Extended Reality (XR) revolutioniert die Art, wie wir arbeiten, lernen und kommunizieren. Doch während Unternehmen immersive Technologien für Training, Meetings oder Produktpräsentationen nutzen, bleibt eine entscheidende Frage oft unbeantwortet:
Wie sicher sind die Daten dabei wirklich?
Warum Unternehmen XR & Datenschutz ernst nehmen sollten
📌 Gesichtserkennung, Bewegungsprofile, Blickverlauf – XR-Technologien sammeln weit mehr Daten als klassische digitale Tools. Die Gefahr: Unternehmen laufen unbewusst Gefahr, sensible Informationen preiszugeben oder Datenschutzrichtlinien zu verletzen.
📌 Regulatorischer Druck wächst – Die EU-Datenschutzgrundverordnung (DSGVO) sowie weltweite Datenschutzgesetze werden strenger. Unternehmen, die XR nutzen, müssen sicherstellen, dass ihre Anwendungen rechtskonform sind – sonst drohen Bußgelder und Reputationsverluste.
📌 Vertrauen schaffen, Compliance sichern – Kunden, Partner und Mitarbeitende erwarten, dass ihre Daten geschützt werden. Unternehmen, die hier mit klaren Richtlinien agieren, haben einen Wettbewerbsvorteil und vermeiden rechtliche Risiken.
Wie Unternehmen XR sicher nutzen können
💡 Welche Daten werden in XR erfasst?
Von biometrischen Informationen über Raumerfassung bis zu Nutzerverhalten – viele Unternehmen wissen nicht, welche Daten im Hintergrund gesammelt werden.
💡 Welche Tools sind datenschutzkonform?
Nicht jede XR-Plattform ist DSGVO-konform. Welche Lösungen bieten Datenschutz-Features und worauf sollte man achten?
💡 Wie werden Daten rechtskonform verarbeitet?
Welche Maßnahmen müssen Unternehmen ergreifen, um Datenschutzrichtlinien in ihren XR-Projekten umzusetzen?
Der nächste Schritt: Sicher in der virtuellen Welt
In unserem Online-Kurs „XR & Datenschutz – Sicher in der virtuellen Welt“ erfährst du, wie du immersive Technologien verantwortungsvoll in dein Unternehmen integrierst – praxisnah und rechtssicher.
👉 Jetzt anmelden & Datenschutz zum Booster für dein XR-Projekt machen:
MDM
Meta launches Horizon managed services, a new enterprise-grade Quest MDM service with direct support from ManageXR and ArborXR
This week, major news comes from the Meta camp. Following internal calls to action to move the innovation needle, it appears that Meta is listening to its customers to make enterprise integration of the Quest portfolio easier by deepening its collaboration with major XR MDM solutions providers and delivering a new solution for enterprise Quest deployment.
Those XR MDM solutions providers are ManageXR and ArborXR, two leading firms that deliver products that allow clients to deploy fleets of headsets for various types of working environments more efficiently, with tools for managing security, sign-ins, updates, and more.
Brad Scoggin, CEO of ArborXR, explained:
Enterprises need trusted, scalable solutions to successfully deploy XR—and that’s where ArborXR comes in. By partnering with Meta, we’re bringing together best-in-class VR solutions and enterprise device management, giving organizations the confidence, security, and support they need to scale XR with ease.
Zuckerberg’s firm is launching this new service under the name ‘Meta Horizon managed services,’ uniting the Meta for Business model and migrating Meta for Education features as well. Originally, Meta for Bussiness and Education contained device management tools, but it appears these efforts are now outsourced to each integrated third-party MDM solution provider.
According to Meta’s official website pricing, the firm is offering two pricing models for businesses and education customers, clearly shifting from one enterprise-facing model to another.
Underpinning Enterprise Support
This may be a genuinely transformative move for Quest as it continues to underpin its enterprise footing, an ever-changing effort from Meta, which only just debuted Meta for Education late last year. A quick turnaround following a year of build-up for the education model, but working with third-party experts may be valuable, with ManageXR and ArborXR providing Meta with a deep understanding of the issues enterprise clients face when deploying fleets of headsets.
