Enterprise software specialist IFS has rolled out several new updates to its IFS Cloud platform that are aimed at improving digital collaboration at MROs.

Its Remote Assistance application, which was officially introduced last year after gaining traction during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, will receive a technology boost. The tool previously deployed augmented reality to enable team members to visually interact in real-time by merging two real-time video streams into a common view. Now, it will feature mixed reality functionality. Mixed reality combines elements of both augmented and virtual reality to enable interaction between real-world and digital objects.

IFS has also added enhanced electronic signatures, which it says will allow technicians to digitally sign off on task and fault work completion, fault deferrals and aircraft releases. IFS says technicians will be able to provide e-signatures on their mobile device or desktop when they are both online and offline.

Lastly, IFS has added supervisor workflows to its Forward/Line Maintenance application, which allows technicians to perform maintenance actions from their mobile devices. It says the supervisor workflows will keep supervisors and technicians updated in real-time so they can react to changes that occur during operation of aircraft.

IFS has continued to onboard more aviation customers to its platform in recent months. Last month, Japan Airlines’ engineering and maintenance subsidiary, JAL Engineering, selected IFS software to support maintenance planning for its fleet. In late 2021, Latin American low-cost carrier Viva Air announced plans to deploy IFS software to support its maintenance planning and execution.

Elsewhere in Latin America, Copa Airlines continues to roll out new IFS software functionality to support its digitalization efforts. According to Yessibeth Jurado, senior manager of projects and MRO systems at Copa, the airline is ramping up its paperless transition and looking into data analytics to reduce operational disruption from maintenance activities.