The Puratos Group has unveiled the Digital AdvisAR, an app that instantly connects bakers, patissiers and chocolatiers to Puratos experts via augmented reality (AR) to help with trouble-shooting and problem-solving. 

Puratos says Digital AdvisAR is a fast, user-friendly and sustainable solution for customers seeking immediate expert advice on recipe, technical and quality challenges. The launch of Digital AdvisAR is in addition to Puratos’ technical support offering and plays an important role in the company’s digitalization strategy.

With 600 technical experts located across 71 countries worldwide, Puratos has a far-reaching in-person technical customer support offering. However, the need for new ways to support customers rose rapidly up the agenda when lockdowns worldwide put a stop on most travel.

“Although many businesses have initiated digitalization strategies in response to the pandemic, this idea began before that, back in November 2019,” states Christophe Surdiacourt, group customer technical support director, Puratos. “It was inspired by a Harvard Business Review article advocating the use of AR strategy in many more types of business because of its benefits for customer interaction. As digitalization is already a core part of our growth strategy at Puratos, we were excited to explore the opportunity and develop an app that could align with our customers’ needs for speed, quality and efficiency. We’re thrilled that we can now respond so fast to guide and support them through their challenges, wherever they are.”

Digital AdvisAR can be downloaded from customers’ usual app stores. When help is needed, as long as they have an internet connection, they contact the Puratos team through the app. Using a link they quickly receive, they are connected with an expert and are receiving AR support within minutes. Puratos’ technical advisor can see what the customer is seeing through their device, discuss it, draw on screen and visually demonstrate where the problem is and how to resolve it in a timely manner. When required, additional Puratos colleagues can also join, such as experts in a particular application. Enhanced technical support, with Microsoft’s HoloLens, is also available. Customers will continue to receive in-person visits from technical advisors if issues cannot be resolved virtually.

Digital AdvisAR was tested in several countries during the pandemic and will be launched first in Austria, Brazil, France, Italy, Turkey and the U.S. The app is available in the user’s language and features universally user-friendly icons to navigate. Puratos plans to extend this support tool to all other countries of operation to ensure that all customers are fully supported in the most efficient way possible.

“Today’s bakers, patissiers and chocolatiers are exceptionally skilled, but even the most experienced may occasionally encounter technical problems that could impact business,” Surdiacourt said. “With the increasing digitalization of our technical service, customers will now have the option of first receiving virtual support with more flexibility and without the need to wait for an expert to arrive. This is more than an investment for Puratos, and we can’t wait for our customers to benefit from this new tool.”