Even better than the real thing

”Seeing is believing” is the effect Kalmar is striving for with its new augmented reality app “Kalmar XP”, developed in partnership with Vobling’s Stockholm office.

With this app, users can see Kalmar’s products - currently the medium electric forklift - in the actual environment it will be used.

“With solutions and products weighing up to more than a hundred tons, finding tools to showcase them and help our customers make the right decision without adding cost or having a negative impact on the environment are crucial for us,” says Alexander Engsund, Digital Business Developer at Kalmar.

Focusing on and developing the features is what has been invaluable, according to Engsund.

“The app gives the user the chance to experience the view from the cabin, which from a safety perspective, is very important in our industry. Customers can also see the turning radius of the machine, which helps them to manage their space in an optimal way before even having the machine on site.”

“The app gives the user the chance to experience the view from the cabin, which from a safety perspective, is very important in our industry."

Ensuring safe decisions

While the first product to employ the app is the medium electric 16 ton forklift, the app can also be used to showcase components, such as charger and batteries, as well as the rest of Kalmar’s product portfolio.

Kalmar is constantly examining new technologies, and that includes virtual and augmented reality solutions. Last fall, the company began the development of its AR app and the purpose of it was crystal clear to Kalmar from the very beginning: to create a unique buying eXPerience for their customers to ensure their ability to make safe decisions.

“We believe this will not only speed up the process for the customer, but also increase the accuracy and pose less harm to the environment as fewer machines will need to be shipped for demo purposes,” says Engsund.

Kalmar developed the app on a platform created by Vobling. The work began in the fall of 2019, and it was finished just four months later. It was then tested for over a month in four markets - Austria, Germany, Sweden, and the UK - by selected sales people.

“The response was excellent. Our sales force could truly see the value in using this technique, and after that we were showered with ideas for further developments,” Engsund says.

“We believe this will not only speed up the process for the customer, but also increase the accuracy and pose less harm to the environment."

Giving clients a better understanding of the product

In the current situation with Covid-19  when Kalmar’s sales people are unable to meet with their customers in person to the extent they are used to doing, the app makes it easier for customers to study the vehicle and to get a better understanding of how it will operate in their own environment.

“It’s not a miracle app, but it will make the sales process easier and smoother. It’s going to give our clients a better understanding of the product and it’s going to help our sales people, for example, to guide the customer over the phone,” Engsund adds.

The app is today available on both App Store and Google Play Store.

The plan is to expand the app’s scope by adding products and features where AR can be helpful.

“The first step is to add more product types, followed by more value adding features,” Engsund explains.

All in all, Engsund is pleased with the project.

“I wasn’t sure how our customers would respond to it. I was a little concerned that some people might think it was too complicated, but that wasn’t the case. To the contrary, all you need is a mobile phone or a tablet, and the benefits become crystal clear to you,” he concludes.