Augmented and virtual reality offer numerous new applications in training, collaboration, construction, maintenance and presentation. A guide from the digital association Bitkom helps to identify use cases.
The digital association Bitkom has published a guide to identifying AR and VR use cases.
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Augmented and Virtual Reality open up numerous new opportunities for companies. Realistic scenarios can be presented in training and further education, marketing benefits from new means of product presentation and employees can work together even better in the company, regardless of location. AR and VR technologies also open up various new applications for product development and production, from the depiction of virtual prototypes in real environments to AR-supported assistance for maintenance and servicing personnel or the remote deployment of experts from a distance to support for skilled workers in assembly.
The costs often no longer stand in the way of getting started with the technology. For the necessary hardware, they are now within the range of classic IT devices, while standard software is available for 25 to 50 euros per month. However, depending on the complexity of the application, expenditure for individual software developments can range from 50,000 to over 100,000 euros.
According to the industry association Bitkom, two thirds (67%) of companies with more than 20 employees believe that AR and VR will have a major impact on the economy; however, only one in four companies (24%) are currently using the technology. A lack of expertise is one of the reasons for this discrepancy. A guide from the digital association Bitkom now presents a checklist that companies can use to find the right and cost-effective use case step by step.
| Six Steps to the AR/VR Use Case |
1. Identify business areas with the greatest benefit from VR/AR use Various departments with different perspectives should be taken into account. Even if the marketing department, for example, has the greatest interest, the relevance of the technology should also be examined for other areas such as production. |
2. Identify existing processes for the use of AR/VR The processes in which AR and VR technologies can best be used should be selected. Instead of inventing new processes or creating lighthouse projects, everyday, existing processes should first be optimized using AR and VR. |
3. Identify potential benefits of using AR/VR The benchmarks for this are aspects such as greater efficiency and productivity, improved customer loyalty, cost savings and higher employee motivation and satisfaction. |
4. Estimate costs and resources for implementation Cost-benefit analyses or scenario analyses can be used to estimate the impact of the investments made on the company's balance sheet. |
5. Prioritize identified use cases The basis for prioritization is the business impact of each use case and the likely returns or return on investment (ROI). As a rule of thumb, 10% of the ROI can be set aside for a pilot project. |
6. Start small, then scale up Employees should first be able to familiarize themselves with the technology. They can then develop ideas for further processes. |