#Makeithappen: One-IT, the Romanian company using augmented reality to get global business

Ovidiu Posirca 06/08/2018 | 00:30

Business Review has launched a new campaign called #makeithappen. Every day, for a month, we will present 30 inspirational entrepreneurial stories of Romanians who turned passion, hobbies and knowledge into successful businesses.

We will present the stories of entrepreneurial initiatives of all sizes in all economic fields, underlining the diversity and creativity of the local business environment. Through this campaign, Business Review is strengthening its commitment to be the go-to source for inspiring stories of Romanian entrepreneurship.

Today’s story is about One-IT, the company based in Baia Mare, which launched earlier this year a new department providing solutions based on augmented and virtual reality in a move designed to get new customers across the world. The decision of the company to pivot towards a growing market and to assume new risks convinced us to include the experience of One-IT in the #Makeithappen series.

Nicolae Ontiu (39), a graduated of EMPRETEC – a program for entrepreneurship and business relations- started One-IT in 2003 with the aim of bringing the newest technologies on the local market.

The development of the business has been quite straightforward up to now as One-IT has constantly improved its portfolio of solutions for customers in the B2B segment selling anything from servers to tele-conference equipment. Being constantly surrounded by technology and keeping in touch with business customers, Nicolae (left in picture) spotted a niche that he thinks could prove to be very lucrative.

Read another #Makeithappen story here: AROBS, the IT company building blockbuster products after three “almost disastrous” initiatives

This is how the founder of the IT company launched One-IT Smart, a new department that supplies and develops smart technologies in the business field. The business development manager of One-IT, Claudiu Cocioban (39), was put in charge of the new division. Claudiu is a graduate of the Telecommunications Faculty at UTCN and is already accustomed to technologies based on augmented realities.

So how did a company that developed for years a stable footing in the B2B decide to get into a segment that is still in its early stages across the globe?

Claudiu says the decision was based on research and various talks with potential customers.

“Realizing there is a need in the market and acknowledging the growing demands of potential customers, we decided to develop our first products and additional services for augmented reality. We discovered a need for mixed reality solutions (virtual reality and augmented reality) both in the industrial, automotive, oil&gas sectors, but also in architecture and constructions fields.”

He adds that this is just the start and there are plans for development in the educational sector as well.

Right now, One-IT Smart is negotiating potential business with companies in Europe, the US and the Gulf area – United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

Read another #Makeithappen story here: The first electric car Made in Romania, a EUR 1.6 million bet of two Romanian entrepreneurs

One of the selling points of the new range of solutions is their capacity to assist employees doing work on complex equipment where a lot of training is needed. This also support the service and maintenance activities. Claudiu cites Master OneAR as one of the best solutions that can help companies train staff for complex procedures. By adding layers of texts, photos or video and simple intuitive effects, firms can offer a superior and more efficient training experience.

How Master OneAR works

OneArchitect is another solution for the architecture and constructions sector. Customers are able to see how the building will be positioned on a land, how the interior of the building will look like and how it can be changed.

A third software solution called One Assistance Kit provides remote assistance through smart glasses based on live audio and video streaming. This solution is ideal for monitoring services in the location and can work very well in industries such as oil&gas, automotive and manufacturing, explains Claudiu. The solutions work on smartphones, tables and smart glasses.

“In this period when IT technologies increase the productivity of companies, the augmented reality business is also growing rapidly, so we concluded that a mix between the two can bring a huge benefit for potential business customers,” says Claudiu.

The new smart division is expected to generate sales of at least EUR 500,000 by the end of the year, and this figure should triple in 2019, according to its head. The company is looking for new employees to secure the future growth.

At present, the One-IT team comprises 21 members (employees and collaborators) that are specialized in hardware, software and development of augmented reality solutions.

Read other stories in our #Makeithappen series:

Leave the country or start a business? The former multinational worker behind Complice.ro believes she made the right choice

Painting your success path in business. The artist who turned pure talent into an entrepreneurship initiative

Cut the sugar! The cake shop in Iasi that makes healthier versions of all our favourite sweets

Good things do happen to those who wait! Gevalco, the company that paid its dues and now manufactures components for Airbus

From a two-man team to 200, via Silicon Valley, San Francisco and Sydney, to discovering ‘the recipe for innovation’

Turning flowers into profit. The Romanian chain Magnolia delivering bouquets across the world in less than 24 hours

The Romanian entrepreneur who created the first airsoft arena in the world replicating a map from Counter-Strike

From scratch to market leader in six years. The story of the EUR 2 million online organic food store Vegis.ro

Success has a lavender scent! Bicicleta cu Lavanda, the business that puts the natural in cosmetics

She spent 14 years as a employee before she found the courage to open her own furniture business! The story of Disofa, the Brasov brand that wants to take over Europe

Meet the young Romanians using blockchain to disrupt the USD 25 bln global scientific market

From a simple idea to a successful business: CareToPets, the Romanian pet sitting platform about to go global

Exploring nature for a living. The business created out of love for traveling

Romania-based Gateway VR Studio, among the first 10 Virtual Reality companies in the world

Creating a community you want to be a part of – aSpace, the new co-working hub in Bucharest

Meet the third-generation barrel-maker supplying the best Scottish whisky brands

The story of Kixomania, the professional footwear cleaning service started by a 23-year-old Romanian woman as her third business

From knowing nothing about goats to delivering fresh milk products to thousands of homes. The story of family-owned goat farm Caprina

The Romanian entrepreneur making millions from high-tech massage chairs

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