Moreover, Meta’s direct collaboration with third-party MDM firms to create a unified solution may be a step toward providing a headset/MDM combo that elevates the Quest portfolio above the rest as a leading enterprise headset provider.
ManageXR is now an official third-party integration with Meta Horizon managed services (formerly Quest for Business)! What does this mean for you? New Quest devices are now required to have a subscription to Meta Horizon managed services to access any third-party MDM solution. Meta released new pricing today https://lnkd.in/g43CJfAb, which includes Meta Horizon managed services for free for two years on newly purchased devices through approved resellers. We acknowledge that deploying Quests will be more expensive due to this new requirement, but we are confident that the product innovation we will achieve as a result of the partnership will be worth it. We understand that these changes may be difficult to navigate, and we are committed to supporting our customers during this time. Please reach out to support@managexr.com with any questions or concerns. How does this change benefit me? ✅ Low-touch enrollment: ManageXR can now be selected directly in Meta Horizon managed services as your preferred MDM, making device setup simple and fast. ✅ Deeper control: Unlock expanded management features to optimize your XR fleet. ✅ Innovative solutions: ManageXR and Meta now work together to bring you XR advancements like never before. Your existing Quest devices on ManageXR will be referred to as legacy devices. You can manage them as you always have, without a subscription to MHMS, but they won’t gain access to some of the newest capabilities from our collaboration with Meta. This is not a forced migration of existing devices. This change only applies to new Quests enrolled. These latest changes apply to all third-party MDM solutions supported by Meta: ArborXR, Ivanti, ManageXR, Microsoft Intune, and Omnissa Workspace ONE. https://lnkd.in/g6VEpMnF Read our blog here to learn more about what this integration means for your XR deployment. https://lnkd.in/gSaQZ7Aq And, check out our dedicated integration resource hub with answers to all your questions regarding our integration with Meta. https://lnkd.in/gxw3upBW
Additionally, with Hololens 2’s recent decline, a gap is forming for a new MR headset provider to pick up where the long-standing headset left off. Perhaps with new, deepened MDM considerations, Meta could fill that gap.
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The Wall Street Journal praises ArborXR customers UPS, Volvo and Walmart for finding a use case for virtual reality training at work.
While the consumer industry has yet to achieve widespread adoption of VR, there is a “quiet adoption” in companies all over the world that have embraced immersive technology and are seeing incredible early results.
The Wall Street Journal recently covered enterprise XR programs at leading global companies using ArborXR to deploy their initiatives. Companies like UPS, Volvo, and Walmart are tapping into immersive technology for employee training. With VR, employees can now experience workforce training in brand new ways using a range of focuses from hardware maintenance to leadership and empathy.
Many companies are beginning to adopt VR in learning and development, remote assistance, collaboration and design, and more. Some companies, like UPS and Walmart, have taken a slow but deliberate approach. At the scale of those organizations, it is important to ensure everything is tested, piloted, and secure throughout the process.
“It’s an interesting, but slower-than-expected journey. But for training — I think VR will always be a good way to use it.”
Johan Hellqvist, Head of Mobile and XR/3D at Volvo Group
So, how does employee training work in VR?
Virtual Reality At Work With Volvo
Volvo is using VR to train employees in mechanical vehicle maintenance to replicate situations that could be dangerous. Volvo employee training includes actions like replacing the battery on an electric truck.
When Volvo launched the first heavy-duty electric truck, it needed a way to safely service trucks on high voltage. Volvo valued delivering the best quality service when commissioning and decommissioning trucks and doing it safely. That’s where VR helps. With VR, Volvo could simulate dangerous conditions to teach technicians the correct safety practices and standing operating procedures with no risk. Needing to safely train over 20,000 technicians led Volvo to innovate, develop, and implement virtual reality training for work.
“Most of the technicians—middle-aged or older—are not very digital but are very technical. They have a curious mindset and are willing to try this.”
Johan Cruse, Tools and Methods Manager for Retail Learning Development at Volvo Trucks
Virtual Reality At Work With UPS
Leading the logistics industry, UPS created an Immersive Technology division in 2019 and has stayed committed to using innovative strategies for its operations.
Since integrating virtual reality into their operations, UPS has seen a 75% reduction in training time, decreasing from 8 hours of traditional mentor-led training to just 2 hours. And with that shorter duration, the company has still seen no loss in training effectiveness.
