Increasing productivity with a unified Mixed Reality platform
Remotely assist workers, collaborate design digitally in a virtual workspace, provide Augmented Reality driven guided workflow support and validate design concepts, structure and constructability using sphere
What is sphere?
Augmental sphere is an out-of-the-box solution for the easy integration of Mixed Reality into business processes. It covers all common Mixed Reality use cases for use across several different industries, namely Remote Assistance, Digital Collaboration, Workflow Support and Life-Size Overlays. Developed by holo|one, sphere is implemented by Augmental in the Asia Pacific region bringing significant cost savings and business efficiencies to enterprise customers.
How does sphere improve productivity & save costs?
Most common use case scenarios by industry
Remote Assistance
Problem: Specialist experts cannot easily travel to multiple remote sites to provide training and guidance.
Solution: sphere’s remote assist collaboration tools allow experts to interact with on-site personnel and share imagery/instructions in their field of view.
+ Guidance from multiple remote experts simultaneously.
+ Integrated environment allows the on-site technician safe, hands free operation
+ More efficient utilisation of on-site and remote resources
Maintenance & Inspections
Problem: Finding and resolving equipment malfunctions efficiently and effectively to minimise down time.
Solution: Issues when running / maintaining machinery equipment are resolved quickly by using sphere’s MR-powered step-by-step instructions
+ Guided workflows ensure consistent, reliable, and efficient maintenance actions
+ Implement intelligent troubleshooting process including IoT data displays
+ Increase maintenance throughput and minimise downtime
Operator Routines
Problem: Ensuring rigorous training and implementation of SOPs and consistent error free operations.
Solution: BIM overlays, IoT data displays, workflow guidance coupled with remote support utilising Sphere’s integrated environment
+ Minimise training time, especially following shutdowns/upgrades
+ More reliable adherence to procedures leading to less errors
+ Increased throughput through more efficient operations
Digital Procedures
Problem: The use of paper-based protocols for manufacturing & maintenance processes is error-prone and slow to update
Solution: Using digitized SOPs in the form of MR-powered step-by-step instructions in sphere incl. the visualization of sensor and IoT data
+ Reduce human errors by 70%
+ Ensure complete documentation
+ Ensure full traceability
Troubleshooting & Emergency Response
Problem: Equipment breakdowns are resolved slowly due to limited availability of expert and technicians with the necessary know-how
Solution: During machine malfunctions, a remote expert (plant engineering or supplier) can support immediately, share relevant content and live annotate the stream
+ Provide instant remote assistance
+ Reduce production losses dramatically
+ Save time & money by reducing travel costs
Efficient Technology Transfer
Problem: When outsourcing manufacturing, valuable process knowledge might not by available directly on site anymore leading to loss of know-how
Solution: By using sphere’s collaboration tools for connecting remote facilities with the HQ, knowledge can be efficiently transferred
+ Enable efficient collaboration & support across locations
+ Ensure knowledge transfer within the organisation
Integration & Implementation Support
Problem: Complex physical mockups are required to discuss the installation and ideal configuration of new equipment during customer projects
Solution: Using the built-in Asset Pipeline to import 3D models of equipment within minutes and visualize them holographically using sphere
+ Save time & money for physical mockups
+ Improve understanding for dimensions
+ Blend 3D model and physical objects
Engaging SOP Trainings
Problem: SOP e-learning trainings are performed completely detached from the corresponding equipment on a PC/Tablet
Solution: With sphere, SOPs are trained at the relevant equipment on-site utilizing context-aware information and holographic content
+ Increase training efficiency
+ Engage operators with hands-on trainings
+ Support remotely during training
Engaging Collaboration
Problem: Construction projects are often not understood properly by owners and stakeholders
Solution: Sphere allows interdisciplinary stakeholder to discuss and visualize projects collaboratively and in a shared MR space
+ Improve cross-disciplinary communication
+ Better understand customer needs & requirements
+ Facilitated expectation management
Installation Checks
Problem: Construction errors are often detected late stage causing significant costs for correction
Solution: Sphere’s built-in Asset Pipeline automatically converts CAD / BIM models to enable digital overlays with the reality for performing quick installation checks
+ Detect construction errors early on
+ Reduce costs for corrective measures
+ Save time for error detection
Remote Assistance
Problem: Construction errors are resolved slowly due to limited availability of people in authority
Solution: With sphere’s remote support tools, technical planners can be contacted immediately in order to discuss non-conformities during site inspections / installation checks
+ Shorten communication channels to specialists
+ Save time for error correction
+ Increase productivity across disciplines
Service Guidance
Problem: Finding and resolving equipment malfunctions cause production losses for customers
Solution: Issues when running / maintaining machinery equipment are resolved quickly by using sphere’s MR-powered step-by-step instructions
+ Automize after-sales support
+ Implement intelligent troubleshooting process
+ Increase customer satisfaction
