Apple Bringing Spatial Computing to Business With Vision Pro

The world of extended reality (XR) has been described as being at a tipping point. While search traffic for the word ‘Metaverse’ has significantly fallen as hype for the technology is replaced by enthusiasm for generative AI (Gen AI), businesses are increasingly adopting metaverse technology like virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), which could help the industry swell to US$615bn in value by 2030. 

Along with entertainment uses for consumers, these technologies are already being used in industrial contexts, with manufacturers harnessing metaverse technology to digitise difficult physical processes, ranging from the design and engineering of physical products to planning and operating physical factories and warehouses through digital twin technology. 

Now, as the debate continues about how these technologies will impact the future of work, Apple has announced how its Vision Pro is bringing a new era of spatial computing to business, revealing how it is working with companies such as Microsoft, SAP, Nvidia, Zoom and Porsche to transform operations.

"There's tremendous opportunity for businesses to reimagine what's possible using Apple Vision Pro at work," said Susan Prescott, Apple's Vice President of Worldwide Developer Relations and Enterprise Marketing. "We're thrilled to see the innovative ways organizations are already using Apple Vision Pro, from planning fire response operations to iterating on the most intricate details of an engine design – and this is just the beginning."

Apple Vision Pro: How spatial computing is transforming the world of business

For decades, Apple has been a trusted partner for businesses of all sizes, providing innovative products and services that power the world's leading companies. Now, with the introduction of its Apple Vision Pro, the company is poised to once again transform the way businesses operate.

Powered by the visionOS operating system and custom Apple silicon, the Vision Pro features an ultra-high-resolution display system and advanced machine learning and AI capabilities. This enables a range of powerful enterprise applications, from enhanced productivity and collaboration to immersive training and guided workflows.

Leading enterprise software providers, including SAP, Cisco and Zoom, have already embraced the Vision Pro and are delivering innovative solutions that leverage the power of spatial computing. These applications are powering businesses to reimagine their workflows, unlock new insights and drive greater efficiencies.

SAP Analytics Cloud, for example, helps streamline the process of gathering, integrating, analysing and presenting data-driven insights to enhance business decision-making. On Apple Vision Pro, the app enables employees and executives to immediately access their data dashboard and arrange their most critical business workflows, apps and cards, while being able to drill down into data with contextual 3D maps and graphics to gain new insights. With the latest SDK release for developers, the SAP Business Technology Platform fully supports Apple Vision Pro. Customers and partners can now deploy their SAP apps to Vision Pro, alongside iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.

“Apple Vision Pro is a revolutionary device, and we are thrilled to leverage the capabilities of spatial computing with SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP Mobile Start,” said Philipp Herzig, Chief AI Officer at SAP. “Going forward, we see the power of visionOS combined with generative AI being a force multiplier for enterprises. SAP Analytics Cloud running on Apple Vision Pro will help our customers discover all-new insights from complex data with powerful and intuitive processes that supercharge their business planning. And with SAP Mobile Start, we provide access to all of SAP’s business applications and workflows in unimaginable ways.”

Microsoft 365 productivity apps and AI companion Copilot built for Apple Vision Pro also promise to help users get more done in powerful new ways. Focus mode in Word allows users to write without distraction; graph, manipulate, and visualise data in sharp, crisp detail in Excel; and immerse themselves in a slideshow with PowerPoint. Switching between meetings, chats, and shared content is easy in Teams – along with accessing the assistance of Copilot – with life-size windows that can be arranged in the user's space.

“Spatial computing has enabled us to rethink how professionals can be productive and work intelligently with the power of AI,” said Nicole Herskowitz, vice president, Microsoft 365 and Teams. “With Microsoft 365 and Teams on Apple Vision Pro, your office moves with you, allowing users to view apps side by side on an infinite canvas with spatial computing for incredible multitasking and collaboration.”

In other innovations announced by Apple, Webex by Cisco brings an immersive and intuitive meeting experience that fills the space and utilises Personas and Spatial Audio for a more natural video conferencing experience, while Zoom provides an experience built for Apple Vision Pro with exceptional audio and video quality, giving users the ability to easily collaborate and schedule meetings.

The future of design and collaboration

As Apple explains, spatial computing opens up opportunities for product design, retail planning, and construction modelling, enabling new experiences for customers to engage with products and services.

Apple Vision Pro has already helped Porsche engineers visualise car data in real time, bringing critical metrics like speed and braking alongside track conditions and car positioning, combined with live video from the car’s dashboard. In February, Porsche broke the U.S. record for electric vehicles at Laguna Seca with the new Porsche Taycan Turbo GT, while the engineers tracked along using Vision Pro. This can also expand track experiences for fans around the world.

“At Porsche, we’ve always been driven by dreams, and Apple Vision Pro has enabled us to reimagine track experiences,” said Oliver Blume, Porsche’s CEO. “The new Porsche Taycan Turbo GT is the ultimate all-electric performance car, and, fittingly, we were thrilled to bring the best of German engineering and Apple’s inspiring product innovation together with the Race Engineer app.”

Design and manufacturing processes are complex and involve large amounts of data from various sources. Nvidia Omniverse Cloud APIs let developers stream massive 3D engineering and simulation data sets from the cloud to Apple Vision Pro. The high-resolution displays and powerful sensors built into Vision Pro enable developers and designers to create detailed, immersive renderings and visuals that can be viewed and manipulated in real time.

“The world’s industries are racing to build digital twins of products, facilities, and processes to better test and optimise designs well before constructing them in the physical world,” said Rev Lebaredian, Nvidia’s vice president of Omniverse and Simulation Technology. “Enterprises can now combine the power and capabilities of Apple Vision Pro and the physically accurate renderings of OpenUSD content with Nvidia accelerated computing to power the next generation of immersive digital experiences.”

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