UPS also offers “pre-trip” training in VR, walking trainees through a checklist of tasks they need to complete before hitting the road. UPS is working to scale beyond drivers to other roles in the business, like package operators at logistics hubs.
UPS uses VR to train drivers in areas such as stacking packages or even handling certain situations in the field, such as a dog attack. UPS consistently uses immersive technology to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve its employee experience.
Virtual Reality At Work With Walmart
Walmart has long been a pioneer in virtual reality for employee training. The retail giant has also tapped into VR corporate training to supplement its “people-first” approach. Across more than45 activity-based VR modules, Walmart has seen a 10-15% improvement in test scores for employees.
Walmart uses VR to train its store associates in scenarios like how to interact with a frustrated customer or how to deliver groceries “in-home” or curbside according to their defined SOP. Using VR to refine associate training, the company can see clear data about which associates made right or wrong choices during the scenario.
“Doing this training in VR also gives the company more data on how associates are performing, compared with traditional methods.”
Jen Buchanan, Vice President of Walmart Academy
To scale its VR training program, Walmart had to overcome challenges like limited content, manual processes, and staging difficult-to-achieve or difficult-to-replicate situations.
It now uses an open ecosystem supported by ArborXR to power the large fleet of headsets needed to train thousands of employees. Because of this, Walmart has access and flexibility to use new tools and training content with any hardware it needs.
As an early adopter of VR training, Walmart has trained more than 1 million employees through VR.
Getting Started with Virtual Reality at Work
Launching and scaling an VR program at work is a monumental challenge for UPS, Volvo, Walmart, and companies like these. However, it is key in effectively training millions of employees across the globe. XR is especially useful if it’s used for training that is “dangerous, impossible, counterproductive, or expensive in real life,” says Jeremy Bailenson, Head of the Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab.
If you are developing XR training at an enterprise level, it is important to have the right tools, solutions, partners, and the best device management platform (MDM) for XR.
Consider what ArborXR customers have to say about finding the perfect partner to scale and manage large deployments. With tools and resources designed for enterprise, companies like UPS, Volvo, Walmart, and more are using ArborXR to launch and scale enterprise XR programs.
“As we scale XR training across the enterprise, ArborXR stands out as the best enterprise MDM solution on the market.”
Mohsen Khurasany, Senior Manager, XR Content Innovation at Walmart
ArborXR offers enterprise device management, remote app distribution, remote casting, custom home environments, kiosk mode, and more. Our platform gives you and your team control for a seamless VR experience that you can manage remotely.
ArborXR is dedicated to the success of every XR program at every stage. We provide wraparound support and visibility into our product updates and roadmap. We connect you with the best XR solution experts, providers, and developers to ensure your XR program is successful and proves ROI.
Whether it’s finding the right content, hardware manufacturing, and accessories, or finding provisioning and procurement partners—we’re here to help you start and scale VR.
If you’re considering a move to VR and XR training, we can help you manage your devices and build your program securely and efficiently. We offer a 30-day free trial to get you started so you can be sure you have every question answered.
Join 50+ Fortune 500 companies and thousands of organizations and sign up for ArborXR today.
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Vuzix M-series of AR smart glasses to gain crucial IT deployment tools
This week, enterprise-grade AR smart glasses vendor Vuzix announced the integration of Microsoft’s Intune, a cloud-based Mobile Device Management (MDM) service, to help businesses deploy hardware across a workforce.
Vuzix is integrating Microsoft’s MDM service into its M-series of AR smart glasses, gaining official certification from the Itune provider in a bid to support scaling and distribution efforts with its customers already using the MDM solution.
“Microsoft Intune is widely used around the world, especially among large organizations, and this certification removes a key deployment barrier for many IT departments,” noted Paul Travers, President and CEO of Vuzix.
Travers explained that Vuzix is “seamlessly” integrating the M-series AR smart glasses into an Itune platform, allowing its customers to unify the XR hardware portfolio with a service already commonly utilized by the firm’s customers.
Itune integration will allow Vuzix customers to manage M-series smart glasses, including supporting IT teams in handling device settings, security processes, and application access.
Travers added:
This certification is a key development for Vuzix and, along with our recently announced support of Android 13, further differentiates the competitiveness and utility of our M-series smart glasses within the enterprise space.
