Extended Reality & Augmented Efficiency

Immersive technology for mission readiness and human performance

In a world of growing operational complexity and pressure on readiness, defence organisations need new tools to prepare their people, maintain situational awareness, and enhance operational outcomes. Extended Reality (XR), which includes Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), offers real, immediate value in supporting defence missions.

At Sopra Steria, we embed XR where it delivers meaningful advantage: training, maintenance, logistics, and situational planning. We don’t deploy XR for the sake of novelty, we deploy it to empower personnel, optimise workflows, and increase resilience in critical contexts.

This is immersive technology, mission-engineered.

Why it matters to the Ministry of Defence

Modern operations demand faster knowledge transfer, greater mobility, and adaptability under pressure. But traditional systems can no longer keep pace, especially with increasingly complex platforms, international cooperation, and talent shortages.

XR fills the gap by:

 

Training faster, better, and without location constraints

Reducing operational errors and downtime

Delivering real-time support in the field

Improving mission rehearsal and risk anticipation

In a high-readiness force like the Armed Forces, XR becomes a  force multiplier, enhancing human performance and decision-making across domains.

Use cases that matter

Immersive training & simulation

  • Simulate operational scenarios in realistic, secure digital environments

  • Reinforce retention and reduce training costs

  • Prepare reservists and new recruits at scale

  • Enable multilingual, distributed, and coalition-ready learning

Augmented field maintenance

  • Use AR headsets to guide personnel through complex repairs

  • Connect remote experts in real time for on-the-spot support

  • Reduce downtime and dependency on scarce specialists

  • Link digital twins and maintenance data into the same workflow

Operational planning & Command visualisation

  • Visualise terrain, mission dynamics, and force deployment in 3D

  • Improve understanding of spatial risks and interdependencies

  • Integrate with C2 and logistics platforms for real-time planning input

Smart warehousing & Logistics

  • Guide personnel through inventory workflows with hands-free AR

  • Reduce pick/pack/dispatch time

  • Increase accuracy, reduce training time, and lower warehouse strain

Why Sopra Steria?

We build immersive systems that are modular, mission-fit, and ready to scale and we deliver them with security, compliance, and performance at the core.

Human-Centered by Design
We focus on usability, comfort, and frontline needs. We co-create XR experiences with real users, ensuring adoption and long-term value.

Integrated with Defence Systems
Our solutions are not standalone. They are connected to logistics data, maintenance systems, digital twins, and ERP tools enabling full-loop support.

Secure, Sovereign & Scalable
We build solutions compliant with EU, NATO, and local requirements. Whether deployed on-premise or edge, sovereignty is never compromised.

Proven XR use cases in Defence & Aerospace
We have delivered XR capabilities for aircraft maintenance, immersive training centres, and smart warehousing in secure environments, always with measurable outcomes.

IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria launch successful go-live of shared Biometric Matching Service with eu-LISA for border protection in the Schengen Area

Aug 25, 2025, 00:00 AM
Title* : IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria launch successful go-live of shared Biometric Matching Service with eu-LISA for border protection in the Schengen Area

As market leaders and long-standing partners of European institutions and governments, IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria led the design and implementation of the new shared Biometric Matching Service for eu-LISA.

As market leaders and long-standing partners of European institutions and governments, IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria led the design and implementation of the new shared Biometric Matching Service for eu-LISA.

Courbevoie, France. August 25, 2025 – IDEMIA Public Security, the leading provider of secure and trusted biometric-based solutions and Sopra Steria, a leading European-based consulting, digital services, and software development company, have successfully completed the go-live of eu-LISA’s new shared Biometric Matching Service (sBMS). This achievement marks an important milestone in the roll-out of the Interoperability Roadmap by the EU Agency responsible for the management of large-scale IT systems within the Schengen area.

IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria led the design and implementation of the new sBMS system, the EU’s central biometric matching system that stores and compares biometric data such as fingerprints and facial images. The sBMS aims to fight irregular immigration and trans-border crime, enhancing the efficiency and security of Schengen Area border and migration management. For example, when a third-country national comes into Europe for the first time, they will be registered and searched in the sBMS, where authorities will then be able to check whether they are the person they claim to be through biometric verification.

The system was launched with eu-LISA's Visa Information System (VIS), a large-scale IT system that supports the implementation of the EU’s common visa policy and facilitates checks at external borders and will serve the identification needs of other EU information systems in the future, such as the upcoming European Entry/Exit System (EES). The future EES will include biometric verification and identification of travelers based on their facial image and four fingerprints and will serve as one of the largest biometric systems in the world, integrating a database of over 400 million third-country nationals with their fingerprints and facial images.

