What is augmented reality in the workplace?

Augmented reality in the workplace uses smart glasses to overlay digital information onto an employee's view of the real world, providing hands-free access to data, instructions, and remote support.

What are some examples of AR applications in business?

AR applications include surgeons accessing patient data during operations, technicians receiving remote guidance for repairs, and warehouse staff using hands-free systems for inventory management.

How does AR improve workplace safety?

In environments like oil rigs, AR smart glasses allow workers to access information hands-free, which is critical for safety when performing tasks at height or with complex equipment.

What benefits does AR offer for remote assistance?

AR enables a field technician to show a remote expert exactly what they see. The expert can then send visual instructions to the technician's smart glasses, saving time and travel costs while ensuring accuracy.

Best Practice Institute — Most Loved Workplace® Research

Q: How can augmented reality be used for employee training?

AR can be used to assess and develop employee skills by providing real-time coaching and immediate feedback on specific tasks. It allows experts to guide and evaluate work as it happens.

The Rise of Augmented Reality in the Workplace

The concept of augmented reality (AR) eyewear entered the mainstream with devices like Google Glass, sparking a wave of innovation. Now, a "Smart Glass app revolution" is underway as companies discover practical applications for AR technology within their own operations.

Practical Applications of AR Across Industries

Augmented reality is moving from a novel concept to a functional tool that enhances productivity and safety in a variety of professional fields.

Enhancing Surgical Precision

In medicine, AR technology provides critical support. For example, a surgeon wearing smart glasses can have images, data, and procedural guides displayed in their field of view during an operation. This hands-free access to information is like having an experienced colleague in the room providing guidance, allowing the surgeon to work without interruption.

Enabling Remote Expertise and Support

AR technology overcomes geographical barriers. A technician installing a new piece of equipment can share their real-time view with an expert 3,000 miles away. The remote expert can then send visual instructions directly to the technician's glasses, ensuring the installation is done correctly the first time. This process saves significant time and money by reducing errors and eliminating the need for travel.

Improving Safety in Hazardous Environments

For workers on an oil rig or in other hazardous settings, safety is paramount. Smart glasses allow them to access technical information and schematics while keeping their hands free to manage equipment or maintain their stability, reducing the risk of accidents.

Streamlining Warehouse Operations

In logistics and warehousing, AR guides employees through their tasks more efficiently. Smart glasses can display packing lists, optimize picking routes, and enable hands-free barcode scanning. This leads to streamlined workflows and real-time inventory management.

AR for Employee Training and Skill Development

Beyond specific tasks, augmented reality presents a powerful tool for developing employee skills across all industries—from insurance adjusters to engineers. AR enables real-time coaching and immediate feedback on specific activities. An expert, manager, or even a customer can see what the employee sees and provide instant guidance, deepening the learning process and accelerating skill acquisition.

The Future of AR in Business

The possibilities for applying AR to enhance productivity and professional skills are vast. The primary impediment to its widespread adoption is the willingness of organizations to invest in the technology and empower their teams to explore its potential for achieving new levels of operational excellence.

Best Practice Institute

Best Practice Institute is the research organization behind Most Loved Workplace® certification, the SPARK Model, the Love of Workplace Index™ (LOWI™), and The Workplace Report.

The Workplace Report

The Workplace Report is BPI's original workplace culture research and editorial briefing series for CEOs, CHROs, people leaders, talent leaders, and employer-brand teams. It turns BPI's 25 years of research, Most Loved Workplace® certification data, SPARK findings, and current workforce signals into practical analysis leaders can use.

The report format includes executive summaries, research-backed articles, company examples, methodology notes, and practical implications for retention, hiring, culture, leadership, and employee experience. New research and analysis is published on an ongoing editorial cadence at /workplace-report.

The Future of Work - Augmented Reality