Integration Barriers for Augmented Reality are Lessening as Digitization Quickens, with AR Integration-Related Revenue Expected to Grow at a 50% CAGR through 2027

According to global technology intelligence firm ABI Research, total revenue in Systems Integration and Platform & Licensing for Augmented Reality (AR) will reach over US$50 billion by 2027. This is driven by increasing digitization efforts broadly across enterprises, with augmented reality increasingly a part of these efforts.

“Integration has been a sticking point for many companies implementing augmented reality,” says Eric Abbruzzese, Research Director at ABI Research. “Every company is at a different stage of digitization, with different platform needs. There is no universal approach for an AR integration as a result, and so AR platform players have made integration and customer flexibility a priority. This has been joined with shifting business models and go to market thinking, as SaaS offerings and more horizontal market approaches better service these priorities.”

As companies digitize, more systems are available to integrate with and would be valuable to do so—IoT, data lakes and AI, PLM/ERM, MDMs, and more. These systems can provide value to an AR user, and the AR user can also empower these systems with user-level data capture. This two-way relationship is rare and incredibly potent but takes some integration effort to work. Connectivity, security, device management, and data compatibility must all be accounted for.

Some companies have realized the value of all-in-one solution portfolios that include AR. PTC, Siemens, SAP, Oracle, and Autodesk are notable operators that expand AR with IoT, PLM, CRM, CAD, and other capabilities under one roof. By still offering third party integration, customers have the freedom to mix and match platforms for their unique and changing needs. More specialized AR players have ensured interoperability with non-AR solutions as well, often including professional services to ensure a smooth implementation.

Some AR use cases can deliver significant value with little to no integration—such as remote expertise—but every use case is improved with deeper integration. “Platform providers and systems integrators are adjusting to a dynamic AR market, with unique needs for every end customer, by prioritizing flexibility. Cloud-native and As-a-Service solutions can scale and shift quickly with customer needs while ensuring cross-compatible operation. As enterprises digitize quickly that flexibility is critical to support differing priorities. Flexibility, however, cannot come at the expense of platform providers’ depth of expertise and capabilities,” Abbruzzese concludes.

These findings are from ABI Research’s Maximizing Augmented Reality Value through Integration report. This report is part of the company’s Augmented and Virtual Reality research service, which includes research, data, and ABI Insights.