Hydrite launched a new AR (assisted-reality) program, RITE-Sight, which leverages XpertEye, a solution developed by AMA, to support customers and field service personnel.
The modern-day field technician is no longer sporting just a hardhat; they’re wearing assisted-reality devices capable of relaying critical information in real time.
Chemical distributor and manufacturer Hydrite recently equipped staff in its Food Group business with AR technology to support customers and field service personnel from anywhere in the world.
The Brookfield-based company collaborated with AMA to roll out RITE-Sight, a web-based solution that allows Hydrite technicians to service, troubleshoot and provide emergency support to customers remotely.
Using a smart glass device like RealWare’s HMT-1, field technicians can use AMA’s software called XpertEye to relay what they see in real-time. As Hydrite receives the live feed virtually, a remote team of technicians can help on-site staff problem solve.
AMA’s software is hardware agnostic, designed for wearable devices, and able to connect to multiple video sources including thermal cameras and microscopes. All data is transmitted using a secure connection with end-to-end encryption, which is crucial for Hydrite’s customers, said Mitch Fay, Hydrite technical director.
“A lot of these customers have proprietary processes,” Fay said. “These food plants, they’re very secretive in terms of how they manufacture their end product.”
Hydrite first explored AR technology during the COVID-19 pandemic at a time when its customers were limiting in-person contact, Fay said. But as the world returns to normal, Hydrite continues to reap the benefits of AR technology.
Since using XpertEye, Hydrite has generated cost savings through reduced travel – the technology also allows the company to service more customers by spreading the expertise of its technician team to multiple geographies.
“We’re nation wide, so I can have one technical support guy virtually in New York and Texas all in the same day,” Fay said.
