A collaboration between tech pioneers HP and Microsoft will see users wearing an advanced Microsoft headset as a virtual coach guides them through troubleshooting - “meaning no time wasted on long service calls, resolutions are swift and press downtime is kept minimal.”
The new HP xRServices powered by Microsoft HoloLens 2 creates a virtual-real world combination in which customers can connect with HP engineers in a split second through mixed reality, advising them on any issue, at any point of their print production.
“Compatible with all HP Industrial Printers hardware, users whether digital native or novice, will be able to be trained and adapt quickly to doing tasks, guided step-by-step with their virtual HP engineer, the instructions moving with the employees to easily direct them to the parts or problems they need to solve in a second,” HP Inc. said.
“And, by leveraging HP’s Print OSx, managers will clearly see how to combine the data generated from doing the work, with transactional data to drive optimization and smoother productivity for future.”
Haim Levit, general manager HP Indigo and WW Industrial Go to Market, said: “With the exponential rise in digital printing fuelling the industry, customers have less time for service calls and higher production runs to meet. The way we deliver services in this ever evolving business and work environment is changing fast, and working with Microsoft on this project was a common-sense solution.
"We are redefining services for the industry, by providing our customers with a solution which not only saves them time, but optimizes their revenue opportunities," Levit said. "We continue to drive the most innovative solutions in the industry as we listen to and work with our customers as their own production needs change in the virtual and physical worlds.”
The program is currently being utilised by select customers in HP’s beta launch phase.
HP says the new technology provides:
- Less face to face meetings or travel needed: the complete on-press toolset provides everything you need with the step by step guidance on hand
- More support: customers now have a second and virtual in-person route to guide them through any problems, issues or advice to keep things moving around the clock
- Faster onboarding: guides new employees through processes step by step ‘as live’ simulation.
In Japan, Fujiplus Inc. is one of the companies trialling the new service with its HP Indigo 12K Digital Press . “HP’s xRServices is futuristic and therefore very appealing to us," said Takeshi Ido, CEO & president of Fujiplus Inc. "Thanks to HoloLens and remote support from HP, we are now able to get to the root cause of issues very quickly and resolve them effectively. We already see using xRServices for self-maintenance and replacing parts on our own, giving us great confidence about the predictability of our print operations.”
Tracy Galloway, corporate vice president & COO at Microsoft added: “Microsoft’s mixed reality solutions offer a tangible mechanism that helps drive the changing landscape of human interaction. We are confident HP’s xRServices and Microsoft’s HoloLens2 and Remote Assist applications, will bring simplicity and ease to HP’s support operations and will be a catalyst for positive change in customer support throughout the industry.”
