We answer your questions: "When should I use AR?" and "How do I add it to my SOP?" In Dive, AR (Augmented Reality) is not the star of the SOP—it's a supplementary feature to "add" to key points in your SOP. This article explains when AR is effective (its use cases) and how to configure it in your Steps.

Basic approach: Start with your SOP foundation, then AR for only the Steps that need it

The basic workflow for creating an SOP is as follows:

First, build the SOP foundation (video/images, or Import an existing PDF)
Then, configure AR for only the Steps that need it

You don't need to make every Step into AR. In fact, making everything AR is not Recommended. Most work can be clearly communicated with video, images, and text. AR is most effective when you need to point out "exactly where" on the actual object—something that's hard to convey otherwise. The best approach is to build your foundation in 2D (video/images) and add AR sparingly to the key Steps. This makes your SOP easier to create and easier to use.

Two ways to build your foundation

Before you add AR, prepare your base SOP using one of these methods based on your situation. Either way, the process of adding AR to key Steps afterward is the same.

We recommend building your foundation and creating/editing descriptions on a large-screen PC. Editing video/images, Importing from PDF, entering descriptions, Tips, and Quality Warnings, and organizing text with AI—these creation tasks are more efficient on PC. On the other hand, positioning AR Objects can be done either by holding up your smartphone in the app to align with the actual object ([Edit AR]), or by positioning them in 3D space via a browser on PC or smartphone ([3D Edit]—beta). Use [Edit AR] when you want to fine-tune in the field against the actual object; use [3D Edit] when you don't need to hold up a device.

① Create new: From video/images

If you're creating a new SOP, build it from video or images. Work flows and hand movements are clearly conveyed through video and images.

② Reuse existing SOPs: Create from PDF (Recommended)

If you already have a paper, PDF, or PowerPoint manual, Import it using [Create from PDF] to turn it into an SOP all at once, then add AR only to the key Steps—this is the fastest way to get started.

You can reuse your existing assets without starting from scratch
When you Import a PDF, it automatically becomes an SOP with one page = one Step
Then, by configuring AR for just the few Steps where you want to show the location on the object, you can create an "AR-enabled SOP" in a short time

For the detailed procedure to create from PDF, see Create an SOP from PDF.

When AR works (use cases)

AR is a feature that overlays information on the object to communicate intuitively. You simply hold up your phone. It's especially effective in situations where you need to show a location or position:

When you want to show "what to touch / what to look at / what to open": On large equipment or complex machinery, you can point to the target location right on the object
Communicating inspection areas and hazard zones: You can overlay ranges and marks in space to intuitively communicate caution points
Points where new workers get confused in front of the object: "This valve," "this switch"—you can convey these more reliably than a photo explanation
When the object is large and photo position relationships are hard to understand: Overlaying on the actual object makes position relationships instantly clear

Situations where AR is not necessary

In the following situations, video, images, or text are better. Don't force AR where it's not needed:

Detailed hand work or screen/device operations → video or images are enough
Work sequence, decision-making, Tips, and Quality Warnings → express through text or Questions
Areas with weak network or work situations where holding up a smartphone is difficult

How to add AR to your Steps

AR is configured for each Step. Enable AR and configure Alignment in the SOP editor. AR Objects can be positioned either by holding up your smartphone in the app to align with the actual object ([Edit AR]) or by positioning them in 3D space via a browser on PC or smartphone ([3D Edit]—beta).

AR Settings can be configured for any Step type: video Steps, image Steps, or PDF Steps. For video Steps, use the same process—operate the AR section in the main SOP editor screen.

Steps 1: First, prepare your foundation SOP

As explained in the previous section, build your foundation by creating from video/images or by Importing an existing manual using [Create from PDF].

Steps 2: Turn "Use" on for the Step where you want to add AR

In the [AR (Augmented Reality)] section of the Step editing screen, turn on the [Use] switch. While editing on PC, turn on all the places where you think AR would be helpful.

Steps 3: Scan the location where you want AR to appear (from here, use the smartphone app)

Configure "Alignment"—where in reality the AR should display. If the location or object differs for each Step, we recommend preparing Scan data for each.

For specific instructions, see "Create Scan data" in AR Settings.

Steps 4: Position the AR Objects

There are two ways to position AR Objects: hold up your smartphone in the app to align with the actual object and position them ([Edit AR]), or position them in 3D space via a browser on PC or smartphone ([3D Edit]—beta). Either way, you can overlay arrows, marks, and more on the object.

For detailed instructions on [Edit AR], see "Edit AR" in AR Settings. For [3D Edit], see 3D Edit (Position AR content in 3D space).

Once AR Objects are positioned, a [View in AR] button appears for that Step during viewing. Conversely, if a Step has "Use" enabled but no objects are positioned, the AR button won't appear during viewing.

On devices that don't support AR (devices where AR won't activate even when held up), the [View in 3D] button appears in the same place as [View in AR], letting users confirm the positioned AR content on a 3D screen.

Viewing with smart glasses

The AR Steps you configure can be viewed not only on smartphones but also on AR glasses. For work where both hands are occupied, you can view the SOP on glasses while overlaying AR on the object. For information on compatible devices and how to operate them, see here.

Summary

Start with your foundation (for new, use video/images; for existing, Import with [Create from PDF])
Add AR to only the Steps that need it (don't make everything AR)
Use cases: when you want to show "exactly where on the object (location/position)"
Configuration per Step: [Use] on → Alignment → position objects ([Edit AR] is on the smartphone app; [3D Edit] is on PC or smartphone browser)
Division of roles: "Foundation and text on PC." AR Objects can be positioned either with [Edit AR] (smartphone) or [3D Edit] (PC or smartphone browser)