With IDEMIA Public Security’s best-in-class biometric technology and highly-ranked algorithms across all modalities, combined with Sopra Steria’s competencies as a European leader in digital transformation and Homeland Security, the pair was selected by eu-LISA to build the sBMS for border protection of the Schengen Area in 2020.

As a market leader in the travel and transport industry, focusing on accurate and efficient technology solutions that deliver the highest level of performance and enhance border control operations and identity verification in high-risk environments, IDEMIA was equipped to contribute to one of the largest scale biometric databases, ensuring accuracy and fast response times.

We are excited to partner with eu-LISA and advance our mission of enabling secure, seamless, and personalized digital passenger journeys for travelers across the world. With our work to design and implement the sBMS, Europe will manage one of the largest biometric systems in the world. This is another example of how IDEMIA’s technology can make the world a safer place more than ever before, and we’re proud to play a critical role in this journey. Tim Ferris SVP, Travel & Transport, IDEMIA Public Security.
Sopra Steria is honored to be a longstanding and trusted partner of the EU Agency, contributing to the successful implementation of critical large-scale IT systems. The accomplished go-live of the shared Biometric Matching Service (sBMS) represents a significant milestone in the realization of the EU’s Interoperability Architecture, reinforcing our joint commitment to enhancing security and operational efficiency across Europe. Michel Lorgéré Deputy CEO, Sopra Steria Benelux.

 

As long-standing partners of European institutions and governments, IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria have supported the European Union for more than 20 years in the management of mission-critical IT systems to enhance security within the Schengen area. IDEMIA Public Security delivers innovative, secure and trustworthy biometric travel solutions that streamline travel and border operations, optimize processes, enhance decision making, and enable seamless, personalized, digital passenger journeys.  Sopra Steria is actively shaping Europe in the domain of Justice and Home Affairs with profound expertise in Central EU systems, national interfaces and national systems. As a true end-to-end player spanning a comprehensive range of services to drive impactful change through innovative solutions Sopra Steria partners with more than 50 government departments and 60 public bodies across Europe.

Tags :
eu-LISA sBMS Launch - IDEMIA Press Release

The future of Defence is augmented

Armed Forces are embracing innovation. XR isn’t a distant vision, it is a practical enabler of mission agility, operational readiness, and personnel empowerment. Sopra Steria stands ready to help deliver this capability, at speed and with substance.

Let’s explore where immersive technology can remove friction, sharpen awareness, and elevate performance across your entire defence ecosystem.

 

 

Contact our experts

Defence Intelligence Hub

IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria launch successful go-live of shared Biometric Matching Service with eu-LISA for border protection in the Schengen Area

Aug 25, 2025, 00:00 AM
Title* : IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria launch successful go-live of shared Biometric Matching Service with eu-LISA for border protection in the Schengen Area

As market leaders and long-standing partners of European institutions and governments, IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria led the design and implementation of the new shared Biometric Matching Service for eu-LISA.

As market leaders and long-standing partners of European institutions and governments, IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria led the design and implementation of the new shared Biometric Matching Service for eu-LISA.

Courbevoie, France. August 25, 2025 – IDEMIA Public Security, the leading provider of secure and trusted biometric-based solutions and Sopra Steria, a leading European-based consulting, digital services, and software development company, have successfully completed the go-live of eu-LISA’s new shared Biometric Matching Service (sBMS). This achievement marks an important milestone in the roll-out of the Interoperability Roadmap by the EU Agency responsible for the management of large-scale IT systems within the Schengen area.

IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria led the design and implementation of the new sBMS system, the EU’s central biometric matching system that stores and compares biometric data such as fingerprints and facial images. The sBMS aims to fight irregular immigration and trans-border crime, enhancing the efficiency and security of Schengen Area border and migration management. For example, when a third-country national comes into Europe for the first time, they will be registered and searched in the sBMS, where authorities will then be able to check whether they are the person they claim to be through biometric verification.

The system was launched with eu-LISA's Visa Information System (VIS), a large-scale IT system that supports the implementation of the EU’s common visa policy and facilitates checks at external borders and will serve the identification needs of other EU information systems in the future, such as the upcoming European Entry/Exit System (EES). The future EES will include biometric verification and identification of travelers based on their facial image and four fingerprints and will serve as one of the largest biometric systems in the world, integrating a database of over 400 million third-country nationals with their fingerprints and facial images.

With IDEMIA Public Security’s best-in-class biometric technology and highly-ranked algorithms across all modalities, combined with Sopra Steria’s competencies as a European leader in digital transformation and Homeland Security, the pair was selected by eu-LISA to build the sBMS for border protection of the Schengen Area in 2020.

As a market leader in the travel and transport industry, focusing on accurate and efficient technology solutions that deliver the highest level of performance and enhance border control operations and identity verification in high-risk environments, IDEMIA was equipped to contribute to one of the largest scale biometric databases, ensuring accuracy and fast response times.

