This move follows closely behind Apple's foray into the AR domain with its upcoming Vision Pro headset, set to launch next month.

Almer's Arc headset facilitates collaboration with remote individuals, creating an experience akin to physical presence. It also augments the wearer's environment with critical information, enhancing interactions with the real world. The launch of Arc 2, Almer's latest headset, introduces an array of features including a 25MP camera, beamforming microphones, built-in speakers, and a holographic see-through screen offering eight hours of battery life. Weighing just 138 grams, the Arc 2 is significantly lighter than Apple's Vision Pro, being four times lighter. The Arc 2's fully transparent display makes it suitable for mission-critical tasks and variable environments, contrasting with the Vision Pro, designed primarily for static indoor settings.

The partnership promises to broaden TeamViewer's horizons in unexplored industrial sectors, while enabling Almer to expand its operations and propel AR adoption.

Mei Dent, Chief Product & Technology Officer at TeamViewer: “Approximately 80% of the global workforce does not work at a desk but at a company’s frontline, and most of them currently benefit very little from digital transformation. There is immense potential for efficiency and productivity gains by enhancing the frontline work with digital tools and connecting this huge part of the global workforce to their companies' backend system. Our joint offering with Almer allows companies to explore how augmented reality opens new opportunities for business and operations and massively increases the speed of their digitalisation efforts.”

Almer, established in 2021 by Sebastian Beetschen and Timon Binder, aims to transcend the limitations of conventional AR devices. Sebastian's experience with Microsoft Research's Hololens 2 and Timon's background as a former jet fighter pilot, familiar with AR helmets, culminated in the creation of the Almer Arc headset.

Sebastian Beetschen, CEO, and Co-Founder of Almer commented: “Our headset is much like a jet fighter visor, mounted directly in front of your eyes, featuring a transparent, see-through screen. The Almer Arc is a lightweight, compact, and easy-to-use AR headset. When a problem arises, the frontline worker takes the Almer Arc and contacts a remote expert, who can see and hear what the worker experiences. The expert identifies the issue, highlights objects, and displays documentation in the worker's view, simulating a collaborative, in-person experience.”

Currently, Almer serves 21 clients, including Switzerland's largest defence contractor for remote servicing of fighter jets in the US, and various international machine manufacturers. Almer is a venture-backed startup, having raised $7.6m from strategic investors like engineering behemoth Stena and manufacturing pioneers Helbling, among others. The team comprises elite professionals from computer vision and microtechnology, hailing from prestigious Swiss institutes, ETH and EPFL.

The global augmented reality market is expected to surge from $62.75 billion in 2023 to $1.1 trillion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 50.7%. This growth includes the AR headset market, projected to reach $120 billion by 2026. Almer initially targets the Swiss industry, with plans to extend into the DACH region and eventually worldwide.

Beetschen added: “The cost saving potential of using AR to service all installed machines for the 10 largest tooling-machine manufacturers in DACH alone accounts for £7.9 billion per year. So, the opportunity is very real.”