CYRACO · Project

Remote Factory Inspections via AR and AI — 80% Cheaper Than Sending Inspectors

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Imagine you import products from a factory overseas and need to check quality — right now you fly an inspector there, which costs a fortune and only gives you a snapshot. CYRACO built a platform that lets you run a full factory inspection remotely, in real time, using augmented reality glasses, smart sensors, and AI. Think of it like a video call on steroids: the system actually checks everything automatically so nobody can fake the results. The result? Inspections that cost 80% less and can happen whenever you want, not just when an inspector is available.

By the numbers

80%

Reduction in traditional inspection costs

€240 billion

Expected TIC market size by 2024

80%

Share of TIC market expected to go digital within a decade

700,000

Target inspections per year by 2027

€55 million

Projected annual revenues by 2027

14.3

Expected return on investment

Consortium partners across 2 countries

100%

Industry partner ratio in consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Companies importing goods from overseas factories depend on expensive third-party inspectors who travel on-site — a process that is slow, costly, and gives only a snapshot rather than continuous monitoring. Real-time inspections at remote locations are not feasible with current methods, and existing digital tools only cover parts of the inspection process. Importers also face the constant headache of diverging quality standards across different sourcing countries.

The solution

What was built

CYRACO built a patent-pending cloud platform for fully automated, remote factory inspections using AR, AI, 5G, and smart sensors. The project delivered an updated web presence with customer and auditor portals for managing inspections.

Audience

Who needs this

Retail chains and importers sourcing from overseas factoriesThird-party testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) companies going digitalContract manufacturers managing multi-site supplier qualityEthical sourcing and compliance teams at consumer brandsSupply chain managers at e-commerce companies

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Retail & Consumer Goods Import

any

Target: Product importers and retail chains sourcing from overseas factories

If you are a retail importer dealing with unreliable quality checks at remote supplier factories — this project developed a fully automated remote inspection platform combining AR, AI, and smart sensors that replaces expensive on-site inspector visits. The platform reduces traditional inspection costs by 80% while enabling real-time, on-demand quality monitoring across your supply chain.

Manufacturing & Industrial Supply Chain

mid-size

Target: Contract manufacturers and OEMs managing multi-site supplier networks

If you are a manufacturer managing quality across multiple supplier sites in different countries — this project developed a cloud-based remote inspection tool that provides fail-safe, automated factory audits without travel. It uses 5G connectivity and smart sensors to guarantee a complete inspection, addressing the challenge of diverging quality standards across sourcing countries.

Testing, Inspection & Certification (TIC)

enterprise

Target: Third-party inspection and certification companies

If you are a TIC provider struggling to scale traditional on-site inspection services — this project developed a patent-pending digital inspection platform that automates the entire process remotely. The TIC market is expected to reach €240 billion by 2024, with digital alternatives projected to account for 80% of the market within a decade.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

How much does this reduce inspection costs compared to traditional methods?

According to the project data, CYRACO reduces traditional inspection costs by 80% through full automation and remote execution. This eliminates travel expenses, inspector scheduling delays, and the need for physical presence at factory sites.

Can this scale to handle large volumes of inspections?

The project targets over 700,000 inspections per year by 2027, using a subscription-based business model designed for exponential growth. The cloud-based architecture and automation make it highly scalable without proportional staff increases.

Is the technology protected by patents?

Yes, the CYRACO platform is described as patent-pending. The company would need to be contacted directly for licensing terms or partnership arrangements. SciTransfer can facilitate that introduction.

What technologies does the platform use?

The platform combines Augmented Reality, cloud technology, 5G connectivity, artificial intelligence, and smart sensors. These work together to enable completely automated, real-time remote factory inspections with fail-safe verification.

Is this ready for commercial use or still in development?

The project closed in April 2023 after an SME Instrument Phase 2 grant, which funds commercialization. Deliverables include customer and auditor portals with optimized web presence, indicating the platform is at or near market deployment.

How does this meet regulatory and compliance requirements?

The platform is designed to guarantee a full inspection equivalent, addressing the challenge of diverging quality standards across sourcing countries. It aims to promote supplier accountability and support ethical sourcing compliance.

What is the expected return on investment?

The project data states an expected ROI of 14.3, with projected revenues of over €55 million by 2027. The subscription-based model provides recurring revenue from each client relationship.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a lean, industry-only consortium of 2 SME partners from Germany and Greece — no universities or research institutes. The 100% industry composition is a strong signal that this project is commercially driven, not academic. CYRACO GmbH (Germany) leads as coordinator, bringing inspection domain expertise. The small team size is typical for SME Instrument Phase 2 projects, which fund companies ready to take a product to market rather than conduct basic research.

CYRACO GMBHCoordinator · DE

How to reach the team

CYRACO GmbH is based in Germany. SciTransfer can arrange an introduction to discuss licensing, partnerships, or pilot programs.

Order a report on this consortium See CYRACO GMBH profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how remote digital inspections could cut your quality monitoring costs? Contact SciTransfer for a warm introduction to the CYRACO team.

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