We are excited to partner with eu-LISA and advance our mission of enabling secure, seamless, and personalized digital passenger journeys for travelers across the world. With our work to design and implement the sBMS, Europe will manage one of the largest biometric systems in the world. This is another example of how IDEMIA’s technology can make the world a safer place more than ever before, and we’re proud to play a critical role in this journey. Tim Ferris SVP, Travel & Transport, IDEMIA Public Security.
Sopra Steria is honored to be a longstanding and trusted partner of the EU Agency, contributing to the successful implementation of critical large-scale IT systems. The accomplished go-live of the shared Biometric Matching Service (sBMS) represents a significant milestone in the realization of the EU’s Interoperability Architecture, reinforcing our joint commitment to enhancing security and operational efficiency across Europe. Michel Lorgéré Deputy CEO, Sopra Steria Benelux.

 

As long-standing partners of European institutions and governments, IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria have supported the European Union for more than 20 years in the management of mission-critical IT systems to enhance security within the Schengen area. IDEMIA Public Security delivers innovative, secure and trustworthy biometric travel solutions that streamline travel and border operations, optimize processes, enhance decision making, and enable seamless, personalized, digital passenger journeys.  Sopra Steria is actively shaping Europe in the domain of Justice and Home Affairs with profound expertise in Central EU systems, national interfaces and national systems. As a true end-to-end player spanning a comprehensive range of services to drive impactful change through innovative solutions Sopra Steria partners with more than 50 government departments and 60 public bodies across Europe.

Tags :
eu-LISA sBMS Launch - IDEMIA Press Release

IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria launch successful go-live of shared Biometric Matching Service with eu-LISA for border protection in the Schengen Area

Aug 25, 2025, 00:00 AM
Title* : IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria launch successful go-live of shared Biometric Matching Service with eu-LISA for border protection in the Schengen Area

As market leaders and long-standing partners of European institutions and governments, IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria led the design and implementation of the new shared Biometric Matching Service for eu-LISA.

As market leaders and long-standing partners of European institutions and governments, IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria led the design and implementation of the new shared Biometric Matching Service for eu-LISA.

Courbevoie, France. August 25, 2025 – IDEMIA Public Security, the leading provider of secure and trusted biometric-based solutions and Sopra Steria, a leading European-based consulting, digital services, and software development company, have successfully completed the go-live of eu-LISA’s new shared Biometric Matching Service (sBMS). This achievement marks an important milestone in the roll-out of the Interoperability Roadmap by the EU Agency responsible for the management of large-scale IT systems within the Schengen area.

IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria led the design and implementation of the new sBMS system, the EU’s central biometric matching system that stores and compares biometric data such as fingerprints and facial images. The sBMS aims to fight irregular immigration and trans-border crime, enhancing the efficiency and security of Schengen Area border and migration management. For example, when a third-country national comes into Europe for the first time, they will be registered and searched in the sBMS, where authorities will then be able to check whether they are the person they claim to be through biometric verification.

The system was launched with eu-LISA's Visa Information System (VIS), a large-scale IT system that supports the implementation of the EU’s common visa policy and facilitates checks at external borders and will serve the identification needs of other EU information systems in the future, such as the upcoming European Entry/Exit System (EES). The future EES will include biometric verification and identification of travelers based on their facial image and four fingerprints and will serve as one of the largest biometric systems in the world, integrating a database of over 400 million third-country nationals with their fingerprints and facial images.

With IDEMIA Public Security’s best-in-class biometric technology and highly-ranked algorithms across all modalities, combined with Sopra Steria’s competencies as a European leader in digital transformation and Homeland Security, the pair was selected by eu-LISA to build the sBMS for border protection of the Schengen Area in 2020.

As a market leader in the travel and transport industry, focusing on accurate and efficient technology solutions that deliver the highest level of performance and enhance border control operations and identity verification in high-risk environments, IDEMIA was equipped to contribute to one of the largest scale biometric databases, ensuring accuracy and fast response times.

We are excited to partner with eu-LISA and advance our mission of enabling secure, seamless, and personalized digital passenger journeys for travelers across the world. With our work to design and implement the sBMS, Europe will manage one of the largest biometric systems in the world. This is another example of how IDEMIA’s technology can make the world a safer place more than ever before, and we’re proud to play a critical role in this journey. Tim Ferris SVP, Travel & Transport, IDEMIA Public Security.
Sopra Steria is honored to be a longstanding and trusted partner of the EU Agency, contributing to the successful implementation of critical large-scale IT systems. The accomplished go-live of the shared Biometric Matching Service (sBMS) represents a significant milestone in the realization of the EU’s Interoperability Architecture, reinforcing our joint commitment to enhancing security and operational efficiency across Europe. Michel Lorgéré Deputy CEO, Sopra Steria Benelux.

