Training Your Workforce with Virtual Reality

Benefits of VR

Virtual reality in corporate training increases employee engagement, and with it, the learning process is accelerated. Employees learn new skills quickly since there are no distractions or disruptions. Plus, unlike classroom training, learners can move at their own pace, spending more time on areas where they struggle and whizzing past topics they understand fully. This could help your organization onboard new hires faster, getting them on the job into profitable positions.   

Similarly, another benefit of using VR is an increased rate of knowledge retention. It doesn’t take us long to forget things we learned, especially if we never got to apply the knowledge to a situation. VR is tangible, so employees learn by doing. This allows the employees to retain more information as they gain hands-on practice in a pressure-free zone.

Using virtual reality in corporate training can save you money, even more so than eLearning. Since the technology simulates real-life experiences, you incur fewer real-life costs during the training experience such as injury-related costs, equipment repairs, and production delays.

Preparing for VR

In about three years, one in every three businesses will be using virtual reality to deliver employee training. The technology can increase training possibilities for your business. However, you must prepare your organization for the investment in VR.

First, make a list of all the training programs that can benefit from virtual reality. Some training skills such as writing do not require the use of virtual technology. Thus, make a list of the areas that will not benefit from the implementation of the new technology.

After making a list, choose about three areas that are hard to master and use them to test the viability of virtual reality pilot training. Then, ensure your goals for the virtual reality employee training are very specific and clear.

Whether your goals are related to revenue, proficiency, or productivity, they should be measurable. This way it becomes easy to determine the success or the failure of the new training method. Also, remember that VR is not a substitute for employee training but a compliment.

There are areas in employee training that cannot be replaced by virtual technology. One such area that is important in training is instructor feedback. Thus, ensure that these areas are not neglected. Instead, the technology should support them.

Deploying VR Training

Once you’re ready to distribute VR training to your learners, you’ll need to figure out the logistics of how they’ll access and use the VR devices. Plus, VR is a relatively new technology, especially when it comes to employees using it as a training platform. Therefore, you might need to guide your employees through the process so they can get acclimated. How you manage this may depend on your VR method.

If you’re using a PC-based system, such as an HTC Vive, it will need to be set up in an area dedicated to training. You may schedule someone to facilitate the sessions as learners come for their time slots. This individual would show learners how to use the hand-held controllers and help them put on the headset.

If you’re using a wireless VR device such as an Oculus Go, learners can stay at their desks or workspaces to play the training game. Perhaps you set up a schedule and employees know who they should pass the device onto after they’re finished with it. To show them how to use it, you may distribute a brief video they can watch on their own computers that explains how to start the training experience.

At Designing Digitally, we create cutting-edge VR training solutions that are sure to prepare your workforce for success.

Contact us today to discuss your goals for VR training!