Service - Troubleshooting & Emergency Response
Problem: Delay in customer service response time and cost / time loss when sending service technicians on-site
Solution: Customer support requests can be processed immediately and performed more efficiently using sphere’s remote assistance functionality
+ Provide most efficient remote support
+ Save time & money for mobilizing experts
+ Increase customer satisfaction
Integration & Implementation Support
Problem: Complex physical mockups are required to discuss the installation and ideal configuration of new equipment during customer projects
Solution: Using the built-in Asset Pipeline to import 3D models of equipment within minutes and visualize them holographically using sphere
+ Save time & money for physical mockups
+ Improve understanding for dimensions
+ Blend 3D model and physical objects
Augmented Design Process
Problem: Physical mockups are expensive and only represent certain milestones of a new design
Solution: Sphere’s built-in Asset Pipeline automatically converts CAD models within minutes and enables digital overlays with the reality for discussing design concepts collaboratively
+ Accelerate the iterative design process
+ Save time & money for physical mockups
+ Improve cross-disciplinary communication
Knowledge Transfer
Problem: When outsourcing manufacturing, valuable process knowledge might not be available directly on site anymore leading to loss of know-how
Solution: By using sphere’s collaboration tools for connecting remote facilities with the HQ, knowledge can be efficiently transferred
+ Enable efficient collaboration & support across locations
+ Ensure knowledge transfer within the organization
Vehicle Development
Problem: The development of unified vehicle platforms requires closer cooperation between automotive suppliers and manufacturers
Solution: With sphere and its collaboration and remote assistance tools collaboration be vastly improved across various disciplines
+ Enable more efficient collaboration & support
+ Improve cross-disciplinary communication
+ Save time & money by reducing travel costs
Features
sphere provides unified features that have proven productivity benefits
Expert
With sphere’s remote assistance functionalities, your company can solve problems and errors of any kind remotely. With a wide array of Mixed Reality tools, sphere eliminates the need for a specialist’s physical presence.
An employee looking for help can simply mount a Mixed Reality device and be matched with an expert in the field. The issue at hand can then be solved by the local employee being assisted remotely, saving the company travel costs and eliminating downtime of critical machinery.
Workspace
Enter a new age of MR-supported collaboration with sphere’s digital collaboration functionalities.
Enhance meetings with automatically converted CAD models displayed in Mixed Reality and explain your thoughts by freely placing files such as videos and documents anywhere in the room. Remote participants are represented by a lifelike avatar for a real interaction experience.
Task
sphere’s workflow guidance functionalities can be used in any corporation relying on routine tasks and processes.
Create Mixed Reality checklists, manuals or other documents in order to assist your workers and collect data such as time per step and error rates to help you find bottlenecks.
Customers using sphere
With sphere we have seen enterprises achieving 70% productivity gains, 95% less assembly line errors and around 50% faster resolution of design issues
Devices compatible with sphere
About Augmental
Augmental is a leader in implementing Mixed Reality platforms which unify content and consistently deliver better business efficiencies.
We help worldwide organisations boost productivity gains, reduce failure rates, and provide better data perception. Our focus on remote assistance, training & task guidance, meetings & collaboration and data visualisation & interaction brings Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality (XR) to global enterprises at scale.
We commenced utilising XR technologies as a division of the Glenfield Digital Group in 2013 with a Virtual Asset Management Pilot. Since this time we have been recognised in the media for our work, which include one of the first Virtual Reality tour experiences for the Oil & Gas Industry in 2015. This has lead to further advances in the Augmented Reality field as an early adopter of such technologies as the Microsoft HoloLens.
Our customers have included Saipem Leighton Consortium, Chevron, Bunnings and other organisations world wide.
Strategy first approach
Augmental has a well defined methodology to take an organisation from a sphere pilot to widespread adoption.
Our pilot process, for example, examines in detail existing processes and procedures in a business and establishes methods to integrate and measure AR digital transformation, giving stakeholders a better understanding of the strategic value of the technology first.
We complement this with a focus on addressing important AR deployment considerations such as safety, security and change management requirements, making implementing such unique and useful technologies much easier, more thorough.
Recent Media Releases
AUGMENTAL BOOSTS DESIGN PRODUCTIVITY WITH SPHERE AR PLATFORM
26 Feb 2021
Introducing the digital paradigm in spatially collaborating and validating design concept, structure and constructability
Click here to download the full release PDF
Experience sphere with an online demo
See first hand what sphere can do by connecting via a remote session through your desktop or mobile, with no requirement to purchase any AR devices. With the help of an Augmental Mixed Reality demonstrator you will be able to connect to a holographic workplace and interfact as a remote expert in a live demonstration.