 

As long-standing partners of European institutions and governments, IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria have supported the European Union for more than 20 years in the management of mission-critical IT systems to enhance security within the Schengen area. IDEMIA Public Security delivers innovative, secure and trustworthy biometric travel solutions that streamline travel and border operations, optimize processes, enhance decision making, and enable seamless, personalized, digital passenger journeys.  Sopra Steria is actively shaping Europe in the domain of Justice and Home Affairs with profound expertise in Central EU systems, national interfaces and national systems. As a true end-to-end player spanning a comprehensive range of services to drive impactful change through innovative solutions Sopra Steria partners with more than 50 government departments and 60 public bodies across Europe.

Tags :
eu-LISA sBMS Launch - IDEMIA Press Release

Related news

IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria launch successful go-live of shared Biometric Matching Service with eu-LISA for border protection in the Schengen Area

Aug 25, 2025, 00:00 AM
Title* : IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria launch successful go-live of shared Biometric Matching Service with eu-LISA for border protection in the Schengen Area

As market leaders and long-standing partners of European institutions and governments, IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria led the design and implementation of the new shared Biometric Matching Service for eu-LISA.

As market leaders and long-standing partners of European institutions and governments, IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria led the design and implementation of the new shared Biometric Matching Service for eu-LISA.

Courbevoie, France. August 25, 2025 – IDEMIA Public Security, the leading provider of secure and trusted biometric-based solutions and Sopra Steria, a leading European-based consulting, digital services, and software development company, have successfully completed the go-live of eu-LISA’s new shared Biometric Matching Service (sBMS). This achievement marks an important milestone in the roll-out of the Interoperability Roadmap by the EU Agency responsible for the management of large-scale IT systems within the Schengen area.

IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria led the design and implementation of the new sBMS system, the EU’s central biometric matching system that stores and compares biometric data such as fingerprints and facial images. The sBMS aims to fight irregular immigration and trans-border crime, enhancing the efficiency and security of Schengen Area border and migration management. For example, when a third-country national comes into Europe for the first time, they will be registered and searched in the sBMS, where authorities will then be able to check whether they are the person they claim to be through biometric verification.

The system was launched with eu-LISA's Visa Information System (VIS), a large-scale IT system that supports the implementation of the EU’s common visa policy and facilitates checks at external borders and will serve the identification needs of other EU information systems in the future, such as the upcoming European Entry/Exit System (EES). The future EES will include biometric verification and identification of travelers based on their facial image and four fingerprints and will serve as one of the largest biometric systems in the world, integrating a database of over 400 million third-country nationals with their fingerprints and facial images.

With IDEMIA Public Security’s best-in-class biometric technology and highly-ranked algorithms across all modalities, combined with Sopra Steria’s competencies as a European leader in digital transformation and Homeland Security, the pair was selected by eu-LISA to build the sBMS for border protection of the Schengen Area in 2020.

As a market leader in the travel and transport industry, focusing on accurate and efficient technology solutions that deliver the highest level of performance and enhance border control operations and identity verification in high-risk environments, IDEMIA was equipped to contribute to one of the largest scale biometric databases, ensuring accuracy and fast response times.

We are excited to partner with eu-LISA and advance our mission of enabling secure, seamless, and personalized digital passenger journeys for travelers across the world. With our work to design and implement the sBMS, Europe will manage one of the largest biometric systems in the world. This is another example of how IDEMIA’s technology can make the world a safer place more than ever before, and we’re proud to play a critical role in this journey. Tim Ferris SVP, Travel & Transport, IDEMIA Public Security.
Sopra Steria is honored to be a longstanding and trusted partner of the EU Agency, contributing to the successful implementation of critical large-scale IT systems. The accomplished go-live of the shared Biometric Matching Service (sBMS) represents a significant milestone in the realization of the EU’s Interoperability Architecture, reinforcing our joint commitment to enhancing security and operational efficiency across Europe. Michel Lorgéré Deputy CEO, Sopra Steria Benelux.

 

As long-standing partners of European institutions and governments, IDEMIA Public Security and Sopra Steria have supported the European Union for more than 20 years in the management of mission-critical IT systems to enhance security within the Schengen area. IDEMIA Public Security delivers innovative, secure and trustworthy biometric travel solutions that streamline travel and border operations, optimize processes, enhance decision making, and enable seamless, personalized, digital passenger journeys.  Sopra Steria is actively shaping Europe in the domain of Justice and Home Affairs with profound expertise in Central EU systems, national interfaces and national systems. As a true end-to-end player spanning a comprehensive range of services to drive impactful change through innovative solutions Sopra Steria partners with more than 50 government departments and 60 public bodies across Europe.

Tags :
eu-LISA sBMS Launch - IDEMIA Press Release