Orkel, a leading Norwegian manufacturer of agricultural machinery, has partnered with RealWear, the world’s top provider of assisted reality solutions, to standardize the use of RealWear’s wearable devices for remote customer support and maintenance. This collaboration allows Orkel to provide real-time assistance, reduce downtime, and eliminate the need for in-person visits, benefiting both customers and the environment.
Orkel, a leading Norwegian manufacturer of compactors and machinery for agriculture, industry, and waste management, has recently partnered with RealWear, the world’s top provider of assisted reality solutions for frontline industrial workers. Orkel has standardized on RealWear’s wearable devices across its business and dealer network to enhance customer and product support, reduce downtime, and eliminate the need for in-person visits.
By equipping its service technicians with RealWear’s HMT-1® head-mounted displays, they enables real-time remote maintenance, servicing, and commissioning of its heavy agricultural machinery products. The research and development team of the company tested different smart glasses and selected RealWear. This is because of its durable design, safety features, noise cancellation, and extended battery life.
This innovative solution revolutionizes the way Orkel connects with its customers and technicians, eliminating the need for unnecessary travel. As part of its after-sales support offering, Orkel provides customers requiring commissioning or technical service with a kit comprising the HMT-1, a branded Orkel hardhat, and mounting clips. Customers can easily wear the device, use voice commands to contact an Orkel technician, and establish a connection. The technician can then see precisely what the customer sees through the head-mounted camera and VSight software, effectively resolving the issue. Customers have the option to purchase the RealWear device for personal use or return it to Orkel once the problem is resolved.
Orkel faced several challenges prior to implementing this solution. In the past, their service technicians had to travel to customers’ locations, resulting in significant travel time and associated environmental costs. Moreover, delays in equipment repairs could have a detrimental impact on customers’ businesses.
Svein Erik Syrstad, a technician at Orkel, expressed appreciation for the value this system brings to customers, enabling faster support when issues arise. He highlighted that the RealWear devices have saved numerous hours of travel time and reduced CO2 emissions. Most importantly, the devices enable swift resolution of problems, which is crucial during the busy harvest season.
Benefits of RealWear’s technology for Orkel and its customers.
Orkel Group, headquartered in Fannrem, Norway, is a well-established supplier of compactors, round balers, and transport equipment. With a presence in over 50 countries, their largest market currently resides in mainland China. Given the agricultural sector’s heavy reliance on the harvest season, maximum uptime for Orkel machinery is vital, especially during peak periods.
RealWear partner VSight Remote, an augmented reality-powered remote service and collaboration platform, is utilized by Orkel to conduct maintenance operations. The Orkel machine’s telemetry system sends operational data securely to the cloud. Orkel’s service technicians then analyze the information and guide customers on the necessary steps for resolution. The process enhances efficiency and enables them to address specific errors more effectively. Additionally, it provides valuable insights to their research and development team for future product design.
Magnus Nordås Lervik, a project engineer at Orkel, expressed enthusiasm for the technology, stating that it allows him to witness the work being done and learn from common issues that arise and how they are resolved. Lervik added that this technology empowers their research and development team to design future machinery with a focus on the operator’s perspective.
Jon Arnold, Vice President of EMEA at RealWear Inc., emphasized the numerous benefits that Orkel and its customers have gained from deploying RealWear’s technology with VSight and Microsoft Teams. He highlighted that machine downtime significantly impacts productivity and efficiency in the agricultural industry, particularly during shorter harvest seasons. Therefore, the remote assistance provided by RealWear’s devices is proving to be a game-changer for the farming and agriculture sector, where every second counts.