As a small-business owner with tight deadlines, there’s no time for downtime. When you make commitments to clients  — who have their own make-or-break deadlines — you can’t afford to be late; patience ceases to be a virtue when being behind schedule becomes contagious. What’s more, downtime adds up, costing organizations in all industries an average of more than six hours per day in lost work productivity, which translates to 31 hours per week, according to The Washington Post.

But what if you had a technology solution that could stop downtime dead in its tracks? Better yet, what if you could remotely diagnose or resolve customers’ problems without having to send out a technician at all? By leveraging three of Microsoft’s latest state-of-the-art technologies, the Microsoft HoloLens, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Remote Assist and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Field Service; you can minimize customer’s downtime, maximize customer satisfaction and improve your bottom line.

What is Microsoft Hololens?
From the tech creation experts at Microsoft, HoloLens is a mixed reality device that you wear as you would a pair of glasses. Using an array of sensors, advanced optics and holographic imagery, HoloLens instantly displays information that users can view peripherally. This lets them work and read simultaneously, without having to look away to consult a manual, for example. In short, HoloLens seamlessly blends and integrates the virtual world with the real world.

How does Microsoft Hololens work?
The tech that gives the HoloLens its augmented reality capabilities resides in its optical sensors.  With those sensors positioned on either side of the headgear, along with a downward-facing depth camera, the HoloLens allows users to seamlessly read text and identify intricate details in images more clearly and easily. It also features an ambient light sensor, HD camera and a holographic processing unit that has more processing power than some of the leading laptops on the market today. The mounted microphones allow users to issue voice commands so wearers can make the processing unit function simply by speaking. It’s ultra-sensitive so it can readily hear you even in loud environments, whether you’re on-site or off-site. 

What is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Field Service?
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Field Service is an application that enhances productivity and accuracy when servicing your clients in the field. Whether you’re in manufacturing, utilities, health care or equipment maintenance, Microsoft 365 Field Service enhances efficiency and expedience by providing your teams with the automation and mobility to complete more service calls, manage follow-up visits, reduce travel time and get more service visits right on the first try. The built-in scheduling portal also can provide your customers with added authority regarding when onsite visits are most convenient for them, which can help to further improve client satisfaction as well as retention. 

Naturally, issues come up now and then that may prevent customers from having you come by to fix what’s broken or replace what’s damaged. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Field Service makes scheduling easy and seamless with a mobile application tool that allows technicians to adjust appointment timelines quickly and conveniently. 

Is there a service request that requires expert attention from your most indispensable personnel? With scheduling and dispatch tools, Field Service enables you to better manage customer service so you can match the best skills to the toughest of on-location challenges. 

From time tracking to communication tools to analytics for reporting on key performance indicators, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Field Service will help your team become a more well-rounded one, setting them up for success from start to finish.

What is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Remote Assist?
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Remote Assist is an all-in-one solution that empowers field service teams with the tools they need to collaborate, diagnose and resolve calls in real-time. Deployable and downloadable on a variety of handheld devices, tablets and the HoloLens, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Remote Assist provides you with the mission-critical information you need to know at the moment you need it. The intuitive on-screen interface and workflow give you ready access to relevant documentation you can leverage in the virtual world, and enable you to move it to the real world.  Imagine being able to virtually walk a customer’s site as if you were there live and in person. You and your team can do that and so much more with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Remote Assist, reducing hassle and streamlining your diagnostic business processes.

Now imagine how proficient and efficient your field service team could become by leveraging all three? The TM Group can help to make that happen. In fact, we’re in the midst of piloting these technologies with an equipment manufacturer that is looking to implement Remote Assist and HoloLens to remotely support its customers. 

If you have any questions on Microsoft HoloLens, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Field Service, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Remote Assist or how they can improve your business, please contact us.