How Assisted Reality in Automotive using Wearables Are Disrupting the Entire Automotive Ecosystem
The automotive industry is undergoing transformation at a scale not seen since Henry Ford installed the first moving assembly line in 1913. Just as Ford’s innovation upended everything the industry knew about how automobiles were made, from how workers performed their jobs to how inventory was held and cars were sold, the widespread move toward electric, connected and self-driving vehicles is in the process of digitally transforming the automotive industry, requiring an updated partner ecosystem, workflows, workforce upskilling and more.
This shift will disrupt more than just automakers—it will affect the entire automotive supply chain, from aftermarket suppliers to body shops to retail dealerships and service centers. As electrification of the automobile ramps up, suppliers must pivot from ICE to EV components, including batteries, sensors and electric drives. The whole manufacturing and repair process is radically different with electric vehicles, from safety precautions to testing procedures.
Service technicians are increasingly being asked to solve a whole new set of challenges that have nothing to do with the valves, cylinder heads and spark plugs they’ve become accustomed to while serving internal combustion cars. This is causing significant delays in service, which has a corresponding effect on productivity as well as customer satisfaction. In fact, one study found that service technicians spend twice as long diagnosing problems, and 1.5 times as long fixing them, with EVs than with internal combustion engines.
Enhancing Ford South Africa Field Service
Assisted Reality in Automotive enhances Customer Field Service - Read more here
Time saving
One study found that service technicians spend twice as long diagnosing problems, and 1.5 times as long fixing them, with electric vehicles than with internal combustion engines.
What Is Assisted Reality in Automotive?
In Industry 4.0, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are often hailed as the next great leap in boosting worker productivity. But these technologies aren’t always practical when used as manufacturing or frontline tools—they’re often inappropriate or even unsafe for workers in many use cases.
Unlike AR, assisted reality is a reality-first, digital-second experience. Assisted reality in Automotive allows frontline workers to have full situational awareness. Information is not typically overlaid with real-world view; assisted reality allows a person to view a screen within immediate field of vision, hands-free, and gives the worker access to the right information just when they need it. Assisted reality can be likened to a car dashboard that provides critical information at a glance.
Efficiency and Effectiveness All Round
"Wearables can increase employee efficiency, improve training and development, enhance communication, reduce rework and push informed decision-making to line employees, bringing about greater efficiency and transparency.” - Cognizant Report on wearables in the automotive industry.12
What Is Assisted Reality in Automotive?
Assisted Reality In Automotive - Common use cases include:
- Remote Expert Guidance: Connect the global workforce and enable frontline workers to get assistance from an expert remotely to resolve any complex issue.
- Digital Workflow: Reduce operational errors with step-by-step visual work instructions, checklists and on-the-go data entry.
- Visual Assistance: Enable hands-free verification and visual documentation with a high-definition camera that takes photos and videos of hard-to-reach places.
- Document Navigation: Improve productivity and safety by viewing technical manuals and reference documents with eyes forward and hands-free.
Volkswagen Boosts Repair Efficiency By With Assisted Reality Wearables
Increasingly advanced vehicles require service technicians to collaborate with expert engineers, which lengthens maintenance time. Volkswagen Group UK deployed RealWear wearable devices to technicians in 67 van centers and 10 authorized repair shops, enabling them to connect directly with experts. In doing so, VW:
- Increased repair efficiency by 93%
- Reduced travel-related carbon emissions
- Improved customer satisfaction by shortening repair time
RealWear and Microsoft Teams – A Formidable Team!
"I see Teams and RealWear becoming the way that we train people to produce the products, for today and the future,” -Dallas Olson, VP of Global Manufacturing and Engineering, Goodyear.
Goodyear Drives Remote Collaboration with RealWear and Teams
Goodyear depends on more than 2,500 engineers to keep its complex production processes running optimally in more than 30 factories around the world. When the pandemic hit and business travel ground to a halt, the company began using RealWear devices and Microsoft Teams across projects—a dramatic shift that allows engineers to see issues and opportunities first-hand remotely if a factory machine breaks. Within minutes, front-line workers are connected to a remote expert; with just a couple of voice commands, they can capture video, take pictures, chat and interact with team members working elsewhere.
"Before, we'd need two days of travel to send an engineer to a plant. Using RealWear and Teams, we can troubleshoot days faster and save thousands of dollars on each trip. I anticipate that our engineers will travel considerably less because of the tools."
Dallas Olson: Vice President of Global Manufacturing and Engineering Goodyear
RealWear and Microsoft Teams – A Formidable Team
RealWear, when integrated with Microsoft Teams, provides a cutting-edge solution designed to enhance communication and operational efficiency within organizations. RealWear and Microsoft Teams delivers hands-free, voice-activated access to Microsoft Teams' functionalities, enabling senior managers and managing directors to streamline decision-making processes, improve team collaboration, and enhance on-site and remote support capabilities.
Key Benefits of RealWear and Microsoft teams:
- Immediate Information Access: Senior executives and other key stakeholders can get updates in real time and reach important information across various locations, making sure decisions and responses are quick and efficient.
- Enhanced Communication: It allows smooth, hands-free talking between workers on the ground and their managers, helping solve problems and make decisions faster.
Safety and Compliance: Hands-free use means employees can concentrate on their jobs without risking safety, which is vital in dangerous places. - Increased Productivity: Instant access to experts and information cuts down on delays, making teams more efficient and productive.
Scalable Solution: This can be adjusted for different teams and situations easily. As your business grows, your communication tools will expand with it, keeping everything running smoothly. - Training and Skills Development: Experienced workers can guide newbies through Microsoft Teams easily and affordably, promoting a culture of learning and ongoing improvement.
- And more....
"I see Teams and RealWear becoming the way that we train people to produce the products, for today and the future,”
Dallas Olson, Vice President of Global Manufacturing and Engineering, Goodyear.