How Avatour Works


Experience true 360° visibility that traditional videoconferencing can't match. Remotely visit any site in real time, with the full context you need for effective collaboration and decision-making.

Avatour comprises three components: on-site capture, our cloud service, and our 360° workspace.

On-Site Capture

Deploy portable, easy-to-use 360° cameras to capture live and recorded content directly from facility or field.

Cloud Service

Our worldwide network delivers
high-res 360° content with dynamic bandwidth management and
sub-second latency.

360° Workspace

Up to 20 users can join from anywhere in the world via web browser, VR headset, or immersive room, and collaborate using live or recorded content.

Using Avatour, 1-2-3

From setup to collaboration, Avatour is quick to deploy and easy to use.

1: Set Up the Camera

Get one of our curated Avatour hardware kits, or bring your own compatible 360° camera.

Mount on a portable tripod or body mount, and connect to any Bluetooth device for audio. The Avatour software is ready to capture with just a couple of clicks.

2: Capture Everything!

Start an Avatour live session, or use QuickCapture to easily record 360° video for future review. Either way, you'll capture the entire scene to share with remote viewers. Dynamic stabilization maintains a consistent point of view, no matter how you orient the camera.

man conducting marketing and sales tours in warehouse

3: Connect and Collaborate

Up to 20 remote participants can join live sessions or view recordings, providing input and making decisions in real time. Advanced features including annotation, deep linking, and reporting, make it easy to share information, context, and decisions asynchronously.

Collaboration Built for Location

Unlike standard video collaboration tools, Avatour was designed from the ground up for sharing physical context.
Explore Avatour's unique features by clicking below.

"We work in plenty of remote sites where travel is difficult. That's why Avatour is great for us."
Bo Johnson
Senior Engineering Manager & Water Process Engineer
Black & Veatch

Three Ways to Collaborate

Standard Web Browser

Join an Avatour meeting with any modern web browser for an easy and convenient collaboration experience.

Desktops, tablets, and mobile devices are all compatible with the Avatour platform. Users simply click and drag a mouse or finger to change their viewing direction.

Virtual Reality

Join with a virtual reality (VR) headset for a completely immersive experience. Other VR users appear as avatars, enabling a shared context.

Learn more about which VR headsets are compatible with Avatour.

man with virtual reality headset on Avatour

Igloo Immersive Room

Physically step inside a remote 360° environment with an Igloo immersive room. Connect a live 360° videoconference directly to the Igloo, or share pre-recorded content.

Learn more about the Igloo x Avatour partnership.

Why 360° Video?

360° video offers a comprehensive and immersive view of a space, surpassing traditional video conferencing. Remote participants in Avatour meetings can freely explore the 360° panoramic view, for an enhanced understanding of the site or location.

Ready to Get Started?

Choose the hardware and service package that's right for your business.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Avatour meetings secure?
Yes. Avatour uses industry-standard encryption for all visual and auditory content captured during the meeting.
Click here for more information on Avatour privacy and security, or contact us directly.
Is the capture system portable?
Absolutely. Unlike wired conference-room 360 cameras, Avatour is designed to move. Avatour uses off-the-shelf compatible 360° cameras, which are lightweight and battery powered, and can be easily carried throughout a site or facility. Typically they operate for 45 minutes with built-in power, or over 4 hours with our recommended external battery pack. Audio is usually provided using a Bluetooth headset.
Does everyone in the meeting require a 360 camera?
Not at all. Avatour is designed to share the context of a single location with remote users located anywhere. The 360° camera is located on site, and is used to either provide a live connection or to capture 360° video for later review. Remote users can join using a standard web browser on a computer or mobile device, with the option to use a VR headset or an Igloo Immersive Room.
How many people can join a meeting?
Up to 20 remote participants can join the meeting using a standard web browser on a smartphone, tablet, or computer, with the option to use a VR headset or an Igloo. With our optional Webinar feature, up to 30 participants can join in a non-interactive fashion (no webcam or audio).
Do you need a Wifi connection at the site?
No, WiFi connection is not needed at the inspection site; several alternative options are available.

Cellular service works well in many situations. 4G LTE cellular service is generally sufficient for uplink in the 2-6mbps range. We recommend the use of 5G where available, as uplink is generally more robust and higher bandwidth.

Starlink satellite service can be used to establish connections in many places where no cellular service is available. Avatour generally works well with Starlink connections, although throughput varies widely on the Starlink network, which can impact visual quality.

For sites where no Internet connection of any sort is available, our Quick Capture recording can be used to capture 360 content. The recorded video can be later uploaded to the Avatour system for individual or group review.

Click here for more information on Avatour connectivity requirements and how to assess connectivity at your site.
What are the bandwidth requirements?
For live sessions, Avatour works with most Internet connections, although the requirements are different for the on-site Operator and the remote Participants.

For the Operator, uplink is most important. Avatour delivers an acceptable experience when streaming video at 2mbps, and maximum quality at 10mbps. Our system manages low bandwidth by reducing frame rate, preserving visual quality as much as possible. When specifying link capacity, a good rule of thumb is to target capacity of at least twice the streaming bitrate, to accommodate other traffic and overhead. Downlink bandwidth requirements are lower and usually not an issue if sufficient uplink is available.

For the Participant side, it’s best if the user’s downlink capacity is at least double the Operator’s uplink rate. However, the Avatour system will dynamically accommodate lower Participant bitrates by transcoding the 360 stream, so connections as low as 2mbps are workable, albeit with lower quality. 1mbps uplink is sufficient for Remote Participants.
Which 360° cameras do you support/recommend?
For the most current information on which 360° cameras Avatour supports and recommends, click here. You might also be interested in this article on how does a 360 degree camera work.
Does every remote user have to look in the same direction?
No! Each remote user has independent access to the full 360 livestream or recording. Different participants can be evaluating different aspects of the captured location simultaneously.
Can I create a virtual tour with Avatour?
Absolutely. Avatour is the easiest way to host pre-recorded or live 360 virtual tours. Unlike photosphere-based tours, Avatour can include live or recorded video along with your narration. A pre-recorded tour can be created in two clicks with our QuickCapture capability; live tours are as easy as sending a calendar invitation. Learn more about Avatour for virtual tours.
How is Avatour different from digital twin technology?
Digital twins are designed to capture a snapshot of the physical plant at a location. They're great for that. What they don't do is capture people or processes, or enable conversation or collaboration. Avatour is designed to enable remote visibility not just to a physical location, but also to the things that happen there.
How does Avatour deliver business value?
Avatour delivers return on investment (ROI) by reducing travel costs. However it provides more intangible benefits as well: by making it easier for stakeholders to access remote locations, it can create more frequent visibility, making Avatour among the most effective continuous improvement tools and lean manufacturing tools.

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