Microsoft announced today a extension of its Dynamics 365 mixed reality applications to iOS and Android devices. The Redmond giant has been promoting remote assistance use cases for its HoloLens mixed reality headset in recent months, and the company now wants to make these technologies available on the iOS and Android devices mobile workers already carry with them.
“Customers continue to tell us that HoloLens is the best mixed reality device for business, and that it’s a breakthrough for their many areas that require heads up, hands free work. But we also know that many employees carry AR-capable phones and tablets everywhere they go,” explained Alysa Taylor, Corporate Vice President, Business Applications & Industry.
The existing Dynamics 365 Remote Assist app for HoloLens, which allows technicians to solve problems remotely, will soon be coming to Android in preview. Instead of using a HoloLens headset, firstline workers will be able to share what they’re seeing with remote technicians using an Android phone, and the app will allow mobile annotations and integrate with Dynamics 365 for Field Service.
The second mixed reality app that Microsoft announced today is called Dynamics 365 Product Visualize, and it will launch soon on iOS in preview form. The purpose of this new app is to allow sellers to showcase their products in their actual environment, helping buyers to better understand complex products such as industrial machinery. “In industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and automotive where products are often complex, and highly configurable or simply too cumbersome to carry around, the need for product visualization is key,” explained Taylor.
In addition to these new mixed reality apps for iOS and Android, Microsoft also announced today three new AI apps called Dynamics 365 Customer Insights, Dynamics 365 Virtual Agent for Customer Service, and Dynamics 365 Fraud Protection. These new apps will allow businesses to use to improve customer service with AI-powered chat bots, and make better business decisions using new data insights. Enterprise users will be able to access these new services this Spring with the April ’19 wave of releases for Dynamics 365.