Vuzix on Android
Vuzix has launched an upgraded Android 13 operating system for its smart glasses, further enhancing security for augmented reality wearables.
This full, final version of Android 13 is now generally available and offers users the highest level of security for head-worn devices.
Android 13’s new software features include security updates, improved Wi-Fi networking, enhanced enterprise device management and permissions, and an updated Android API 33 for app developers.
More on Vuzix in 2024
Despite facing recent financial challenges, Vuzix received a $20 million strategic investment from Quanta Computer Inc., a global Fortune 500 company. The multinational smart glasses vendor reported a significant revenue decline in Q2 2024. This decrease was attributed to lower product sales, including its latest smart glasses. However, Vuzix clarified that the product shipments in 2023 were boosted by distribution in Asia, which may not negatively affect the products or the overall business.
In August, Vuzix introduced the Xtreme smart glasses kit, designed to withstand extreme weather conditions. This new kit and several other enhancements feature a lightweight and long-lasting Xtreme Weather power bank. The power bank and the Xtreme kit are IP67-rated for dust and water protection and can operate from 20°C to 45°C.
The Xtreme kit is an out-of-the-box solution that Vuzix claims improves upon the All-Weather Kit in terms of battery capacity, durability in harsh work environments, and a headband designed for long shifts.
Currently, Vuzix offers three smart glasses kits: the Xtreme Kit, the All-Weather Kit, and the Extended Wear Kit. All three kits are priced at $1,799.99.
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ArborXR, an XR device management company working in the enterprise space, announced it has secured $12 million in new funding. The company says it will use the funding to further scale its mobile device management (MDM) platform, which allows companies to manage fleets of XR devices and content.
Led by Mercury Fund and Cortado Ventures, with participation from Impact Venture Capital and Lewis & Clark Ventures, the new funding round brings the total capital raised by ArborXR to over $25 million. According to Crunchbase data, this follows the company’s first funding round in 2021, which was led by Early Stage Venture.
Launched in 2020 by Brad Scoggin, Jordan Williams, and Will Stackable following the founders’ sale of SpringboardVR to Vertigo Games, ArborXR aims to provide a “scalable solution to effectively manage fleets of XR devices and deliver a seamless VR experience – often during critical phases,” the company says.
“Global enterprises and institutions recognize the potential of XR to transform businesses and make way for significant cost savings, operational efficiency, and better training tools,” said Brad Scoggin, Co-Founder and CEO of ArborXR. “Since its founding, ArborXR has differentiated itself as a trusted partner for enterprises looking to deploy, scale, and maximize XR within their operations. We are continuing to identify and address the time-consuming and frustrating elements of traditional MDM platforms and are working to enhance the capabilities of our solution and guide our customers throughout every step of their XR journey.”
Among its users, ArborXR counts a number of Fortune 500 companies, such as Bank of America, Pfizer, Delta, Walmart, and UPS, all of which use XR devices in their employee training programs.
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Introducing Meta Quest for Business: XR for the Enterprise
Meta Quest for Business, unveiled at the Connect conference in 2023, represents a new era for extended reality in the enterprise. Until the release of the Meta Quest Pro, Meta’s focus on the XR landscape has often skewed towards the consumer market.
The tech giant has certainly seen some success in this era, producing some of the most affordable and popular devices for gaming and entertainment. However, as the “metaverse” continues to evolve and the adoption of enterprise XR devices increases, Meta is keen to expand its offering.
Meta Quest for Business, the company’s dedicated enterprise-focused solution, gives companies access to a custom subscription service for XR transformation. This offering could be the key to helping the tech giant preserve its market share, as innovators like Apple, Microsoft, and Magic Leap all increase their focus in the business world.
Here’s everything you need to know about Meta Quest for Business.
What is Meta Quest for Business?
Meta Quest for Business is a subscription service offering extensive technical support and enterprise-level features to companies adopting XR tools. According to Meta, it will help organizations scale the power of Meta Quest across their company.
The primary focus of the solution is to give businesses comprehensive user, device, and custom app management controls. With Meta Quest for Business, organizations can manage team accounts and devices just like they manage other assets in their tech stack, such as phone numbers, software subscriptions, and desk phones.
