Here's all you need to know about augmented reality

Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that enables a user to interact with their real world view using digital elements like text, images, or illustrations. It uses a combination of sensors and algorithms to track the user's position and movement and keep digital interactions fixed in place even if the user keeps moving around.

Key functionality of AR

  • Collect environmental data: Augmented reality starts with collecting visual data of the user's environment through a device camera and tracking their movement in that environment with data from the device's sensors like an accelerometer and gyroscope.
  • Process into computer vision: A set of algorithms called SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) processes the data into computer vision, enabling the device to "see" the user's environment and track the user's position.
  • Receive and track user input: Once these processes are completed, the user can place 3D models or text and move them around on the live camera feed. AR allows for accurate placement of digital elements with relative depth and distance from the user's position in the environment.

What is AR software?

AR software is a tool that empowers users to leverage AR technology for specific needs like remote assistance, training, customer service, or online shopping. These tools are built on platforms like Google's AR Core or Apple's AR Kit to power mixed reality experiences and customize with additional functionality based on business requirements.

Key features to look for in AR software

As you search for the best augmented reality software, you will come across a lot of options in the market, and it can be challenging to pick the one that suits your business. Here's a checklist of features to help you evaluate your options.

  • AR live streaming: If you are considering AR for providing live support to customers or training your workforce, live camera streaming enhanced with AR is a must-have for AR software.
  • Collaborative AR tools:Along with live camera streaming, top augmented reality platforms must offer interactive and collaborative tools that help participants communicate visually, like annotations and pointers.
  • Multi-participant sessions:In case of emergencies, participants must have the option to invite experts or other team members to their session and get their expertise on the problem at hand.
  • Smart glass support:Frontline workers or field technicians can execute instructions quicker when they are not holding a device in one hand. Smart glasses empower them to receive hands-free support and operate at peak performance.
  • Top notch security and compliance:Organizations must ensure that their AR software is compliant with national or regional guidelines like GDPR and HIPAA and provides data protection through different levels of encryption.
  • Analytics and knowledge trails:AR software that records sessions and maintains logs on sessions, user actions, or configuration of settings is beneficial to organizations that conduct regular audits and access knowledge trails for training.

5 best AR software solutions to consider in 2026

01 Zoho Lens

Zoho Lens is the best software for augmented reality that helps technicians resolve real-world issues remotely, like equipment malfunction or complex installation, by providing live visual guidance to customers through AR.

Key features

Collaborative AR environment: Technicians can get real-time visuals of a customer's issue via live camera streaming. For accurate guidance, they can place digital elements and pointers with AR annotation, tag their instructions to annotations with AR comments, and measure remote objects with AR measurement. They can also freeze the camera stream at any moment to take a closer look and plan out a solution.

Scan and documentation tools:Technicians can record sessions, capture snapshots of issues or the result, and add session notes for future reference. They can gather information from product labels by scanning QR codes or barcodes within the session and retrieve text from images visible on the camera stream with OCR technology.

Multi-participant sessions: Involve team members in an interactive brainstorming session or invite experts outside your organization as guest technicians to get optimized solutions.

Geo location: This feature can be used for authentication and verification purposes. During a session, a technician can request the customer's location, and once they share it, they can view it in any map application.

Work instructions: Instead of giving instructions every time there's a maintenance routine or inspection, it can be automated with the Work Instruction feature. Users can create predefined workflows and execute the one they need during a session.

Browser-based support: While Zoho Lens is entirely browser-based for organizations, it also provides the option for end users to join a session through their mobile browser.

Audit and analytics: Reports are generated based on session count, session duration, technicians who conducted a session, and work instructions executed. Admins can conduct audits using the action log viewer, where user actions in an organization are recorded.

Customization: Brand owners who want to make Zoho Lens a part of their brand can use rebranding options to change the logo, URL, and favicon. Additionally, they can map the Zoho Lens portal to their own domain and create their own email templates to tailor their customer experience.

User management: Admins can control what each user has access to by setting roles and permissions. They can invite or remove users from their Lens organization, create departments, add or move users to different departments, and delete the ones that are no longer needed.

File storage: Zoho Lens comes with 5GB of cloud storage, which is used to store session files like chat, session recording, session notes, and snapshots. Additionally, it offers 1GB additional storage for every technician license purchased and a free 3GB storage for those who choose the Professional edition.

Integrations: Zoho Lens can be integrated with other Zoho apps like Zoho Desk, Zoho SalesIQ, Zoho CRM, and other third-party apps like Zendesk and Jira. It gives the freedom for organizations to integrate AR functionalities anywhere in their native application using Lens API integration and mobile SDK, taking customization to a new level.

Compliance with industry standards: Zoho Lens is compliant with global standards such as GDPR, AICPA SOC, and HIPAA.

Smart glasses support: Technicians can receive hands-free remote assistance by using smart glasses. Zoho Lens is supported on popular devices like Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest, RealWear, Epsong and Vuzix.Read more.

