In recent years, smart glasses have entered the market as a wearable technology that can perform computer-powered functions beyond vision correction and protection. A report by MarketsandMarkets notes that the global smart glasses market was valued at about $878.8 million in 2024 and is expected to reach $4.1 billion in 2030. This growth is mainly due to the demand not only from end-users but also from sectors looking to incorporate this particular eyewear into their operations.
For example, lightweight and compact monocular smart glasses are suitable for logistics, maintenance, and field services where comfort, despite extended use, is crucial. Meanwhile, the automotive sector can benefit from the hands-free operation of smart glasses for vehicle maintenance and driving safety.
In light of these various applications, it’s worth exploring how smart glasses—particularly those connected to the cloud for data management, processing, and storage—can innovate supply chain management, from sourcing and manufacturing to distribution and order fulfillment.
Enhancing workflow productivity and efficiency
The work environment in labor-intensive industries like logistics, manufacturing, maintenance, and inspection can sometimes face bottlenecks in productivity and efficiency. However, smart glasses have emerged as a useful tool for digital transformation in warehouses and manufacturing facilities.
To illustrate, the shipping and logistics company DHL has completed a successful pilot program of augmented reality eyewear to improve the workflows and standards for order picking. The Vision Picking smart glasses solution is designed to provide warehouse workers with visual displays of instructions and essential information like location and product listing. Compared to paper-based processes, this strategy helps workers perform their tasks quickly and more comfortably, ultimately increasing productivity by 15%.
Enabling documentation and remote monitoring
In addition to displaying mixed-reality elements to the wearer, smart glasses can be equipped with cameras, microphones, and speakers for real-time content creation and documentation. The flagship eyewear from the collaboration between Ray-Ban and Meta features lightweight frame styles like the popular Wayfarer and minimalist Headliner, which can capture high-quality photos, videos, and images through touch controls.
As such, this innovative eyewear can document warehouse and logistic processes with a first-person POV and go straight to the cloud, which can be particularly useful for training, onboarding, and safety inspections. Additionally, the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses’ wireless and live streaming capabilities enable remote monitoring for warehouse managers and safety officers to ensure productivity and safety compliance.
Showcasing products in more creative and engaging ways
Beyond warehousing for storage, consolidation, and order fulfillment, smart glasses also find their rightful place in customer-facing processes, including product showcases. An article from Supply Chain and Demand Executive explains that emerging visual technologies like augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) and 3D modeling can create virtual catalogs for products and all their variations.
AR/VR and 3D modeling are supported by smart eyewear like the XREAL AR glasses, so this means customers can view products in realistic, immersive environments and even customize them to their preferences. On the business side, virtual showcases integrated with AR/VR can also reduce costs for product costs and photoshoots, allowing enterprises to allocate resources to more complex parts of the supply chain.
Clearly, smart glasses can be integrated into various parts of the supply chain for greater efficiency, innovation, and business value. However, businesses must be aware of data and cloud-related cybersecurity issues, considering a previous article has reported that 75% of third-party breaches target supply chain software and technology. When adopting digital solutions like smart glasses for supply chain management, industries must partner with cybersecurity professionals and train their workers on preventive measures against data breaches and ransomware attacks.