Meta believes the solution will help companies more effectively align teams in the metaverse while ensuring they can preserve compliance and security standards. The offering could be crucial in an environment where companies are keen to leverage the benefits of extended reality but concerned about the impact shared virtual spaces will have on their data management efforts.
Studies show that around 68% of organizations are ready to plunge their company into the metaverse soon, but few feel they have the right security strategies.
Is Meta Quest for Business the Same as Oculus for Business?
Though the Meta Quest for Business subscription is new to Meta’s solution portfolio, it’s not the first time the company has focused on the enterprise landscape.
Back in 2017, Meta introduced “Oculus for Business”. The bundle included Oculus hardware, touch controllers, sensors, and facial interfaces intended for business use. In 2019, this bundle was upgraded to include new devices, extended hardware warranties, cloud software, security and privacy protocols, and collaboration via Meta Workplace.
After the major rebrand from Facebook to Meta, the company announced it was retiring Oculus for Business in favor of “Quest for Business.” Once again, this update introduced new functionality to the business bundle, such as work accounts and mobile device management.
Meta also introduced a comprehensive “Device Manager” to give companies complete control over Quest devices and third-party MDM hooks. The latest version of “Meta Quest for Business” builds on the solution introduced in 2021, evolving based on feedback from Meta customers.
The Features of Meta Quest for Business
While former iterations of Meta’s “Business-focused” bundles focused primarily on hardware, the latest Meta Quest for Business is more software-centric. The subscription service comes packed with essential features intended to enhance the manageability and functionality of Meta devices.
Primarily, the solution breaks down into three core areas:
1. User Management
With Meta Quest for Business, leaders can manage user access to Quest headsets through a unified admin center. Users can also manage and provision accounts using automation and integrate tools with solutions from major identity providers.
The solution also comes with a “Shared Mode,” which allows devices to be shared securely by multiple people. Admins can decide which apps users can access, and each team member can access dedicated settings using a simple PIN.
2. Device Management
The Meta Quest device manager gives business leaders comprehensive control of all Quest headsets with a built-in MDM solution. You can integrate third-party MDM solutions such as Ivanti, Microsoft Intune, and VMWare Workspace One.
The admin center allows users to bulk provision devices, set profiles, and review device statuses in real time. Plus, you can configure certificate-based Wi-Fi support, reset PINs, and remotely wipe devices of data.
3. App Management
For companies leveraging the ever-evolving library of apps on the Quest store, Meta Quest for Business enables control over the applications team members can use. Admins can manage and deploy private apps to Quest headsets through an APK link or dedicated business channel.
Admins also have the option to control which applications users see and which they can download from the Quest App Store in the device configuration settings. Meta Quest for Business will be compatible with various enterprise apps, including Microsoft 365 productivity tools.
Specialist XR Support from the Meta Team
Alongside all the software businesses need to manage their XR ecosystem, Meta Quest for Business also includes access to priority support for enterprises. Two “support options” are available, depending on the subscription businesses choose.
Standard support, offered with every subscription, ensures you can easily access guidance and submit ticket requests through your Quest admin center. Support “Plus,” on the other hand, offers access to 24/7 technical assistance and customer service from the Meta team.
The “Plus” upgrade reduces the average response time of Meeta’s support staff from 24 hours to 5 hours and enables access to live chat.
The Hardware Options with Meta Quest for Business
Although the Business subscription is mostly software-focused, Meta offers options for hardware too. Meta Quest for Business is compatible with Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest Pro, and Meta Quest 2. You can also “bulk order” headsets through the sales team to deck out multiple staff members at once.
Meta also says employees who already own a compatible Meta Quest device can add that product to the “Business” subscription program. However, they must sign into their device using an account you create in the Business admin center.
The tech giant also offers the option to upgrade to a “warranty Plus” service, which includes protection against accidental damage and manufacturing defects for two years.
Meta Quest for Business: Availability and Pricing
Meta started rolling out the updated version of its Business subscription in October 2023. In 2024, the previous “Oculus for Business” offering will disappear entirely, giving companies plenty of time to transition to the new service.
Currently, the solution is available to organizations located in specific supported countries. You can find a complete list of the locations supported on Meta’s website here. Companies also have the freedom to purchase a subscription before or after buying a headset and add new headsets to their subscription as their business scales.
