The food technology graduate, who brings experience from a previous start-up, is active primarily in sales. Like probably many others, he first considered going on to complete a doctorate after graduating, says the 28-year-old. In the field of augmented reality, however, it quickly became clear to Roder that: “We have enough scientific knowledge. Now it’s a matter of finding useful applications.”
AR instructions bring particular added value to contracts from abroad and training, both made more difficult by the pandemic. If a machine breaks down at a customer’s premises abroad, the company can send AR glasses instead of a technician, thereby not only offering a faster service but also cutting costs. Training can now be provided regardless of location, or for one employee at a time.
Rapid developments in technology
The start-up is currently working on a project with a heating technology company, in which the use of AR glasses as a training tool offers even greater potential. The switch to renewable energies and heating systems means that the company will have to retrain large parts of its workforce in a short time. “Seventy percent of the service technicians have been trained to work with fossil-fuel heating systems,” explains Caplazi. AR instructions help the company keep pace with technological change.
Rimon faces tough competition – tech giants such as Microsoft are also working on AR instructions for various uses. “Right now, the whole industry is trying to find out which AR applications work,” says Roder. As a result, the ETH start-up is currently concentrating on solutions for the mechanical engineering industry, where the two company founders already have plenty of expertise. Next, the young entrepreneurs plan to launch a self-service platform that will enable companies to create AR instructions themselves.
