How Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are Changing the Workplace?

Employee training and skill development

Students who are learning through listening passively to lectures often find it difficult to apply their learning in real-life situations. In contrast, immersive AR and VR training helps trainees acquire these skills more rapidly and safely.

Studies show that learning a skill that typically takes about 2 hours to pick up in a traditional classroom setting takes about 30 minutes through VR simulations. As a result, VR learning results in  both time savings and  better skills retention.

Among the most popular use cases I’d highlight:

• Medical training. In VR, healthcare professionals perform virtual surgeries, diagnose patients in virtual clinics, experience realistic medical emergencies, and more. For instance, instead of viewing DICOM files, interns can examine real-world CT/MRI images in volume using the Virtual Reality tool Bodyscope. This hands-on training enhances diagnosing skills and confidence while working with real patients.
• Corporate training. Immersive learning allows for developing soft skills such as leadership, communication, and teamwork. Learners can participate in virtual role-playing scenarios, mastering their skills in negotiation, conflict resolution, and public speaking.
• Occupational training. Employees can practice operating machinery, troubleshooting equipment, and following safety protocols. For example, we at HQSoftware developed  occupational training that helps employees master new skills in the mechanics and aviation industries, working in VR. Through simulated training scenarios, new hires gain job skills before applying them directly in live work environments. This ensures that workers are well-prepared for their new roles.

Increased efficiency and productivity

While we’re discussing the impact of VR and Augmented Reality in business, it’s important to note that it can lead to increased operational efficiency and productivity. Research conducted by the IBM Institute of Business Value found an average 32% increase in productivity and 46% decrease in task completion time.

For example:

• Instead of reading or watching aggregated instructional materials, employees can actively engage in simulations and scenarios relevant to their work. The ability to repeat exercises and receive instant feedback allows workers to acquire new competencies more quickly.
• Through AR/VR, on-site staff can access off-site experts in real-time for guidance, avoiding delays caused by waiting for answers.
• AR interfaces provide workers with seamless access to manuals or checklists without the need to stop performing their current tasks. This eliminates time wasted on searching for information.

For instance, Boeing uses Augmented Reality guidelines that display aircraft wiring schemes in front of technicians, enabling them to work without the need for physical interaction or holding any additional tools. This has reduced wiring production time by 25% and boosted productivity by 40%.

Want to create an AR/VR solution to revolutionize your workplace? We’re ready to help!

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Business Development Manager

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Enhanced customer interaction

What percentage of your customers leave with nothing because they could not get enough information or the sales specialist did not seem very persuasive? Well, AR/VR can help with that.

By training in VR, your workers can practice handling customer inquiries, resolving issues, and delivering sales pitches in virtual scenarios. This helps improve their communication skills, product knowledge, and customer interaction abilities.

For instance, Walgreens is employing Augmented Reality to onboard staff for its new partnership with Kroger Express stores. Through digitally recreated 3D simulations, employees can receive hands-on training in handling various customer service scenarios and replenishing inventory.

Two other ways you can use AR and VR effectively in retail are virtual product demonstrations and virtual try-on and fitting.

An AR or VR immersive experience creates a better understanding of the product’s features, benefits, and functionality. In real estate, for instance, AR technology allows you to visually showcase prospective construction projects on the actual building site, providing a clear understanding of how the land will be developed in the future.

In this way, potential customers can examine the building in detail, which increases confidence in purchasing and makes it easier for salespeople to successfully close deals.

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Improved safety and risk management

According to AFL-CIO statistics, in the US alone more than 100,000 employees each year are disabled or even lose their lives due to workplace injuries and occupational diseases. To reduce the possibility of harm and promote an effective safety culture in the workplace, you can simulate hazardous situations in Virtual Reality. The research proves that using VR in the workplace enhances overall occupational safety and helps assess risks.

AR and VR can be used in safety training across three main areas:

• Hazardous environment. If your company deals with handling dangerous chemicals, operating heavy machinery, or working in extreme conditions, VR simulations can replicate these environments, allowing employees to learn safely how to deal with these hazards.
• Emergency response. By practicing in virtual emergencies, such as fires, natural disasters, or security breaches, employees can enhance their critical decision-making in an emergency situation, understand evacuation procedures, and learn to coordinate effectively with emergency services. 
• Equipment and machinery operation. With VR, employees can practice operating machinery and handling potential risks without the need for physical equipment, reducing the likelihood of accidents and equipment damage.

For example, Ford has employed VR to record, using motion sensors, how employees move during equipment assembly, helping the company reduce injury risks by 70%.

How Will VR and AR Affect the Future of Work?

During my career, I’ve watched a steady increase in mobile and cloud computing, and now the rise of Virtual and Augmented Reality, with a potential market value of about $200 billion by 2030.

With an increasing global demand for VR technology, an estimated 171 million users are currently utilizing it, and this number is always growing.

Besides gaming, emerging AR and VR use cases are predicted to expand in:

• workforce development;
• manufacturing;
• automotive; and
• marketing.

While our company has been providing AR and VR solutions for over a decade, the most significant rise in their popularity has come in the past five years. For example, our portfolio has experienced a notable increase of 30% in VR medical training over the past two years.

Alexey Dunaevsky
Educational Design Lead
at HQSoftware

Subjects that once bored students seem to come alive through immersive experiences, opening up new interactive possibilities that significantly boost retention.

HQSoftware’s AR & VR Development Solutions

Having worked at HQSoftware on AR/VR projects across various industries, I know that there are many nuances that need to be considered.

For example, when developing Bodyscope, we had to set proper lighting in the simulation room to provide realistic visibility for the 3D models, avoiding backlighting or very dark areas.

In creating VR occupational training, we solved the problem of ensuring the correct hand position to properly carry out actions such as screwing or cutting, replicating the real-life details. It’s important to ensure that users acquire skills in the right way.

We also know that when developing AR/VR solutions, it’s important to consider:

• compatibility with the wide range of AR/VR devices and platforms available in the market;
• details such as lighting, textures, and sound effects to create a more immersive experience;
• tailoring the content to provide value, whether it’s for training, entertainment, or information delivery.

Taking into consideration all the factors mentioned above, we at HQSoftware deliver highly realistic and immersive AR and VR solutions. We carefully evaluate the project’s requirements before developing to ensure that the final solution will best meet your demands.

Contact us to find out more about our AR and VR development services.