OK, Millennial: How AR Can Bridge Generations
Learn how AR is an effective tool for knowledge transfer, utilizing the strengths of widely different generations.
A Changing Workforce
As Baby Boomers continue to exit the workforce, and the Millennial generation, historically our nation’s largest generation, fills the empty seats left behind, the challenges of knowledge transfer and generational differences make themselves known. Forward-thinking companies often look for solutions in cutting-edge technology in order to build a solid bridge between generations, offering digitally-immersed Millennials the technology they crave while maintaining the Boomers’ legacy of earned knowledge. Not all innovative technology makes the cut. Technology is a learned skill for Boomers, often making them hesitant to adopt anything but tried-and-true methodology. New is not always best, but augmented reality technology is the exception. AR is playing a role in both enticing the Millennial employee and transferring knowledge quickly and effectively, while its ease of use makes it attractive to tech-wary Boomers.
Augmented Reality’s Valuable Role in Generational Transitions
Augmented reality can take ordinary data and create a visual representation of that data in our three-dimensional, colorful and complex world. A property manager for Crawford Properties, a large commercial and mobile home park in El Jebel, CO, Prentice Hubbell, took note of AR’s ability to streamline highly technical communication as he considered the solution for a pressing problem on the horizon: a loyal and indispensable foreman with 60 years of experience was about to retire. With him an encyclopedic knowledge of the park’s extensive underground infrastructure was about to disappear.
In his search for an answer, Hubbell came across a mobile app that could translate complex geographical data and bring visualization of that data directly to the worksite. The information that Crawford’s foreman had painstakingly mentally gathered for 60 years could now be immediately accessible for the younger, tech-savvy crew. The app, the Argis Lens, also enabled the crew to refine their geographical data and capture photographic documentation of their underground assets, creating an even more accurate record of Crawford’s infrastructure. Collaboration, a Millennial value, was also at play as the crew works together on data improvement that will make their jobs easier and more efficient in the future.
Using Millennial Strengths to Benefit the Bottom Line
Digital solutions are attractive to Millennials—this generation has fully embraced technology. According to Pew Research Center, almost 100% of Millennials are internet users, and 19% connect to the internet exclusively on their smartphones. Future-thinking organizations are leveraging the Millennial interest in technological innovation in order to attract and retain a generation known for being ready to move on to the next most interesting thing rather than staying with a company for a lifetime.
Augmented reality technology was readily adopted by the younger distribution and collection crews of the City of Englewood, Colorado’s utilities department in an effort to streamline their workflow. The Argis Lens was introduced to those teams for work assignments where they needed to quickly visualize underground infrastructure instead of waiting for a certified locator to identify any utilities hidden below the ground with a wand. In addition to not wasting time waiting around for a locator, they found the Argis Lens intuitive and fun to use—like a work version of Pokémon Go, but with real return on investment for their daily tasks.
AR Can Bridge the Generational Gap
The bottom line? Organizations need to become more Millennial-friendly in order to survive these generational shifts. To grow and stay competitive they must adapt. Crews that adopt the Argis Lens are seeing stronger partnerships and successful knowledge transfer from their legacy workforce. AR expert, founder and CEO of Argis Solutions, Brady Hustad, notes, “Experts are starting to retire, and their years of hands-on experience, incredibly valuable to an organization, are unfortunately leaving with them. The face of the workforce is changing, and the Argis Len is a true collaborative tool that shares information where it is needed, and even more importantly, when it is needed.”
In industries like damage prevention, where change is viewed with suspicion, AR makes a huge difference in leveling the playing field for all workers, both tech-savvy and tech-wary. Better collaboration and smooth knowledge transfer mean less mistakes, less repetitive tasks, and field empowerment.