in usage.
Augmented Reality vs Virtual Reality
It’s true that those two technologies have a lot in common but just like a physical body distinguishes between an individual’s left and right side, AR and VR are also very different from one another. For starters, Augmented Reality strives to enhance the user’s experience but doesn’t replace reality.
This means while AR technology adds more options to the user’s current environment, they still exist as separate entities. On the other hand, Virtual Reality is created to eliminate the user’s current environment. In other words, VR technology isn’t blended with the user’s surroundings. It creates a new and entirely different world that exists on its own.
In terms of their usage, Augmented reality is most commonly used for business purposes. It’s used for advertising, marketing and even providing services in areas such as healthcare, architecture, and construction to name a few. As for virtual reality, it can be used for gaming, entertainment, and even education or military training.
Before the epidemic, the VR market was expected to rise at a compound annual rate of 45.7%, hitting $24.5 billion in sales by 2024, according to ABI Research.
Importance of Augmented Reality in the Workplace
Being introduced to the market just a decade ago, the idea behind augmented reality has already become more useful than we can imagine. In today’s workplace, undoubted advantages of AR have been brought to the fore which has helped improve the existing processes, create better solutions and even transform industries by creating innovative solutions.
One way that companies are trying to increase employee engagement is by using augmented reality glasses. By using these glasses, employees can practice job activities and training opportunities in a physical world setting. This allows them to get a feel for the job before they actually start working.
Here are some of the reasons why AR is important in the workplace:
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It Enhances Communication Skills
AR technology plays a major role in enhancing communication skills. Whether you are having a meeting with clients, fellow employees or your boss, all you need to do is to bring your mobile device along. With the help of an app, you can display data that you are about to discuss on the screen.
This provides people around you an opportunity to view and study it efficiently. In case there is someone who might need assistance or has a question about it, they can just ask for it. Thus, AR-based workspaces give you the freedom to communicate effectively with real-world environments easily and effortlessly.
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It Reduces Risks of Prototypes
For designers, engineers or creators in the business, building prototypes has always been a major part of their workflow. However, building prototypes is a complex task by itself. With the help of augmented reality technology, businesses can embed 3D models into a prototype to provide their customers with a better view and better understanding.
All they have to do is to look at it as an interior design tool that can be used in the planning stages. Also, you can use it to provide your employees with training on new equipment before they actually start working on them which can also help reduce risks.
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It Makes Businesses Mobile
Considering the fact that people are now more mobile than ever, there is a high possibility that they can work from any location. Thus, it becomes very important for companies to have an app that enables employees to access data from anywhere at any time.
With augmented reality-based apps, you can move from one location to another without worrying about the lack of connectivity. Since it helps connect people with real-world environments, you can complete various tasks such as ordering a cab, making transactions, and even finding customers with the help of AR-based apps and devices.
You can make payments, get directions and even buy things from your mobile without any problem. Thus, it has the potential to bring a lot of convenience to employees as well as change the way customers interact with the companies.
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It Increases Productivity
The first thing that comes to mind when it comes to productivity is providing workers with a better work environment. AR-based workplace solutions help you provide your workers with better support and more resources easily by giving them all their required information on a single screen. In fact, this can help improve performance and productivity by providing users with tools to get more done in no time than they could possibly imagine.
Companies who use AR have reported a 46 percent reduction in task completion time and a 32 percent increase in average productivity.
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It Encourages Innovation
With AR-based technology, you can use virtual objects in their work environment. This can help improve communication with your workers as well as provide them with the ability to view and study real-world data in a better way. It helps users make more accurate decisions on what they should do at the next step which is important because it encourages innovation.
Businesses are now realizing that they have to adapt to this new technology in order to stay ahead of the competition. There is no doubt that augmented reality has proven its worth in helping people become more productive and effective while at work or even leading them towards better work environments and ultimately, encouraging greater innovation.
If you have realized its importance in the workplace, you might also want to explore its capabilities. With the help of a dedicated mobile app, you can approach their proven ability to assist businesses in their growth.
Why are AR Useful Tools in The Workplace
Besides the obvious convenience, there are a few reasons why AR is so useful in the workplace. It allows you to view and study 3D models with ease. You can easily turn your workspace into a virtual library. It also has the power to replace 3D printing by printing real-world objects in real-time.
The potential uses of augmented reality in the workplace are endless and will continue to grow as we learn more about its capabilities. By simply giving it a try, you can make some pretty big changes to your business as well as its employees’ daily tasks throughout different scenarios and environments.
How Can AR Improve Workplace Safety
As a matter of fact, AR-based apps and tools can help improve workplace safety as they allow you to map out dangerous situations in your work environment, which helps ensure security levels.
In addition to this, it also allows workers to monitor how each component works and thereby learn faster. For example, an employee who wants to get certified in the welding industry can use an app to create a 3D model of the different parts they will be working on and even apply lessons they’ve learned by using AR-based instructional materials.
How Can AR be Used to Train Employees
Augmented reality-based apps have the power to help you improve employee productivity as they can be used to create instructional materials that can be presented in different ways. For example, AR-based apps can be used to provide employees with a quick overview of the different types of tools that are currently used in the construction industry.
Also, experts say that it has the power to help boost your company’s growth by helping you improve customer service and reduce customer response time. All this by allowing you to save time and money by using 3D printers where models are created for items such as plumbing fixtures or even clogging drains.
