Russian Augmented Reality Startups Break into Enterprise Space
An article on Computer Weekly stated that Augmented, virtual and mixed reality technologies edge closer to enterprise adoption in Russia as a strong local developer network grows.
Russian IT startups are working extensively in the area of Augmented Reality, but although interest in the technology is growing in major sectors of the economy, there is still a long way to go before it is adopted on a wide scale.
Sectors such as defence, railways and automotive have shown interest in AR, but it is by no means a done deal for most organisations.
“It is no longer hype, but real interest,” said Sergey Polinenko, General DIrector Itorum, a company resident at the innovation hub Skolkovo outside Moscow.
However, Russian companies working in AR still face various challenges, especially when it comes to actually selling the technology to customers.
There is a large gap between companies expressing an interest and actually placing an order, said Polinenko. “Most enterprises in Russia are not prepared to take a risk – they wait until a solution becomes adopted in the West,” he said.
Itorum’s main product is AR glasses, which are used in quality control and servicing equipment at industrial enterprises. Technicians wearing AR glasses can take advantage of remote consultations with experts located elsewhere in the world, whose advice and suggestions can be seen on the glasses.
Itorum also provides services using AR glasses for training and education and to help industrial personnel control operations.
Meanwhile, Fibrum, another Russian startup that specialises in AR applications, is gaining customers in the exhibitions sector. Nikita Vyugin, Marketing Director at Fibrum, said the biggest difficulty is often customers’ insufficient understanding of the difference between VR AR and mixed reality.
“Although AR and VR solutions are relatively widespread, the industry is still quite young and, although promising, many people still see it as a curiosity,” he said.
More can be read in the full Computer Weekly article.