Augmented reality (AR) services are set to become the next big thing within enterprise level business processes.

Research firm Gartner has highlighted AR technology as being poised to become the next big thing in enterprise services, with the technology having practicality in employee training, service workflow, real time decision making and in business processes.

The visualisation technology, which is perhaps most publicly known as being used within Google Glass, is being seen as an enabler of many other services, particularly their use within a mobile environment.

Gartner analyst Tuong Huy Nguyen said: "AR leverages and optimises the use of other technologies such as mobility, location, 3D content management and imaging and recognition. It is especially useful in the mobile environment because it enhances the user's senses via digital instruments to allow faster responses or decision-making."

"AR is most useful as a tool in industries where workers are either in the field, do not have immediate access to information, or jobs that require one or both hands and the operator's attention."

Data discovery to become a main focus