ISME Magazine -Issue 39 webview (1)

Boost Business With
Augmented Reality
The usage of augmented reality in any kind of business increases clarity of a
proposal, creates better decision making possibilities and helps one to avoid
flaws.
The emergence of
augmented reality has
laid the foundation
for a business world
that operates digitally. It is
no longer a concept of the
future, but a possibility that we
hold to explore in the present.
Augmented reality has made its
presence felt in all aspects of
the world. Like everything else, it
is catching up with the business
world first and fast.
What is Augmented
Reality?
Augmented Reality is a
technology that enables a
computer-generated image
to be superimposed on a
user’s view of the real world.
Augmented reality unlike a
virtual reality uses the existing
environment and overlays it
with new information on it. This
provides a composite view to
the user. This manipulation of
data creates a higher level of
engagement with the information
applied on the world around us.
For Example, Ikea has recently
showcased to its customers
how a particular couch would
look in their living room using
augmented reality.
The usage of augmented
reality in any kind of business
increases clarity of a proposal,
creates better decision making
possibilities and helps one
to avoid flaws. It materialises
a discussed proposal and
opens it up for assessment
before actually going forward
with it. It is a technology that
simply put, makes life easy.
Businesses do not need to wait
for a decision or a proposal to
manifest materially to decide if
it works best for the business or
not. It is a technology that has
started to re-define the way we
know and operate in our world.
Given the fact that Augmented
Reality benefits everything
that it touches the competitive
business world has long
desired it since its inception.
We have now reached a state
where many businesses are
already using this hi- end
technology. Let us take a
look at how this technology
is now being used and at the
possibilities that will open up at
its evolution.
1. Collaboration across
Borders
The world as we know it is
one connected whole. Thanks
to digitalisation we are now
capable of doing business that
cut across time zones, borders
and even remote geographical
locations. There is one thing
however that has always been
a challenge when it came to
a long distance business i.e.,
the absence of a one-to-one
interaction. Augmented reality
can remove this drawback and
make long distance businesses
feel more real.
Here’s how?
When workers in a remote
location come together for
a meeting, one can easily
get distracted. The reason
being, the long distance.
With augmented reality, these
business meetings will be
revolutionised. Meetings held
with AR technology will feel
like everyone in the
meeting is actually
present in the same
room. This makes a
discussion naturally
more engaging.
2. Training and
Education
With AR training and education
will become more insightful and
engaging. Gone are the days
when training meant attending
a lecture. With the use of AR
technology, trainers can now
engage their audience with
‘on screen instructions’ or with
‘layered graphics’ to give them a
hands-on training on the subject.
This will result in a more effective
and qualified audience.
For example – Suppose there is
a complex machine that a trainer
is educating its audience about.
Using AG will allow the audience
to actually see and handle how
it works. Audiences with AG are
not only equipped theoretically
but practically after a class.
Needless to say these people
will have a deeper and clearer
understanding of things.
3. Repairs
AR will make everyone capable
to fix machines. Yes, even
inexperienced people will be able
to repair complex machines.
How?
Augmented Reality has the ability
to demonstrate each part of a
machine, explain what needs to
be done to access it and then
repair it. The overlays that comes
with AR technology can easily
illustrate a step-by-step process
of repairing anything that can be
repaired precisely.
4. Showcasing New
Products
We have already seen how
IKEA used AG to showcase its
products. Given that people
resort to e-commerce mostly
for shopping showcasing
products has become an even
more important aspect of trade
and commerce. AR will allow
customers to fully assess a
product they want to buy as
if it is physically there. This
technology allows customers
to know what exactly they are
getting into before they decide
to make a purchase. It also
helps a business to reduce
expenses by minimising returns.
5. Real-Estate and Maps
One of the best feature
about the Augmented Reality
technology is Directionality.
The world of real estate and
the usage of maps will be
completely revolutionised
with augmented reality. A
realtor showing a home can
show details of a house in
a graphic overlay while the
customer walks through it.
Business deliveries can also
use the graphical overlays that
augmented reality offers in
place of maps and reach their
destination without taking their
eyes off the road.
6. Office Spaces
Office spaces can be
completely revamped with the
use of the AG Technology. A
small office can be made into a
cheaply multifunctional space.
For example there is this office
room that has only tables and
chairs and nothing on the walls.
Augmented reality can easily
transform that room into one that
is filled with digital whiteboards
on all the sides that can be used
to scribble on.
It is also possible with AR to
voice command the room to save
the Moments of meeting and also
transform it into a boardroom
layout or anything that works
best for the current meeting. All
with one voice command.
Augmented reality has arrived
and is very much here. The
future of business is already
making its presence felt.
The traditional way of doing
business will soon be replaced
with augmented reality. In this
constantly changing world it is
best to keep ourselves open and
adaptable to change. Very soon
augmented reality will move from
the big corporations to the small
businesses and become an
everyday reality. The business
world as we know it is getting
a makeover. Are we ready to
embrace the change?
36 Intelligent SME December 2017
Technology
37