Continuing to invest in innovation and supporting customers in an increasingly virtual real world, HP has launched HP xRServices in collaboration with Microsoft Hololens 2.

HP xRServices is 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.

Wearing the Microsoft Hololens 2 headset and supported by HP xRServices solution, users will get the feeling of being physically present with a virtual coach on hand to guide them through the process, meaning no time wasted on long service calls, resolutions are swift and press downtime is kept minimal.

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.

And, by leveraging HP’s Print OSx, managers will be able to clearly see how to combine the data generated from doing the work, with transactional data to drive optimisation and smoother productivity for future.

Currently in HP’s beta launch of the programme, the solution is being utilised by select customers.

HP Indigo and WW Industrial Go to Market general manager Haim Levit 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 optimises their revenue opportunities.

“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.”

Microsoft corporate vice-president and chief operating officer Tracy Galloway said HP has always had a strong record of reinvention and propelling customer needs as the key driver for technology advancement.

“Microsoft’s mixed reality solutions offer a tangible mechanism that helps drive the changing landscape of human interaction. HP and Microsoft working together on reinventing services was a clear winning formula,” Galloway said.

“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.”

Tested in beta

Having invested in a HP Indigo 12K Digital Press, US-based Benson Integrated Marketing Solutions was one of the teams trialling the new service.

“I am so proud that our operations team was selected by HP for this beta,” Benson Integrated Marketing Solutions CEO Brian Benson said.

“We pride ourselves in being innovative and first to market on new technologies. This is another example of our operations teams commitment to embracing the newest technologies. This will streamline maintenance and repairs which will minimise our downtime for clients.”

In Japan, Fujiplus Inc. was another firm to trial HP xRServices powered by Microsoft Hololens with its HP Indigo 12K Digital Press.

“HP’s xRServices is futuristic, and therefore very appealing to us,” a spokesperson of Fujiplus Inc. said.

“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.”

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