Collaborate in mixed reality with Field Service, Dynamics 365 Remote Assist, and HoloLens

If your organization uses Dynamics 365 Field Service to manage field service work orders, your first-line workers using Dynamics 365 Remote Assist on HoloLens can see their Field Service bookings and quickly call the remote collaborator listed in the booking's Support Contact field.

By integrating Field Service and Dynamics 365 Remote Assist, you can:

• Launch Dynamics 365 Remote Assist mobile directly from a Field Service Mobile booking via deep links.
• See relevant work order information.
• Post the Dynamics 365 Remote Assist call information to the associated work order's timeline.

In this article, we'll explore how a field technician can use the Dynamics 365 Remote Assist mobile app to make a call to an expert for help with completing a work order. We'll also explore the requirements to set up and use Dynamics 365 Remote Assist and Field Service together on the HoloLens.

For a guided walkthrough, see the following video.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following set-up:

• A Microsoft Azure tenant with a Dynamics 365 subscription and a Dynamics 365 Remote Assist subscription. Both are required—Dynamics 365 Remote Assist is not included in any Dynamics 365 bundle.

  Note

  The tenant can have more than one Dynamics 365 instance. Dynamics 365 Remote Assist has the option to select an instance from within the app.

• You must have admin access to add or update the Dynamics 365 tenant instance.

• The Dynamics 365 instance must have the Dynamics 365 Field Service app installed, and it must include the My Bookings for Today view. To make sure this view is installed, we recommend Field Service version 8.2 or later. This article describes how to make sure you have the correct version and view.

  • Note the My In Progress Bookings view has been renamed to My Bookings for Today. This doc has been updated to reflect the name change. Depending on your version of Field Service, you may see either name. The functionality remains the same regardless of the view name.

• The tenant must have at least two user accounts - one for the technician (front-line worker) and another for the remote collaborator.

  • The remote collaborator only needs a Microsoft Teams license.
  • The technician user will need a Dynamics 365 Field Service license, a Microsoft Teams license, and a Dynamics 365 Remote Assist license. Note: A Dynamics 365 Remote Assist license includes Teams.

• Field Service Mobile (only applicable if technicians and front line workers are not using HoloLens headsets).

Set up technician user

First, create a bookable resource that will serve as the technician or front line worker that will use both Field Service on the Field Service Mobile app and Dynamics 365 Remote Assist on the Dynamics 365 Remote Assist mobile app on their phone or tablet.

The bookable resource must have a Resource Type set to User; the related user record will need licenses to use both Field Service and Remote Assist.

To set up a field technician to use the Field Service mobile app, see the Field Service docs articles on:

1. Setting up Field Service users and security roles
2. Install and setup the mobile app

Verify you can log into the Field Service mobile app successfully as the field technician user.

Next, verify you can log into the Dynamics 365 Remote Assist mobile app with the same user. Then:

Find and download the Dynamics 365 Remote Assist mobile app in the Apple iOS or Google Android app stores.

Sign in as the same user that you logged in to Field Service Mobile with. If your technician has a Field Service license and a Teams license, then you can simply start a free trial of Dynamics 365 Dynamics 365 Remote Assist before buying.

After signing in, make sure you enable Dynamics 365 integration. Select Enable from the popup, or go to Settings.

Note

The Dynamics 365 Remote Assist mobile app is available on mobile devices running iOS and Android with the related ARkit or ARcore capabilities.

Set up remote collaborator user

As a different user that you have identified as the remote collaborator, verify you can sign in to Microsoft Teams. This user does not need a Field Service or Dynamics 365 Remote Assist license.

Note

The remote collaborator must log into the Microsoft Teams native app on their PC or mobile device. Teams on web is not supported.

Create and schedule work orders

Next, create a work order to outline the onsite work the technician or front line worker needs to perform - typically an installation or an equipment or system repair. Enter a recommended expert in the Support Contact field that could be called via Dynamics 365 Remote Assist for support. Technicians won't be limited to only calling this contact.

Schedule the work order to the bookable resource that represents the technician also known as the front line worker who travels to customer locations to complete work orders. In our example, Abraham McCormick is the bookable resource and we scheduled work orders to them with the Resource Scheduling Optimization Add-in for Dynamics 365 Field Service.

View work orders and trigger Dynamics 365 Remote Assist from the Field Service mobile app

Like any typical day, the technician logs in to Field Service Mobile and sees their assigned work orders for that day. If they need guidance from a remote collaborator who better knows the product, service, equipment, or account being serviced, they can launch the Dynamics 365 Remote Assist mobile app from the work order.

Make a Dynamics 365 Remote Assist call

The support contact will be autoselected to call if Dynamics 365 Remote Assist was opened via the deep link; otherwise, the technician can search through the directory for Teams users inside or outside their organization.

The remote collaborator will then receive the call, like any other Teams call.

The technician can then begin to share what they see through their mobile device's camera, making annotations as needed.

From Teams, the remote collaborator can also make annotations.

Post Dynamics 365 Remote Assist Call to work order

After gaining the necessary guidance from the remote collaborator, the technician will end the call and be given the option to post the call as an activity to the work order time line.

Technicians can choose from a list of bookings they are scheduled for on the day of the call, which matches the Agenda view in Field Service Mobile.

Back on the work order, the dispatcher can see a Dynamics 365 Remote Assist call took place in the work order timeline; there will be a call log and links to files shared during the call.

Documenting the Dynamics 365 Remote Assist call on the work order is important because it lets managers know which types of issues are requiring extra help and can build training programs to accommodate.

Set up and view Field Service bookings on HoloLens

If the technician is equipped with a HoloLens headset, then viewing and interacting with Field Service is even better.

Technicians can:

• View today's bookings.

  

• View the work order and the recommended support contact field.

  

• Attach images to the work order during the Dynamics 365 Remote Assist call so future stakeholders can see the work or problem.

  

• Update booking statuses, like marking work as complete.

  

Set up Field Service for the HoloLens

1. Confirm the My Bookings for Today view on the Bookable Resource Booking entity is included:

   • Go to Field Service > Settings > Customizations > Customize the System.

Note

The My In Progress Bookings view has been renamed to My Bookings for Today. This doc has been updated to reflect the name change. Depending on your version of Dynamics 365 Field Service, you may see either name. The functionality remains the same regardless of the view name.

Note

Fields can be added to this view if necessary for your business needs.

1. Create and schedule a work order.

   • The booking will not appear in the Dynamics 365 pane in Dynamics 365 Remote Assist unless the booking status is In progress and the related bookable resource has a user record that matches the HoloLens user.

Configuration considerations

Use the Field Service mobile Power App

Technicians can deep link from the Field Service (Dynamics 365) mobile to the Dynamics 365 Remote Assist mobile app.