Holographic overlay to drive productivity and reinvent field service management
July 7, 2017 | By Rehana Begg
An air conditioning engineer is finishing the installation of several units on a rooftop. Two colleagues can be seen also installing units in the background. They are wearing hi vis jackets, hard hats and safety goggles. 
An air conditioning engineer is finishing the installation of several units on a rooftop.
IFS, the global enterprise applications company, announces the launch of a new proof of concept, developed by the company’s innovation think tank IFS Labs, to reinvent field service management.
IFS Labs has developed an integration between the enterprise applications suite IFS Applications and Microsoft HoloLens that enables service engineers to visualize holographic IFS software data on the HoloLens screen, which is plotted directly on the asset they are to service.
The data is displayed directly in front of the engineer’s eyes, enabling technicians to use both hands when servicing the asset. By displaying information as a real-time overlay, engineers get immediate access to relevant asset-specific data such as service history, performance analysis, and temperature levels. HoloLens will also make it possible to action the data in real time by clicking a “work guidelines” button to access service instructions stored in IFS Applications.
By leveraging the integrated HoloLens camera, the solution also makes it easy to document the asset and the service performed and store the information in IFS Applications for future reference.
“We are very excited to present this proof of concept that we believe has the potential to revolutionize the way we think of field service management,” IFS Labs director Bas de Vos said. “By leveraging the Microsoft HoloLens, we can help service personell navigate complex environments and access critical asset information to realize major benefits such as increased productivity and first-time fix rates. Field service management is a higly prioritized area for IFS where we have been categorized as leaders by analysts. We will keep pioneering this field with innovative solutions that provide tangible business benefits.”
Brandon Bray, Principal Program Manager, Microsoft HoloLens said, “We see great potential for using the mixed reality capabilities of Microsoft HoloLens with enterprise software like IFS Applications to empower field service technicians with innovative tools that boost productivity. Microsoft values the collaboration with IFS that helps expand both of our markets and creates new offerings and added value for our customers.”
IFS Labs is exploring making the concept available for other IFS software products in the future.
Learn more about the projects currently researched by IFS Labs here.
