Best AR Remote Assistance Software for Industrial Operations

ContinuumAR is an AR remote assistance platform built specifically for industrial teams using purpose-built AR headsets. The field application runs on the RealWear Navigator 500, Navigator 520, HMT-1, and Six15 ST1-RA — Android-based, voice-operated headsets designed for noisy industrial environments. The remote expert connects through a Windows web application.

What distinguishes ContinuumAR from most alternatives is the operational infrastructure surrounding the call. Every session is attached to a ticket. The ticket tracks status, captures notes, links related issues, and provides a full audit record exportable to CSV or PDF. A rule-based checklist engine runs structured workflows during field sessions, with conditional triggers, mandatory completion gates, and locked states that enforce procedural compliance. An AI assistant handles natural-language queries about ticket status and session summaries without navigating separate menus.

ContinuumAR is cloud-based and operational in minutes. It does not require on-premises infrastructure and does not support iOS, Android smartphones, or devices outside of purpose-built AR headsets on the field side. For teams that have standardised on RealWear or Six15 hardware and need ticket management and workflow tools integrated with AR calling, rather than bought and integrated separately, ContinuumAR is built for that specific context.

Platform overview →

TeamViewer Frontline is the most comprehensive connected worker platform in this comparison. It covers AR remote assistance through its xAssist module, but also includes xInspect for guided maintenance, xMake for assembly workflows, and xPick for warehouse order picking. For organisations that need all of these under one commercial arrangement, that scope justifies the complexity.

Frontline supports a broad device range: Android, iOS, Windows, and multiple smart glass platforms including RealWear, Vuzix, Google Glass Enterprise Edition, and HoloLens 2. It has certified partnerships with SAP, Siemens, Microsoft, and Manhattan Associates for direct ERP integration. Deployment is available cloud or on-premises, with a structured solution delivery engagement typically required for full rollouts.

The platform is best suited for large enterprises with complex, multi-module requirements and the technical resources to implement and maintain it. For a team whose primary need is focused AR remote assistance with ticket management, the platform's modularity adds overhead without a proportional payoff.

ContinuumAR vs TeamViewer Frontline →

Scope AR WorkLink combines AR work instructions and remote assistance on a single platform, with a content authoring system that accepts CAD file imports and produces 3D spatially-anchored work instructions. It is the strongest option on this list for organisations that have existing CAD libraries and need to turn them into step-by-step AR procedures for field technicians.

WorkLink supports iOS, Android, Windows, and AR headsets, giving it broader device coverage than ContinuumAR. The remote assistance calling feature allows technicians to escalate from a self-directed work instruction to a live expert call within the same session. Content authoring requires an investment of time, and Scope AR offers structured on-site training to help organisations build their AR content libraries.

WorkLink does not include ticket management. Session recordings and images are saved for reference but are not organised within a ticket lifecycle system. For teams that need case management alongside AR calling, supplementary tools are required.

ContinuumAR vs Scope AR WorkLink →

Librestream Onsight has been in the market since 2003 and has accumulated a set of capabilities that no other platform in this comparison fully matches for extreme operating environments. It runs at 30 kbps minimum bandwidth, includes an offline mode for digital work instructions when connectivity is absent entirely, and supports live IoT sensor data overlay through the Onsight Hub accessory. For operations on offshore platforms, remote pipeline corridors, or mine sites where satellite connections are the norm, Onsight's bandwidth floor is a practical operational capability.

Onsight also includes live language translation during calls, which is relevant for multinational operations. The platform runs across wearables, smartphones, tablets, PCs, and Onsight's own proprietary accessories. It has been deployed at Safran, Volvo Trucks, Raytheon Technologies, and Lockheed Martin, among others.

Onsight does not include a ticket management system in the field service sense. Session knowledge is stored in Onsight Workspace, its knowledge base product, and digital work instructions are executed via Onsight Flow. For teams that manage a volume of open cases and need a ticket-to-resolution audit trail, that structure requires supplementary tools.

ContinuumAR vs Librestream Onsight →

Help Lightning's defining capability is Merged Reality, a patented feature that blends two live video streams so the remote expert's hands and physical objects appear within the technician's environment during the call. No other platform on this list offers this. For use cases where physical demonstration, grip technique, or component handling needs to be communicated in real time, the merged view reduces back-and-forth more efficiently than annotation alone.

Help Lightning runs on iOS, Android, mobile browsers, web expert stations, and supported smart glass environments. It targets large enterprises and reports over 90 Fortune 500 customers. It has a Salesforce AppExchange listing for direct CRM integration. Its AI tools include IntelliAssist for asset recognition and smart knowledge folders, as well as value analytics for tracking resolution metrics.

Help Lightning does not include native ticket management. It is built around the call and the surrounding knowledge assets rather than a case lifecycle. For enterprises with existing FSM or CRM systems, the integration model is sufficient. For teams without existing case management infrastructure, additional tooling is required.

ContinuumAR vs Help Lightning →

Vuforia Chalk was discontinued by PTC on October 31, 2025, following PTC's acquisition of ServiceMax. Chalk's capabilities — persistent spatially-anchored AR annotations, minimal setup, and support for iOS, Android, and RealWear headsets — have been consolidated into ServiceMax Zinc. If you were using Chalk, PTC's directed migration path is Zinc.

For teams that valued Chalk's simplicity and do not want to move into the broader ServiceMax FSM ecosystem, the independent market now offers more direct options. ContinuumAR covers the core Chalk use case for teams on AR headsets and adds ticket management and workflow capabilities that Chalk did not include.

Migration guide: Chalk alternatives →