Short answer: Belron, the worldwide vehicle glass repair and replacement group, selected Blitzz running on Vuzix M300 Smart Glasses to give its technicians in select US and UK markets hands-free remote video assistance. Field technicians could connect directly to master technicians, share what they see and get guidance without stopping work. Blitzz also joined the Vuzix Industrial Partner (VIP) program as part of the announcement.
This is an archived company announcement. Facts about Belron and Vuzix reflect the time of the original release.
Belron will be deploying M300 Smart Glasses into select markets in the US and UK to provide remote video assistance to its vehicle glass repair technicians using Blitzz.
Blitzz, a new Vuzix Industrial Partner (VIP), provides a mobile platform that helps users quickly deploy a video powered remote assistance and collaboration application without any technical development. Blitzz uses AI-powered workflow algorithms and offers equipment specific predictive support.
"We were seeking a hands-free remote telepresence solution to assist our windshield and automotive body repair service technicians to continually drive quality of service and improve turnaround times. Using Blitzz on the Vuzix M300 Smart Glasses will allow our company to collaborate and exchange documents and connect our field technicians directly to our master technicians from anywhere around the globe," commented Kelly Francis, Innovation Solutions Manager at Belron.
"We are excited to have been selected as a key technology provider by Belron, a global organization known for their innovation and exceptional customer service. In addition, we officially welcome Blitzz to the Vuzix Industrial Partner program and look forward to expanding our business relationship across their extensive customer base. Collaboration tools like Blitzz allow Belron and organizations like them to exponentially expand their ability to transfer information from the remote, senior experts directly to the front-line field technicians, as a means of delivering next-gen customer and field service," said Paul Boris, COO of Vuzix.
Smart-glasses remote support puts a camera and a small display on the technician's head. The technician streams a first-person view of the job to a remote expert. The expert sees exactly what the technician sees and talks them through the work.
Because the device is worn, the technician keeps both hands free. They do not need to hold a phone, prop up a tablet or stop to take photos.
Smart glasses are not the right tool for every call. They make the most sense in specific situations.
| Situation | Smart glasses | Phone or tablet video |
| Technician needs both hands on the repair | Strong fit | Harder, device must be held or mounted |
| Trained employee in the field | Strong fit | Good fit |
| Customer or homeowner on the other end | Not practical, they will not own glasses | Strong fit, join from a link in the mobile browser |
| Short, occasional questions | Can be more setup than needed | Strong fit |
| Repeated, hands-on procedures | Strong fit | Workable |
For vehicle glass and body repair, the case is clear. The technician is working with tools on a windshield or panel and needs to keep both hands on the job while a master technician advises.
The same idea, connecting the person on site to an expert who can see the problem, now applies across many devices. With Blitzz, customers and technicians join a live video session from a text or email link in their mobile browser, with no app download.
Experts can use an on-screen pointer, markup and augmented reality guidance, bring in another specialist with a multi-party call, and save photos and video to the record with time and location data. Sessions work on weak connections, which matters in garages, basements and rural sites.
Vuzix is a leading supplier of Smart-Glasses and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies and products for the consumer and enterprise markets. The company's products include personal display and wearable computing devices that offer users a portable high-quality viewing experience and provide solutions for mobility, wearable displays and augmented reality.
At the time of the announcement, Vuzix held 65 patents and 44 additional patents pending and numerous IP licenses in the Video Eyewear field. The company has won Consumer Electronics Show (CES) awards for innovation for the years 2005 to 2018 and several wireless technology innovation awards. Founded in 1997, Vuzix is a public company (VUZI) with offices in Rochester, NY, Oxford, UK and Tokyo, Japan.
Belron makes a difference by solving people's problems with real care. It is the worldwide leader in vehicle glass repair and replacement with brands including Carglass®, Safelite® and Autoglass®.
Building on its existing capability and expertise, Belron is expanding its services to focus on solving problems for people who need assistance with damage repairs to their vehicles and their homes. In 2017, Belron acquired several businesses carrying out Automotive Damage Repair and Replacement (ADRR) and Home Damage Repair and Replacement (HDRR). It also manages vehicle glass and other insurance claims on behalf of insurance customers. Belron served 16.5 million consumers in 2017 in 34 countries, with a focus on service quality.
Belron deployed Vuzix M300 Smart Glasses running Blitzz in select markets in the US and UK, so vehicle glass repair technicians could get hands-free remote video assistance from master technicians.
It is the Vuzix program for software partners whose applications run on Vuzix smart glasses for enterprise use. Blitzz joined the program as part of this announcement.
No. Smart glasses help when the technician needs both hands free. For most customer-facing calls, a phone works well because the customer can join from a link with no app download.
Industries where technicians work with tools on equipment or vehicles, such as automotive repair, field service and equipment maintenance, see the clearest benefit.
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