Best AR Collaboration Tools

What are AR Collaboration Tools?

What are the Common Features of AR Collaboration Tools?

What are the Benefits of AR Collaboration Tools?

Who Uses AR Collaboration Tools?

AR collaboration systems are a growing space, and their use cases are evolving. Below are some examples of personas that use the software.

Technicians: Technicians use AR collaboration tools to provide remote assistance for physical equipment and machinery without being physically present. Using video chat and AR on mobile devices like smartphones, technicians can guide users through operation or repair. Technicians can also use these tools to work with each other from a distance.

IT specialists: IT specialists can help their users with hardware issues remotely using AR collaboration tools. The use case is similar to technicians’, except that IT specialists use AR experience to guide users through tech setups. 

Software Related to AR Collaboration Tools

Related solutions that can be used together with these Tools include:

AR visualization software: AR visualization software allows businesses to create immersive experiences for consumers to interact with their products. Users upload 3D models to these platforms and scale the image, adjust the color, and incorporate the additional details needed to give the best user experience possible. These solutions can be used in conjunction with AR remote collaboration tools to customize the user experience in support scenarios. 

AR training simulator software: AR training simulator software is intended to train users for a certain role in a partially virtual environment. Trainees utilize ARaugmented reality in these solutions to learn the vital skills needed for a new job. Depending on the solution, AR collaboration software can provide a real-time collaborative training experience instead of a preset solo experience.

VR collaboration platforms: Virtual reality (VR)VR (virtual reality) collaboration platforms allow users to collaborate in virtual reality from remote locations. These solutions enable users to meet in the same virtual space and communicate through speech and text. The use cases differ from AR in that both participants must be wearing a fully immersive headset, which would rule out the real-time, collaborative equipment repair and operation AR collaboration platforms enable.

Challenges with AR Collaboration Tools

AR collaboration tools can come with their own set of challenges. 

Network availability: Many potential AR remote collaboration users in fields such as utilities and maintenance often find themselves in situations where a high bandwidth internet connection is hard to come by. These tools rely on a reliable internet connection, which can sometimes be a lot to ask for.

Screen size: AR collaboration tools are more effective on tablets than phones and more effective still on smart glasses than tablets. The bigger the field of view, the better. Beyond the field of view, smart glasses provide a completely hands-free experience, granting field technicians more freedom to maneuver during a remote collaboration session. Not all teams have access to tablets, and even fewer have access to smart glasses. 

How to Buy AR Collaboration Tools

Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for AR Collaboration Tools

G2.com can assist buyers in finding the AR collaboration tool, whether a buyer is searching for the first time or looking to replace legacy software.

Generally, the most important considerations are price, the robustness of the AR visualization, and device support. One of the primary purposes of AR collaboration is to enable remote, visual collaboration that is clear and effective for all participants. With that in mind, ensuring that the tool of choice allows users to easily create excellent visuals and annotations is essential. Using G2 reviews as a reference, buyers can determine the solution that will be most effective for their teams, ensuring a pain-free learning curve and comprehensive solution. 

After narrowing down a potential pool of products, teams can then apply further considerations for budget, requirements, and more. Using this approach, buyers can move forward in the buying process with confidence, referencing their checklist in conjunction with G2 scores to find the right solution for their needs.

Compare AR Collaboration Tools 

Create a long list

Buyers should consider the many AR collaboration tools on the market, especially as the market grows. Some of these tools are tailored specifically for fields like maintenance and utilities, while others shine in the hands of IT support specialists. Buyers should consider distinctions like these to produce a long list of potentially viable products.

Create a short list

Once a long list is created, buyers should employ a more granular approach to trim it down. Along with a matrix of must-have functionality and pricing, buyers can use G2 reviews to explore any potential advantages and disadvantages among the products they’re considering. Is one solution better at enhancing collaboration between technicians than providing support between technicians and end users? With factors like these in mind, buyers should narrow down their search to a list of three to five products.

Conduct demos

All software products on a company’s short list must be investigated firsthand via demos to ensure that real-time functionality matches on-paper expectations. During demos, buyers should make inquiries based on the requirements gathering they’ve done prior. For example, one might ask to be walked through a real-time technical support session using a solution’s ARaugmented reality functionality.

Selection of AR Collaboration Tools

Choose a selection team

Companies of any size should try to involve the most relevant personas when beginning the AR collaboration tools selection process. Large companies might have the resources to include individual team members to fill roles such as team managers and technicians. Smaller companies can overlap roles to compensate for their relatively fewer employees. 

Negotiation

Some vendors offer AR remote collaboration tools that can do far more than what the buyer requires, such as full-featured AR visualization. While some AR collaboration software vendors may only offer an all-or-nothing package, buyers who want to optimize spending should try to negotiate a fairly priced package, including only the functionalities that matter to them. For example, a product’s pricing page could show that the buyer’s must-have features are only included with an expensive all-in-one package, whereas a sales conversation may prove otherwise. 

Final decision

To conclude the process, performing a trial run with a small pool of remote specialists is essential. This will aid buyers in ensuring that their chosen AR collaboration tool is easy to use and enables enhanced collaboration. If the tool is received well and utilized often, the buyer’s selection is probably the right one. If not, it may be time to try another product from the short list.