If you've investigated enterprise XR, you'll know that remote support is a key use case for the technology.

The concept is simple. Your frontline workers wear assisted reality (aR) smart glasses – the RealWear Navigator 520, say, or the Vuzix Blade 2.

They go about their days, carrying out routine maintenance. Or collecting industrial Internet of Things data. Or delivering lifesaving paramedical care.

Then they hit a snag. They need help. And thanks to their smart glasses, they can access it with a simple voice command.

"Open SimplyVideo", they might say. Then, within a few seconds, they're chatting to a remote expert.

Their smart glasses are equipped with high-resolution, front-facing cameras. This means the remote expert can see "through the eyes" of the frontline worker. Furnished with this close-up view of the action, the expert can help to diagnose and fix the problem faster than you can say, "Digital transformation".

Effectively, your remote experts are given free roam of Planet Earth. They can be in Abu Dhabi at 12:06 and Aberdeen at 12:15.

For you, this means travel costs are cut to zero. For your teams, it means smoother, clearer collaboration and the ability to solve problems without error or delay.

The issue of integration

So, the concept is simple. The benefits are clear. Is deployment as much of a walk in the park?

Yes – in theory. A good video collaboration platform like SimplyVideo will support a broad range of XR headsets and make it simple for users to access support when they need it.

But problems can arise when you throw other software solutions into the mix.

Say you want to use a legacy videoconferencing platform alongside your remote support solution. Or perhaps you want to deploy a workflow management app in tandem with it. If your apps don't sing from the same hymn sheet, you're going to have a very discordant choir and a pounding technological headache.

Now, let's be very clear. SimplyVideo is designed to work on almost any device and integrate seamlessly with a wide range of enterprise XR applications.

Our mission is to make XR deployment simple for you, the customer. Whether you're interested in remote support or immersive education, we can provide the software and hardware you need to get up and running.

With that in mind, we're pleased to announce a new integration with one of our key software partners: WorkfloPlus.

Phonebook is an active directory solution that brings truly hands-free remote support functionality to the WorkfloPlus platform. It empowers frontline workers to access expert assistance with as few as two voice commands.

Together, SimplyVideo and WorkfloPlus provide a complete workflow management and remote assistance solution for enterprise users. And, crucially, it's a solution that works right out of the box on a broad range of XR devices.

We'll explore the integration in a little more detail later. But first, let's get to know WorkfloPlus and what it can do for you.

What is WorkfloPlus?

WorkfloPlus is a workflow management platform developed by UK-based software company Intoware.

The platform has many features. One of its core capabilities, however, is digitising workplace processes.

WorkfloPlus equips frontline workers with step-by-step digital instructions to ensure every process is carried out precisely. These processes are standardised, repeatable and auditable – the platform pipes a steady stream of useful data into the backend, so you enjoy an accurate, real-time view of operations.

Like SimplyVideo, WorkfloPlus is device-agnostic. It's built to work on any piece of modern, web-ready hardware – whether that's a smartphone, a tablet or an XR headset.

Say you're an engineer carrying out a routine maintenance job. You'd boot up WorkfloPlus on your smart glasses, then get to work – guided by helpful directions that sit just outside your field of view.

This is key. When deployed on XR devices, WorkfloPlus is designed to be as unobtrusive as possible. It's hands-free and voice-activated, so your workforce can keep their hands and minds on the job.

In no time at all, you've finished the task at hand. And thanks to WorkfloPlus, you've left no stone unturned – your digital process covered all bases, from the equipment you've used to the diodes you've replaced.

But let's imagine something goes wrong. The machinery has spat out a mysterious error code, perhaps, or started making a weird gurgling noise.

You're going to need outside help. That's where SimplyVideo Phonebook integration comes in.

How Phonebook completes the operational jigsaw

WorkfloPlus is all about empowerment and consistency. It gives workers the tools they need to complete jobs on their own, on time and to the letter.

But no process is perfect. At some point, you're going to need to call in the experts.

Traditionally, this would mean taking one of two actions. Either you'd fly someone in to take a look or pick up the phone and try to wrangle the English language to your whim.

Neither option is ideal. Sending an expert to site means forking out for travel costs and dealing with downtime. And attempting to explain issues over the phone is like trying to carve the Sacre Coeur out of blancmange.

SimplyVideo's Phonebook feature is the missing piece of this logistical puzzle. It integrates beautifully into the WorkfloPlus environment, so accessing expert help feels simple and seamless.

We're on the frontline again. That weird gurgling noise refuses to stop.

No problem. Our WorkfloPlus user can simply say, "Request help". Instantly, their screen switches to the SimplyVideo Phonebook dashboard.

On this screen, they can see all available operatives from a team of remote experts. If one of the operatives is available, they can say "Call [name]" and know they'll soon have the gurgling noise under control.

Availability is updated constantly using a number of indicators, including work schedules and the operative's real-time usage of other videoconferencing or VoIP apps.

Alternatively, the user can search for an operative by name – if, say, the operative has a particular area of expertise.

It's intuitive. It's seamless. And it means that any frontline worker can access the processes and support they need to nail the job first time.

SimplyVideo's James Bolger sums it up:

"We've designed [Phonebook] to be easily adoptable and simple by its very nature.

"Anybody from even the most transient of workforces can pick up their RealWear device – or any assisted reality wearable, for that matter – put it on their heads and get in touch with experts with little or no stress."

Are you looking for a complete, XR-ready workflow management and support solution? SimplyVideo and WorkfloPlus are now available as a cost-effective bundle. To get the ball rolling, simply get in touch with one of our experts.