augmentable - revolutionizing 3D collaboration

On this product page I would like to take the opportunity to present the online collaboration plattform augmentable. In the whole development time of approximately 1.5 years, I led the development and design in my role as CDO and CTO and gave everything to make it a unique, effective and easy to use tool.
We have used augmentable in many different projects, sold workflow tools to Adidas and to this day we use augmentable in the weltfern studio.

Introduction

augmentable.online is a state-of-the-art online platform to create and share high quality 3D assets. It combines cutting-edge browsing technologies to provide a smooth and immersive virtual collaborative experience. This case study examines the development process, key features and transformative impact of augmentable.online on 3D content creation and remote collaboration.

Background

augmentable.online was born out of a collaboration between weltfern and Adidas to create a tool that required a persistent, real-time quality verification platform. Existing solutions were not of a high enough quality or were designed as a mass application for fulfilment rather than quality control, with no feedback features and therefore a lot of email traffic.

Approach and Methodology

In developing augmentable.online, I took a comprehensive approach to ensure effectiveness and a focus on user-centric design. Product development began with a deep analysis of the challenges faced by remote teams and the limitations of existing 3D collaboration tools. In addition, working directly with Adidas provided constant feedback from one of the industry's leading companies. These insights guided the definition of the platform's key features and functions.

With my multidisciplinary team, I conducted iterative design sprints that included user feedback and testing at every stage. This agile development process enabled rapid prototyping and refinement of key elements of the platform, resulting in an optimised user experience. The collaboration between weltfern and adidas made it possible to align the platform's capabilities with adidas' specific requirements, especially with regard to the digitalisation of products for the online shopping experience.

My vision for the platform was the opportunity to achieve a unique position as a start-up that would increase the value of the company. To sum up, I wanted to launch a tool that had never been seen before, both in Germany and worldwide.

Key Features

1. Virtual Workspace: augmentable.online provides a virtual workspace where teams can collaborate seamlessly. The environment accommodates different project needs and provides collaborative workspaces.
2. Real-time communication: Chat functionality within the virtual environment facilitates real-time communication. The platform supports real-time annotations and tasks, enhancing visual communication and idea sharing.
3. Objects and Tools: augmentable.online offers an extensive library of tools to enhance collaboration. These include 3D models, whiteboards, sticky notes and file sharing capabilities, enabling teams to work together creatively and efficiently.
4. Integration: Seamless integration with popular productivity tools such as project management software and document sharing platforms ensures a smooth workflow transition for teams using established tools.

In the following section we have introduced this new digital workflow and achieved some great results, even under very tight deadlines. To find out how effective a tool is, you need to turn the clock from hours to minutes and put everything on one production card.

augmentable automotive showcase

There are many advantages to using a web-based workflow. You can make decisions and act in real time.
augmentable.online has been absolutely convincing and I highly recommend keeping an eye on all your assets at all times in production, especially when it comes to 3D elements!
See the 3D Content section for more details on how to ensure each asset meets high-end requirements.

augmentable live sessions

In the period between the release and the first placement, I recorded a handful of "live sessions" using augmentable to demo the platform and explain how to work with it. In general, and for me personally, this presentation has been and still is crucial to fully understand what is possible with augmentable.online in detail!

Please note: these are not super polished product presentation videos, as I was mainly interessed in a authentic presentation of the features.

CAD in Realtime | augmentable live

I don't think we'll ever get to a perfectly flawless workflow, CAD is still different from polygons, you're going to have to make it work. But once you've gone through a big production, anything that makes things easier is a relief! Once you have a quality control tool like augmentable in the middle of your production, things change!

Realistic materials in AR | augmentable live

Create 3D Content

3D digital products - realistic and interactive directly in the browser

3D digital products - realistic and interactive directly in the browser

You can use the details page and change cards to track all changes and manage them as Kanban-style tasks. In this way, you can safely move even high-end assets from first version to release.

Mark a Changespot

You can mark change requests on the 3D model, which can be further defined in change cards by simply left-clicking on a card in the viewer.

In this example, I noticed that the glass looks a bit too black.

Define the Changecard

Change cards work like tasks and provide the opportunity for more context. You can also target the creator or provider of the 3D model directly with a checklist of explicit changes, for example.

3D models, produced better then ever before, reaching a new level of quality.

Continuous production improvements

For Artists / Provider

As a 3D asset creator, it is important to have a reference viewer that correctly displays both animations and material values. We designed the viewer interface to allow drag-and-drop functionality in the right-hand pane, while allowing all other models and versions to be loaded through the compact CMS. The extensible viewer interface is the core element that is used and relied upon to create stunning 3D models for any online store, game or interactive XR application.

For Producer / Organizations

At the producer level, it's a matter of being as time-critical as possible and sometimes intervening when material values don't look right. augmentable's viewer is powerful, realistic and easy to use for exchanging feedback and applying HDRI backgrounds. This way, 3D models provided by a freelancer or artist can be closely observed. Material values can be adjusted via the viewer settings. If necessary, a new version can be added for lookdev.

Tailored to user requirements

Depending on the user role, you can customise the platform to work with or without the asset database and details page.

Visualize AR Content

Digital products in 3D - realistic and performant directly in your reality

The way we present products on websites has changed a lot over time. What used to be zoomable images became videos and now 3D products. The interaction time is crucial for increasing sales of products online. With 3D viewer and augmented reality features, sellers can boost the interaction time by up to 70%! These features allow users to see the products in 3D from different angles and even place them in their own environment using their phones camera.

Augmented Reality has the power to bring virtual assets into your world.

Therefore, the hidden main feature and purpose of this online platform is To present 3D content online as realistically as possible in augmented reality. The main effort for the production is to make it as easy as possible to add a viewer module to an online shop, but it is not so easy to digitise the products.

Exactly like in a product shoot, it is essential that the product looks perfect and validates a purchase decision for the user. To visualize it in augmentable, you can either scan the QR code or click the link. Any AR capable smartphone, tablet or similar device now allows to place the asset in the real world.

Allowing digital products become a physical experience

Impact and Results

The introduction of augmentable.online has had a transformative impact on organizations and individuals engaged in remote work and virtual collaboration:

1. Enhanced Collaboration: augmentable has broken down geographical barriers, enabling global teams to work together effectively.
2. Increased productivity: Real-time collaboration in an immersive virtual environment reduces communication gaps and increases productivity. This dynamic workspace encourages creativity and innovation, resulting in improved project outcomes.
3. Cost savings: By eliminating the need for physical office space and reducing travel expenses, organisations using augmentable.online experience significant cost savings. The platform enables flexible working arrangements, optimising operational efficiency.
4. Improved balance: augmentable.online provides employees with flexible working options, leading to an improved work-life balance. This flexibility contributes to higher job satisfaction, increased retention and overall well-being. operational efficiency.

WIP of the interactive 3D library with search function and direct preview - via click in the 3D viewer

Next step...

Web3 is just around the corner, and thanks to the incredible hype surrounding topics such as the metaverse, the importance of 3D assets for ROI is actually being understood, at least to some extent.

I Applied user feedback to add depth and breadth. Due to Adidas' requirements, we focused mainly on advanced features such as remeshing, which is not an important aspect. Instead, the focus should be on extending it as a collaboration platform and, most importantly, on the main benefits and usage. For weltfern as a studio, augmentable is a wonderful tool to show production status, discuss 3D assets and even attract customers with the augmented reality features.

Conclusion

With its immersive features and seamless integration, augmentable.online has redefined collaboration and increased productivity. Through its visionary approach and user-centric design, it is a unique solution that enables 3D production, enabling organisations and market leaders to thrive in the digital age.