However, it’s worth noting Meta work accounts are also necessary for all employees who want to access additional features, such as single sign-on and device management.
Though you’ll need to contact the sales team for a quote for your specific solution, pricing for the standard subscription starts at $15 per user per device. The “Shared mode” feature mentioned above is an extra $9 per user per device.
The Future of Meta in Business Environments
Meta’s XR solutions might be better known in the consumer landscape, but they’re also gaining popularity in the enterprise landscape. This is particularly true now that the new Meta Quest 3 headset promises business users more intuitive mixed reality experiences.
While Meta has demonstrated its commitment to supporting enterprise customers in the past with software like Horizon Worlds and dedicated headsets like the Quest Pro, the evolving Business subscription service could give the tech giant a crucial edge.
Offering companies a comprehensive way to manage users, devices, and services in the business landscape will hopefully pave the way for broader adoption of XR solutions in the enterprise. If Meta wants to make the “metaverse” accessible to everyone, including modern workers, this could be a crucial step in the right direction.
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HP kann nun das XR-Gerätemanagement von ArborXR nutzen, um Unternehmen bei der Skalierung von XR-Anwendungen zu unterstützen.
- ArborXR, ein Anbieter für AR/VR-Gerätemanagement, wird seine Technologie lizenzieren.
- Somit unterstützt das Unternehmen die neue Extended-Reality (XR)-Gerätemanagement-Plattform ExtendXR von HP Inc.
HP kann nun das XR-Gerätemanagement von ArborXR nutzen, um Unternehmen bei der Skalierung des XR-Einsatzes zu unterstützen. Die Anwender können dabei auf den globalem HP-Support und auf der HP Horizon Cloud-Infrastruktur zurückgreifen.
„Wir freuen uns, die neue XR-Plattform von HP zu unterstützen“, sagt Brad Scoggin, CEO von ArborXR. „Durch ihre Zusammenarbeit sind ArborXR und HP Vorreiter in der AR/VR-Industrie für Unternehmen und machen es ihnen leicht, XR-Implementierungen zu skalieren.“
Die Software von ArborXR ermöglicht es Unternehmen, AR- und VR-Geräte zu verwalten, Apps aus der Ferne bereitzustellen sowie das Benutzererlebnis mit einem Kiosk-Modus und einem anpassbaren Launcher zu modifizieren.
XR-Gerätemanagement mit ExtendXR
„Mit ExtendXR können Unternehmen den Einsatz von AR/VR-Geräten rationalisieren und schnell skalieren“, so HP Inc. HP XR Software & Platform Senior Product Manager Scott Rawlings. „ArborXR betreut mehr als 350 Kunden in diesem Bereich; die Expertise des Unternehmens spricht für sich selbst. Wir sind stolz darauf, gemeinsam eine branchenführende Lösung anbieten zu können, die bald weltweit eingeführt wird.“
HP ExtendXR verfügt zum Start über folgende Funktionen, wobei interessante Updates in einem monatlichen Rhythmus geplant sind:
- Optimiertes Einrichten und Gruppieren von VR-Geräten;
- eine einfach zu bedienende und zu verwaltende Single-Pane-of-Glass-Browserkonsole für die Bereitstellung von VR-Anwendungen und die Aktualisierung von Headsets. Sie ermöglicht zudem eine Support-Verwaltung von den meisten Telefon-, Tablet- oder PC-Geräten aus — jederzeit und überall;
- Steuerung und Verbesserung des VR-Headset-Erlebnisses für die Endbenutzer, einschließlich Unterstützung für den Kiosk-Modus sowie für den anpassbaren Anwendungslauncher ExtendXR Home von HP;
- Unterstützung für den Austausch von Inhalten zwischen Agenturen und Unternehmen zur Unterstützung von MSP, Systemintegratoren, Inhaltsentwicklern und Mehrwertpartnern, die eng mit Kunden mittlerer bis großer Unternehmen zusammenarbeiten
ArborXR unterstützt HP durch die verbesserte Fähigkeit von ExtendXR, Lösungen global zu skalieren.
Weitere Informationen über die Einführung von HPs ExtendXR finden Sie hier.
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