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02 Vuforia Chalk

Vuforia Chalk is a SOC2-compliant remote collaboration app developed by PTC. It leverages AR technology to facilitate real-time communication and collaboration between experts and field technicians. Using the app, remote experts can provide visual guidance and instructions to on-site personnel by drawing and annotating directly onto the live video feed from the technician's mobile device.

Key features

  • Image annotation (sharing snapshots with users)
  • Session summaries
  • Session gallery (visible for all users)
  • Low-bandwidth mode
  • Single sign-on support
  • Allow the host to choose the encryption type

03 Plutomen Connect

Plutomen Connect is a "see-what-I-see" based solution developed by Plutomen that connects workers with experts seamlessly through real-time video and augmented reality insights. It allows experts to connect, assist, and resolve issues faced by frontline workers, reducing unplanned downtimes and cutting unnecessary costs.

Key features

  • AR annotation
  • Freeze screen
  • Document sharing
  • Real-time chat
  • Media storage
  • Call logs
  • Video recording
  • Guest invite

04 SightCall

SightCall is an AR-powered remote visual support platform that adds vision to service interaction and enables field technicians to see, analyze, and guide customers through overlays and visual tools.

Key features

  • Live video sharing
  • Screen share/Screen cast
  • Remote device controls
  • AI-powered tutorial
  • Visual data extraction
  • Reporting dashboards
  • Multi-party collaboration

05 CareAR Assist

CareAR Assist is one of the solutions offered by CareAR (Xerox) that helps companies provide augmented reality assistance to their customers. It enables digital overlays onto the live video stream for efficient, immersive support.

Key features

  • AR annotations
  • AR measurement
  • Screen sharing
  • Screenshot
  • Surveys
  • Analytics
  • Workflow integrations

Why businesses need to integrate AR software to their workflows

Augmented reality empowers its users to transcend boundaries, bridge service gaps, and work with experts, as if they are right beside them. When businesses adopt the top AR software to address crucial pain points, its impact in overall efficiency is more pronounced. Here are some of the benefits of using AR software for your business.

  • Reduced business costs

    Maintenance down times, redundant service visits, and repeat dispatches that take a toll on business efficacy can be mitigated effectively with AR software. It helps service personnel skip the travel and assist customers right from their desk, saving on travel time and cost.

  • Boosted productivity

    When AR software can help your workforce resolve issues on their own by accessing predefined work instructions or a comprehensive knowledge base, it reduces dependencies on other teams and helps them accomplish more within the given timeframe.

  • Enhanced customer satisfaction

    Businesses must deliver prompt support for their customers to remain at the top of their game. This is where the best augmented reality platform truly shines. Customers in remote locations or hard-to-reach places can receive instant help when the technician connects with them via a live camera assistance session.

  • Quicker onboarding

    AR software transforms the way a business trains and onboards its employees. Traditional training can be enhanced with AR overlays, which bring both on-site and off-site employees into a mixed reality training environment that facilitates visual problem solving and effective progress tracking.

  • Seamless collaboration

    Whether during emergencies or time-sensitive situations that require immediate action, an on-site crew can skip the back-and-forth communication with the remote technician and get right to the issue by relaying live visuals through AR software. It facilitates smart collaboration with spatial tools that help participants point to objects accurately and articulate their ideas visually.

Experience enhanced interactions and efficient problem solving with AR software

With rapid developments in AR technology, adoption of AR software for business workflows is inevitable. To ensure the best ROI, it is essential to assess your current business processes and identify areas that can be improved with AR software

We hope our guide will help you through this process and sort out the best options.

If you would like to try Zoho Lens and see how it fits within your current ecosystem, you can sign up for a 15-day free trial. You can also get additional support for specific questions regarding features by registering for a free personalized demo.

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Frequently Asked Questions

There are a few things to look for when you are choosing an AR software for your business. Consider the compatibility of the software with your existing devices and how its feature set will integrate with your current workflows. Ensure the software is scalable and flexible to adapt to different teams within your organization. Post-implementation support is an added bonus that will help you get the best out of the AR software.

AR software is fit for adoption by enterprises if it is compliant with regulatory guidelines such as GDPR and HIPAA. It should offer industry-grade security through multi-factor authentication (MFA), role-based access, and encryption for its sessions and organizational data. Additionally, there should be data protection measures similar to the privacy settings in Zoho Lens like audit logs, right to erasure, and data anonymization.

The best AR platforms, like Zoho Lens, allow you to capture expert knowledge of senior technicians through session recordings and snapshots in a session. Senior technicians can use offline recording at other times to document their work on complex tasks. Based on these recordings, administrators and other technicians can create digital SOPs using work instructions, which will then be accessible at all times during a remote assistance session.

AR remains in the limelight of all recent developments. As the technology becomes more dynamic and versatile, individual adoption will take more prominence as light-weight AR glasses are introduced into the market. With advancements in AI, businesses will engage their users in AI-driven AR experiences for its increased contextual awareness. The ultimate goal would be to empower users to solve their issues themselves (self-service) and save the complex ones for the experts.