It happens far too often. People witness a demonstration of a Mixed Reality headset with holographic content for the first time, and their ideas soar around how this technology could help their business. They get caught up in the rich visualizations and technical aspects of spatial computing, but never map the practical and powerful real-world applications.

New technology can be addictive and seductive in experimenting with new forms of visualization and communication, but if it does not make your workers’ lives better by enhancing their performance, you are having a “Holographic Honeymoon”.

After the honeymoon period is over, unless the attraction to the cutting-edge technology has a real connection to operational applications, then the relationship with Mixed Reality will soon be over.

It’s a familiar cadence with rapid technology advancements wherein companies get captivated by the latest technological advancements. This excitement, while understandable, sometimes leads to a classic pitfall of investing in novel technology that fails to deliver real use cases, or value, to the end users.

Mixed Reality and Holographic Computing promise transformative experiences, often showcased through impressive but not realistic demos, that leave corporate executives spellbound. However, many times the translation of these exciting technologies into practical, real-world applications, especially for frontline workers, frequently fall short.

So, the question is, why does cutting-edge technology like Mixed Reality many times end up on the shelf of “technology relationships gone bad?”

The Honeymoon Phase with Spatial Computing

Does the example below sound familiar?

A company's leadership team attends a high-profile tech conference. They witness a demonstration featuring a rich holographic visualization or spatial computing remote support tool that will solve all their problems. They envision their company at the forefront of innovation, revolutionizing their industry with this new tech. This vision is intoxicating; it's futuristic, it's bold, and it's what every company wants in order to be a leader in their space. How? By delivering increased value to their customer and creating a better work environment for their workers with futuristic holograms.

The Harsh Reality of the Search for the Practical Application

However, as the dust settles and the technology is purchased and then implemented, a stark reality often emerges. The tech, while advanced and impressive, doesn't necessarily align with the day-to-day operations. Perhaps it's too complex, maybe it doesn't integrate well with existing systems, or possibly it solves a problem that doesn't really exist.

Question: During the sales cycle, was the actual problem (or set of problems) identified before understanding how the technology was going to assist in fixing the problem? What was the use case that it was intended to solve?

Where Did It Go Wrong?

The root of this issue often lies in the initial excitement overshadowing the practicality and applicability of the technology. Executives, driven by the desire to innovate and stay ahead of competitors, sometimes overlook the crucial step of evaluating whether this technology addresses a real need or problem within their organization to begin with. The allure of being a 'first-mover' in adopting new tech can blind them to the realities of their specific business context and the needs of their actual end users.

What goes wrong is this: during the sales process, the customer and the vendor never determine the use case for which they are solving the problem. In other words, there is no alignment on how the use case empowers the end user with the technology to do their job better, and therefore, make the end user’s life easier and more productive.

The use case also needs to be mapped out with a change management plan in place in order to determine how the practical application will be rolled out in the organization’s operating environment. If not, the new cool Mixed Reality solution will end up collecting dust. Adding Mixed Reality to front-line workers is an operational change. This change can be a truly transformational one, but if the roadmap is not defined, then the project will certainly get lost before it can gain any traction.

The Crucial Balance: ROI and User Adoption

When new technologies are rolled out within the organization, a different picture often emerges. The tools, while technologically advanced and visually stunning, may not align with the actual needs of the frontline workers. The workers might find the MR headsets cumbersome, the spatial computing interfaces unintuitive, or the holographic data displays more complex than helpful. The tech, initially impressive in controlled demo environments, might struggle to perform when faced with the unpredictability and variability of real-world settings.

For successful implementation, a balance is needed between the 'wow factor' of these technologies, and their practical impact on the front line. Successful integration of MR, Spatial Computing, and Holographic Visualization into business operations requires a focus on both Return on Investment (ROI) and user adoption. These technologies must offer clear benefits – such as enhancing operational efficiency, improving worker safety, or providing new insights through immersive data visualization – while also being user-friendly and seamlessly integrating into existing workflows. Moreover, it should seamlessly fit into the workflows of those who will use it daily. From our experience when Mixed Reality assists with a use case users love it.

To achieve a successful deployment your change management plan must include:

Understanding Operational Needs
Gain an understanding of the overall operational needs and how the technology will improve the overall operational efficiency.
Understanding Use Cases
Engage with operations and the actual end users to determine scenarios that benefit quickly and impactfully to prove the value.
Engage with Frontline Workers
Understand the daily challenges and tasks of those who will use these technologies.
ROI Analysis
Consider not just the initial investment but also the long-term value it will bring in terms of productivity, efficiency, customer satisfaction, and user happiness.
ROI Analysis During Pilot Phase
For a project to scale the financial model must make sense. When the pilot phase is designed, the RIO definition needs to be defined and the financial results captured to help make the case how Mixed Reality not only increases operational efficiency, makes the worker’s lives better, but also is an impact on the bottom line.
Pilot Projects and Feedback Loops
Implement pilot programs to test the technology in a real-world environment and establish feedback mechanisms to continuously improve its effectiveness.
Continuous Evaluation
Like any good relationship, the communication and feedback must stay open and honest. Monitor how the technology is being used, analyse new or evolving use cases, and ensure positive impact on the users.

Conclusion

While Mixed Reality, Spatial Computing, and Holographic Visualization offer exciting prospects for business transformation, the true value lies in their practical application and utility for the end-users, particularly frontline workers.

The implementation team (both the vendor and customer) needs to understand in detail the ACTUAL features and functions of the solution to be able to map solutions to use cases. Many times, general knowledge of a solution creates a pilot that is not actually suited for the use case, thus failure from the start. Mapping the features that fulfill the desired outcomes that are possible is critical to success. Does the solution “work” vs “you think the solution will work” is a hard step.

As businesses explore these advanced technologies, they must remain focused on the real-world challenges and benefits, ensuring that their investment in futuristic tech translates into tangible, productive, and user-friendly tools for those at the heart of their operations. This approach will not only harness the full potential of these technologies but also ensure that their adoption is more than just a technological spectacle – it's a step towards real operational excellence.

Innovation and technological advancement are vital for the growth and sustainability of any business. However, the true measure of success in technology adoption is not just being on the cutting edge, but in how effectively that technology serves the real needs of its users and contributes to the company's bottom line. As companies navigate the dazzling world of new tech, they must remain grounded in the reality of their users' needs and the tangible benefits the technology can bring. Only then can they ensure that their investment in new technology is not just an exciting venture, but a fruitful one.

Manage the change, manage the adoption, monitor the feedback, and always engage the end users. This will empower your organization to adopt the latest technologies like Mixed Reality and maximize its benefits for the whole organization.

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Holographic Honeymoon