ProductionAR

ProductionAR is a technology entity based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, operating out of the Edmonton Research Park at the Advanced Technology Center. Positioned as a Techstars portfolio company, ProductionAR specializes in developing computer vision and enterprise augmented reality solutions designed to streamline data access, asset management, and workflow tracking across industrial environments.

The company's core mission is to replace legacy data capture systems—such as traditional barcode scanning, QR codes, manual paper forms, and RFID tags—with advanced mobile computer vision and cloud-connected AR overlays. ProductionAR enables users to point a smartphone, tablet, or wearable AR device at real-world assets to retrieve live cloud data, view technical documentation, update operational progress, or log equipment transfers instantly without navigating nested IT menus or maintaining physical paperwork.

Core Technology Platform

ProductionAR builds its offerings around proprietary computer vision and artificial intelligence algorithms integrated with cloud infrastructure hosted on Amazon Web Services. The system operates on three primary components:

1. Specialized Marker Patterns ProductionAR utilizes custom marker patterns designed to outperform traditional visual tags. These markers can be recognized from long distances and captured across live video feeds, allowing mobile devices to identify and track dozens to hundreds of markers simultaneously in a single visual sweep. The markers can be deployed as self-adhesive stickers, incorporated into standard paper worksheets, or directly laser-etched onto metal components and legacy tags.

2. Mobile and Cloud Architecture The platform operates as a Software as a Service solution. Mobile devices run ProductionAR applications to scan tags and display real-time AR overlays on top of physical equipment. The backend relies on AWS infrastructure to deliver encrypted authentication, user role management, and scalable data storage. Administrative users can import, configure, and export enterprise data via standard spreadsheets (such as Microsoft Excel) or management web consoles without requiring custom software installations on local servers.

3. Granular Access Control The infrastructure allows administrators to assign refined access permissions to internal staff, external vendors, or clients. By establishing partitioned sub-accounts, enterprise users can grant third parties limited visibility—such as allowing a customer to track production or shipping status for specific line items while restricting access to internal cost figures or unrelated client accounts.

Products and Services

ProductionAR offers a suite of specialized software solutions tailored to distinct industrial and operational workflows:

TagScan (Production & Workflow Tracking) TagScan is an augmented reality application engineered for factory floors, inspection services, and distribution facilities. It enables workers to track progress, record time spent on specific manufacturing stages, and monitor production costs using integrated timesheet features. By pointing a camera at a tagged component, operators can change item statuses, register completed phases, view attached CAD files, or review technical specifications in real time. TagScan also supports automated email and SMS notifications when workflow steps delay or deviate from expected timeframes.

TagTrack (Asset Management & Chain of Custody) TagTrack is designed to manage capital equipment, tool rentals, and internal chain-of-custody tracking. The system records who checked out specific assets, logs deployment locations, and tracks return histories. Users can scan an asset on-site to inspect its entire service record, verify current availability, or process equipment check-ins and transfers between facilities.

DataNOW (AR Multimedia & Rapid Access) DataNOW functions as a streamlined, read-only variant of TagScan built for fast documentation retrieval. By aiming a mobile device at a marker tag, users instantly pull up operating manuals, warranty details, images, instructional videos, or safety protocols associated with the target equipment. In addition to industrial machinery maintenance, DataNOW is structured for public environments such as science centers, museums, and galleries requiring location-based information display.

FactoryAR (Industrial IoT Integration) FactoryAR provides an interactive visual interface connecting augmented reality displays directly to industrial machinery and Internet of Things sensors. By observing a piece of equipment through a mobile device, users can read real-time operational telemetry, live performance metrics, and machine status updates directly overlaid onto the physical hardware.

CovidScanCode / COVID Tracker (Contact Tracing & Facility Monitoring) Developed to assist facility safety compliance, this solution provides contact tracing and zone activity tracking within industrial sites. The software maintains log histories of personnel movement across specified plant zones to facilitate targeted sanitation and safety responses if exposure risks occur.

Key Operational Features

• Rapid Deployment: Designed for quick implementation, enabling enterprises to generate markers, map spreadsheet records, and deploy active tracking workflows within short timeframes.
• Mass Visual Scanning: Replaces individual handheld barcode sweeps by processing large groups of tagged items (such as pallet stacks in loading docks) simultaneously through live video stream recognition.
• Cost and Efficiency Reporting: Calculates stage-by-stage labor times to help operations managers evaluate precise production costs and identify bottlenecks.
• Self-Service Support and Integration: Includes options for do-it-yourself system setup, web-based marker downloading, printed sticker orders, and scalable subscription tiers based on database storage and active user counts.