Augmented reality in the industrial environment Optimized remote maintenance with AR glasses

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Networking is the key to global collaboration and rapid information exchange in today's world. The Swiss company Cablex provides the right connections to contribute to a more efficient and smarter world. In remote maintenance, the company relies on AR glasses from Almer Technologies, which enable efficient support for service technicians on-site.

Boundless communication through a network that not only connects but also shapes the future—at Cablex AG, everything is a matter of connection. The Swiss company specializes in building and maintaining network infrastructures and offers innovative solutions in the areas of ICT and networks, transport, and electromobility. Founded in 2001 as a subsidiary of the Swisscom Group, it now employs around 2,500 people at 24 locations in Switzerland—and the trend is rising as Cablex is on a course of expansion. The exploration of new industries requires increasingly diverse knowledge for the installation and maintenance of network infrastructure. To find the right connection, on-site employees increasingly need to rely on the support of specialized experts. The problem: anyone who has ever tried to describe an error message over the phone knows that misunderstandings are inevitable. Even subsequent videos do not always help, as the expert in front of the screen does not see what the employees on-site see at the same time.

"The variety of facilities we maintain is greater than ever," says Simon Barralon, a technician at Cablex AG. "That's why we sometimes work in environments that present additional challenges. For example, with our client ECCO2, for whom we carry out complete installations in boiler rooms. In such situations, it is good to be able to rely on technical support that truly understands the situation." To make more precise statements about technical problems, the expert in network infrastructure therefore sought an innovative solution and came across the start-up company Almer Technologies.

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Visually connected: efficient remote maintenance thanks to smart glasses

When selecting the new technology, Cablex AG prioritized simple and hands-free operation. Another important requirement was a well-coordinated combination solution of software and hardware. "A technical gadget was not an option for us; we wanted a real tool," says Yoann Pernet, Leader Digital Exploration at Cablex AG. "The glasses from Almer with the software from TeamViewer allow our experts in the office to efficiently support the on-site service technicians in their work."

The "Arc 2" from Almer Technologies combines headset telephony with video conferencing, bringing new possibilities for augmented reality in industrial environments. It is suitable for use in outdoor areas with strong sunlight and, thanks to its own lighting, also in dark work environments. Integrated speakers allow for spontaneous phone calls without additional headphones—even in noisy environments. The camera delivers excellent image quality with 25 megapixels and autofocus. Even when zooming, details remain razor-sharp. Thus, the smart glasses enable a new type of communication in the field of remote maintenance and customer service.

Clear view: the future of second-level support

A total of 20 Arc-2 devices are currently in use at Cablex to support the second-level support service team. Numerous benefits are already apparent. Not only can new employees be sent to the field faster without the support of experienced colleagues, but the time savings are also enormous. For example, technicians no longer need to leave their work area to seek expert advice by phone during installation and maintenance. Since instructions, circuit diagrams, and other information are easily accessible on the go, and thanks to high-resolution video transmission, misunderstandings are reduced, allowing problems to be solved more quickly. Lastly, less specialist personnel on-site means reduced travel and staffing efforts, which in turn saves costs and CO₂ emissions.

"Especially in light of our current expansion strategy, we can act even more efficiently if we train our employees for about 80 percent of use cases," says Yoann Pernet. "We can solve the remaining 20 percent with the help of experts remotely. This video support also has the advantage that our specialists are less stressed because they know they can rely on the additional expertise."

Double vision is better: on a growth path together

A close partnership with customers, where listening carefully and taking needs seriously is the basis of the collaboration between Almer Technologies and Cablex AG. "Especially the speed with which our feedback was implemented has reinforced our belief that we have found the right partner in Almer," says Yoann Pernet. "For this exploratory phase, we wanted to find an agile and technologically savvy partner who enables us to tap into new, promising business areas. The glasses perfectly match the level of innovation Cablex is at, as they are significantly less complex than comparable solutions on the market and thus easier to use."

Sebastian Beetschen, CEO of Almer Technologies, adds: "Both Cablex and we were convinced of the value of Arc 2 from the very beginning. That's why we worked together to tailor our solution ideally to the needs of Cablex. In the end, our persistence paid off. We have now been working successfully together for over a year and a half."

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