Background and Achievements
PTC’s most substantial move in the augmented reality space came in 2015, with the acquisition of the Vuforia AR platform from Qualcomm. However, PTC has a decades-long history in 3D content, dating back to its origins in computer-aided design (CAD). This put PTC in a unique position to build upon the Vuforia acquisition.
Leveraging the Vuforia platform and its advanced computer vision technology, PTC is creating the fastest, easiest, and most advanced AR content development solutions that help industrial enterprises address workforce challenges and meet business goals.
Vuforia’s Enterprise AR Suite addresses a multitude of use cases that deliver significant value across the enterprise. Analysts around the globe have identified PTC as the leader in industrial augmented reality software due to the breadth and depth of its product offerings, an extensive ecosystem of partnerships, and PTC’s vast industrial heritage.
Challenges to be addressed by AR
PTC has developed the Vuforia Enterprise AR Solution Suite to address an evolving number of use cases within manufacturing, service, training, and sales and marketing. The most common applications for AR in industrial enterprise include fast and easy knowledge capture and transfer, step-by-step augmented work instructions, 3D training tutorials and visualizations, augmented remote assistance, and visualizing IoT data in context of a physical product, These use cases demonstrate the broad applicability of augmented reality in the industrial and enterprise spaces, with proven benefits for workforce optimization, like increased safety, new levels of efficiency, reduced errors, and minimized waste.
Why AR is a Strategic Area
PTC is heavily focused on using digital technology to ”transform” the physical world. Augmented reality is reshaping how frontline workers work and learn through innovative digital technologies—resulting in better information delivery, faster knowledge transfer, modernized training methods, and enhanced customer experiences. With PTC Vuforia, industrial enterprises are boosting workforce efficiency and safety, improving operational performance, and lowering costs across the factory and the field.