How Can VR & AR be Used to Improve Communication in The Workplace
AR and VR devices are often used for training purposes because they provide a mixed reality experience that can be very beneficial for learning. AR devices can be used to overlay digital information on top of physical objects, which can be extremely helpful for visual learners. VR devices can transport users to completely virtual environments, which can be useful for simulations or other immersive experiences.
According to IDC, a market research organisation, global spending on AR and VR will more than sixfold to $72.8 billion in 2024, up from around $12 billion in 2020.
AR provides a platform where you can easily and fast share your ideas and current projects with other employees from different parts of the world. It allows you to exchange information as well as provide real-time updates on your work environment by simply using your smartphone.
How Can AR be Used to Reduce Workplace Injuries
The first step involves making sure that each worker is properly trained in doing their specific job. To help ensure this, AR-based training materials are commonly used to provide employees with the opportunity to learn faster while focusing more on their tasks. This way, they can save time that would have been spent on going through unnecessary steps or trying to figure out how a component works.
Benefits of AR in the Workplace
AR in the workplace isn’t just a cool new way to use technology, it has several significant benefits that make it more efficient than traditional methods. It can solve problems faster, provide users with the ability to learn faster, enable workers to focus more on their tasks, help save time and reduce costs when it comes to training.
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Reduced Risks and Errors
With augmented reality-based apps such as LiDAR and Holograms, you can create an environment where workers are required for tasks at a certain time. This helps you eliminate common mistakes such as forgetting to adjust system settings or turn off equipment.
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Improved Communication and Collaboration
To get your job done, you need to be able to communicate with other people within a short period of time. AR-based apps and tools help you accomplish tasks by providing real-time information that’s critical for increasing the productivity of your workers.
It also helps improve collaboration among different departments in a company as it allows users to share, explore and use resources from others located in other parts of the world without even being there physically.
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Simplified Data Management
Another significant benefit of AR involves time management. Since it helps collect all data in one location, workers can access all their current projects and data at any given moment which means less time wasted on locating or preparing reports.
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Reduced Costs and Better Workout
By blending different information with the real-world, AR-based apps have the ability to help reduce costs and save time by eliminating the need to order multiple models or use 3D printing.
Experts say that it can also be used to create training materials that boost employees’ productivity while they learn new skills. According to a University of North Carolina study, using AR-based technology can increase your productivity by up to 50 percent.
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Increased Safety in the Workplace
Augmented reality-based apps allow you to map out dangerous situations in your work environment, improving security levels and reducing risks for workers.
Risks of AR in the Workplace
While it can be used to improve employee productivity, there are some risks associated with augmented reality that you need to be aware of. For instance, imagine what can happen if a virtual gun is held in the real world.
Just by using your finger, you can aim, shoot and kill anyone in the room without moving physically. This means that if not properly managed, AR may have a negative impact on workplace safety as it can lead to serious injuries or even death among employees.
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Bounces
Another issue you need to watch out for involves bounces resulting from AR-based apps. Bounces occur when an app gets misaligned with a device’s display screen which results in inaccurate projections and visualization of data or images on your screen.
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Lack of Regulation
Although AR-based apps can help boost your business, it is important to note that most of these apps aren’t regulated. This means that anyone with the right skills can easily create an app and market it without necessarily understanding how to use it. This can result in a number of issues including the ability to get misused by employees who are unaware of its actual purpose.
Despite the fact that there are a number of benefits that augmented reality-based apps can provide, it still may not be the right tool for your company. In this case, you need to carefully analyze all parts of your business in order to determine if it will help you in reaching and achieving your goals.
If you’re interested in learning more, please check out our article on augmented reality mistakes to avoid at work. Also, keep an eye on Google’s ARCore which is currently being developed as a new way to use AR-based apps on smartphone devices.
The Future of AR at Work
AR technology is becoming increasingly popular for employee training. AR headsets allow employees to experience training in a realistic, immersive environment. This is especially beneficial for medical students, who can benefit from AR training to gain experience in a variety of medical scenarios.
Augmented Reality is said to be the future of technology and it has been predicted that in a few years’ time, it will be an integral part of our lives. It can be used to create high-quality instructional materials that help bring a classroom to life and make learning easier for students.
Plus, using AR-based apps is a cost-effective way of making your company more productive by increasing the efficiency levels of your employees. However, you need to make sure that you learn how each app works before deciding on what will work best for you or your company.
According to ARtillery Intelligence, the use of virtual reality in enterprises is expected to grow from $829 million in 2018 to $4.26 billion in 2023.
The rise of remote workers has led to a need for increased safety awareness among medical professionals. The manufacturing industry has seen a rise in workplace injuries in recent years, and many of these accidents could have been prevented with proper workplace training.
Final Note
Technology is constantly changing and improving and augmented reality is one of them. While at first glance it might seem that AR apps are only for entertainment purposes, a deeper look reveals how powerful they can really be in helping corporations reach their full potential in different sectors such as education, healthcare, and construction among others.
AR offers a number of benefits that make it worth exploring especially when looking to improve your business. It helps reduce costs while increasing efficiency levels and at the same time allowing workers to focus on their tasks more than before.
According to a PwC report, approximately 23.5 million employees globally would use AR and VR for training, work meetings, or to provide better customer service by 2030.
There are now numerous apps and tools available that allow you to view the information in real-time without having to visit a physical location which means less cost when it comes to equipment maintenance or repair expenses.
Last Updated on October 12, 2023 by Priyanshi Sharma
