What do you do if your AR team members lack the necessary resources and support to succeed?

AR is a very dynamic field. There is no one solution that fits all. If you are developing an AR solution, there are some things which you should keep in mind. There are different types of AR which cater to different needs, such as projection-based AR or 6DoF AR. One needs to understand what the required solution to the problem they are addressing is. What hardware are we targeting? Does it have sufficient computing power to run such applications? Should it run on the web or should there be a dedicated app? When we ask such questions, the problem gets clearer. We start here, and then we identify if we need Unity, React, or Apple dev kit. Depending on the project timeline, should we focus on SDKs or build our custom tools.

The field of Augmented Reality is developing at such a rapid pace (& in so many technical, practical & even ethical directions) that it's impossible for even large teams to keep up with every emerging requirement. It is a sign of a strong team & leadership to be able to pinpoint & admit to knowledge or skills gaps & to quickly find, vet & integrate appropriate third party specialists into that team - even if they are from outside of the field of AR (eg. Artificial Intelligence specialists or experienced SMEs from the indistry or use case in which the AR will be employed) In the short term these new skills and perspectives will deliver a better product for the users, in the ling term it will develop your teams capability and understanding.

As I explained in my book "Exploring the Metaverse", future tech (AR VR..and more) adoption s need open ecosystem and partnerships. Innovation in corner may not be a strategy. Collective innovation will be the thing. Work in collaboration, and be in the win-win, and fill the gap each other and adopt ethnically and responsibly.

continuous learning and keeping up with the tech is key as your team evolves. Invest in the same. Have a dedicated fund for the same where the team can explore various courses, and attend workshops and conferences. One must remember that this is a long-term commitment towards growth and embracing this mindset enables individuals to adapt to change, seize new opportunities .

Effective learning comes with community where like minded joins hand to upskill each other, and utilize learning in hobby projects, contribute in open sources. This what I have experimented in my organization over the years. We have Community of Practices and interest groups, driving XR adaptation forward.

Empower your AR team by providing access to training resources and mentorship programs. Foster a culture of continuous learning within the team to enhance skills and capabilities. This investment not only addresses current resource gaps but also cultivates a more resilient and adaptable team for future challenges.

I would sit with my team to get to know where each of them stand, even if I’m on the other side of the coin, I’d the same to be done. If I know something that I could reach the others I would. One thing I’ve come to realise is that the best people to learn from are our peers and the ones who are sailing in the same boat as ours.

As a specialized field with advancing technology, the focus should be on recognizing AR skill deficiencies and addressing them through online courses, certifications, and industry workshops. Offer access to AR development tools such as Unity, Unreal, dedicated time for experimentation, and AR project challenges. Encourage team members to keep abreast of the newest AR developments via industry publications or blogs.

One time, I developed a project in 3 days that would have normally taken weeks to complete if that would have been a client project. The difference was that it was a personal project and I set the expectations and workflow direction that the project was going to take from the beginning. All I had to do later was just follow it and it was done brilliantly. The same concept applies to a team as well. Define the scope and processes for the project beforehand and follow it, modify it along the way if needed.

Look for opportunities to streamline workflows within your AR team. Implement agile methodologies to adapt quickly and maximize productivity. By simplifying processes, your team can overcome resource constraints and achieve consistent progress towards project goals.

Here are few things which will help the team to thing out of the box a. Encourage the team to understand industry trends and competition. b. Promote calculated risks and learning from failures. Organize hackathons or innovation challenges. c. Establish cross-functional teams and knowledge-sharing sessions. d. Attend AR conferences and analyze competitor work to stay ahead. e. Provide tools, resources, and autonomy for innovative ideas. f.Lastly, prioritize mentoring and training.

Right communication wins great battles . Listen actively to your teams needs and offer support accordingly. Encourage an open house so that people can effectively layout there needs and a plan can be made for them .