Every executive should be preparing to combine virtual and physical worlds.
Hype about the metaverse has obscured momentum for augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI), and virtual reality (VR), which combine to bridge the virtual and physical worlds.
70%
improvement in problem resolution using simulation technology
50%
increase in additions to cart when interacting with a 3D viewer
Our insights
- Integrating robotics with AR can increase worker safety. For example: an agile, mobile robot built by Boston Dynamics uses AR to help factory workers identify and solve maintenance problems without having to enter potentially hazardous worksites.While much is discussed about autonomous operations, some of the greatest efficiencies in manufacturing and energy automation are achieved with remote monitoring and management. If an entire manufacturing company is integrated, AR can also help increase efficiency. Maintenance staff can use smart glasses to accelerate a repair and reduce safety risks.
- According to research from the IBM Institute for Business Value, simulation technology increases problem resolution by 70%.The democratization of technologies such as LIDAR, AI, and high-performance display and optics has already made possible consumer Augmented Reality (AR) shopping applications where buyers can see objects in their living room through a mobile device before they buy anything. Conversely, they can look at consumer electronics through phones to see technology analytics overlays in the physical world, such as temperature and alerts which guide troubleshooting and fixing issues. Technology is ready now—the main requirement is the business case for these applications to become the norm in the enterprise. Bidirectional digital twins will become the norm, as the cost to digitize the real world plummets, and AI helps more effectively bridge virtual and digital versions of reality. Industry-specific AI foundation models and new 3D engines help simulate what-if scenarios in realistic digital twins of operations before decisions are committed to the real world.
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Meet the authors
John Granger, Senior Vice President, IBM ConsultingJesus Mantas, Senior Managing Partner, IBM Consulting
Salima Lin, Vice President and Senior Partner, Strategy, Transformation, and Thought Leadership, IBM
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Originally published 08 May 2023
The priorities
Successfully bridging the physical-digital divide to achieve enterprise interoperability requires investment in spatial technologies and skills. These capabilities need to be implemented in secure environments.
- While it’s fun to engage in public virtual worlds, AR games and phygital communities (meaning the combination of physical and digital–if the word mashup wasn’t clear), organizations require safe and secure access to enterprise data, combined with the enhanced experience of the virtual environments. Most of today’s public metaverse environments don’t meet these standards, and new platforms such as IBM’s Spatial Platform are emerging to close this gap. These enterprise platforms help connect experiences across public and private spaces, enable pervasive access to 3D models in today’s devices, and provide single sign-on into XR applications that reimagine “click-and-mortar” use cases into a new set of experiences.
- Seamless movement between spaces is a key requirement to deliver business value from enterprise investments in VR and XR. Integration across technologies and consistency of use cases are key requirements to reduce cost of deployment and training.
- As companies across ecosystems scale up metaverse implementations, security and infrastructure will need to keep up. Given the additional attack surface when integrating IoT data, zero trust strategies are critical to secure real-time monitored operations. Yet, seven out of 10 organizations are currently unable to secure data that moves across multiple clouds and on-premises environments.
The bet
Invest now in augmented reality (AR) solutions with clear benefits
Actions to take
- Up to 40% increase in productivity when using digital twins.In simulation, up to a 40% reduction in training costs.In marketing, up to 50% increase in additions to cart when interacting with a 3D viewer.
- Recruit teams that have the following skills: spatial design, simulation, metrology, industrial design, and visualization.Adopt 3D printing for new use cases with clear return on investment.Select the top three use cases—field service, maintenance, and product design—to start implementing XR solutions.
- Accelerate data and IoT programs to enable high-fidelity “digital twins” of operations and complete your digital-physical journey by bringing real-time experiences and data directly to IoT programs.Enhance intelligent workflows with “heads-up display” use cases that enhance safety and efficiency for key enterprise workflows.Metaverse skills are still scarce, so be prepared to build rather than only hire them.
See the bet in action
An insurance company uses AR to streamline claims
Bridging the physical-digital divide promises to streamline workflows across sectors. To boost efficiency in the claims process, a US-based mutual insurance company is creating a claims solution that leverages AR- and AI-powered mobile capabilities.
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