How AR and VR Are Improving the Employee Training

Q: What is virtual reality training?

Virtual Reality training is a learning process performed through a virtual environment. VR training can be used for both passive and active learning: Passive learning includes virtual tours and presentations; Active learning is supported by interactive VR simulations.

Q: How much does virtual reality training cost?

The cost of VR training solution development depends on the following factors: Instructional design; Content creation; Development team; Hardware. A rough estimate of the cost ranges from $10,000 up to $35,000.

Q: How does VR for training work?

Virtual Reality is used to create simulations: 3D environments with interactive objects that put the user through a training scenario. There are also instructions provided in the form of briefings, voiced hints, and pre-recorded animations.

Q: What is the future of training?

We believe that VR opens new prospects for staff training in terms of learning effectiveness and costs. VR does not require additional resources and keeps trainees out of harm’s way while retaining the immersiveness of real-life situations. It is great for soft-skills development, crisis management, and technical skills improvement.

AR/VR hardware and software have undergone significant development since their early stages. Now, programs are more consistent in quality, and the hardware is more affordable than ever before.

That’s making more companies consider implementing AR and VR into their staff training routines. The reasons are obvious: Augmented and Virtual Reality training applications save money and keeps trainees out of harm’s way until they’re completely comfortable with their tools.

Let’s dive into Augmented and Virtual Reality employee training and see how it helps to make training more effective.

How Are VR and AR Improving Employee Training?

Using Virtual Reality for training helps companies make their programs safer, more convenient, and effective.

Instructional designers can use VR to create realistic training scenarios for specific roles. This allows companies to immerse trainees in a 360° virtual space where they can actively learn by interacting with objects and other trainees.

With Augmented Reality training, employees can interact with the real world while extending perception with virtual elements. These models can overlay physical objects or specific locations, adjusting to changing physical environments in real time.

Combined with a carefully structured learning curriculum, immersive technologies in the workplace can provide:

Enhanced safety of training. VR training programs allow workers to participate in scenarios simulating hazardous environments or using dangerous equipment. They learn to cope with stress related to dangerous situations in a safe environment, develop effective responses to them, and fail safely and try again, as many times as needed.
Effective learning approach. Trainees who learn or practice skills in a VR training simulator not only perform better in reality but also show increased confidence in the process, with 75% retention rates.
Efficient knowledge processing. Virtual and Augmented Reality training built by expert instructional designers feature carefully planned educational modules that optimize the learners’ experience and provide personalized training. According to the study by PwC, students learned soft skills four times faster with virtual training than with in-person training.
Training flexibility and consistency. VR/AR training enables you to add and modify training scenarios, the environment, and objects when requirements change.
Cost-efficiency. With AR/VR training, companies can reduce costs on training employees by creating virtual courses with reusable and easily adaptable content to learn at any time and anywhere. Extra expenses related to travel, repeated instructor fees, and equipment being out of commission are eliminated.

VR training programs benefits - The Benefits of AR & VR for Employee Training — Benefits that AR/VR training can bring

With all these and other benefits of Augmented and Virtual Reality training, 65% of companies already use or plan to use these technologies for employee training.

How Companies Use VR and AR Technologies in Training

The most widespread use cases of AR/VR for employee training include:

hard skills training;
soft skills development;
crisis management;
employee onboarding.

Hard skills training

In fields like engineering or construction, VR training programs allow trainees to practice tasks in a virtual environment, such as operating heavy machinery or assembling elements. This hands-on approach enables learners to develop muscle memory and refine techniques without the need for physical equipment.

Regarding hard skills, AR provides real-time guidance and enhances on-the-job learning. For example, at HQSoftware, we developed a tool at HQSoftware to enhance efficiency and accuracy for mechanics when repairing equipment by overlaying AR instructions.

Soft skills development

Using Virtual Reality for training, instructors can put trainees in real-life situations where they have to find a solution to communication challenges. By providing a lifelike sense of the situation, staffers are encouraged to make reasoned decisions.

For example, instructors can use Virtual Reality to create an interactive environment, such as a conference room, where trainees can practice giving presentations or sales pitches.

AR/VR training for crisis management

Real-life crisis situations can impair a person’s ability to think clearly. Virtual Reality training provides a risk-free way to immerse people in realistic work scenarios, allowing them to polish their skills and practice drills with a clear mind.

For instance, the British Navy has implemented VR training software to create submarine and warship simulations. These simulations allow recruits to experience an emergency situation without any actual risk. This way, they are able to better understand how they must react in a real crisis and stay in control of the situation.

VR training programs for crisis management - The Benefits of AR & VR for Employee Training — VR for crisis management training

Employee onboarding

When hiring new staff, it’s crucial to get them oriented and working as quickly as possible. For example, a company can utilize VR technology to create a simulation that takes the newly hired employees around the building, showing them everything they need to know.

Augmented Reality training, in turn, allows for creating engaging and interactive presentations that can help new workers better understand the environment they will work in, as well as to explain company benefits, growth prospects, and important contacts.

IKEA has used Virtual Reality to build immersive simulations that allow workers to experience the workdays of their colleagues. This approach helps the staffers better understand the opportunities IKEA offers.

AR/VR training industry use cases

Augmented and Virtual Reality have proved to be effective learning tools for various industries with different use cases. For example:

Healthcare. Virtual Reality can help surgeons practice their skills in a risk-free environment.
Construction. VR training solutions replicate workplaces and tasks with all of the danger removed so that employees can have a hands-on training experience.
Manufacturing. With VR/AR training, learners can practice performing manufacturing tasks without using real equipment and materials, reducing the risk of causing manufacturing mistakes.
Retail. VR training simulations can be implemented for staff onboarding, customer service training, and product knowledge training.

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book template 1 - The Benefits of AR & VR for Employee Training

It would be dishonest to say that Virtual Reality training is a perfect match for any company and training purpose. It has its drawbacks, such as physical limitations, hardware restrictions, a steep learning curve, and more.With all this in mind, let’s determine whether AR/VR training might be a match for your company.

Is VR Training Right for My Organization?

To decide where VR training is a good fit, you can consider the following:

Is it important for trainees to manipulate particular kinds of equipment, machinery, or other objects to learn the needed skills? Will training using this equipment take up important physical space required for production?
Does learning a skill require memorizing a set of consistent steps? This is typical for training that involves specific procedures.
Will your training solution be associated with learning conversational skills or other soft skills?

If the answer is yes to any of these questions, a VR training simulator could be a perfect fit for your business. If you still have doubts, you can consider Augmented Reality for training over VR.

VR vs. AR: Which One Is Better for Virtual Training?

Both Virtual and Augmented Reality are great technologies that can bring staff training to a whole new level. They offer new ways of interacting with learning content that improves user retention.

But how do those two stack up against each other?

Let’s compare AR and VR for corporate training from three major points of view:

Required hardware. Augmented Reality is easier for companies to implement and for users to comprehend because it requires only a mobile device with a camera. On the other hand, Virtual Reality needs a more powerful headset and other hardware.
Training scenarios. AR creates an overlay on top of the image seen through the camera, making it great for isolated technical topics. For instance, trainees can study engine design through AR. With the ability of VR to create virtual interactive spaces, it can be used to develop both technical and soft skills.
Budget. VR training requires higher upfront costs than AR training because of a more complex and lengthy development process, as well as the need for dedicated hardware.

Augmented Reality for training is great for breaking down specific topics, providing navigation in a physical location, and enabling multiple people to interact with the same physical object.

If there is a need for more complex immersive training scenarios, such as recreating dangerous scenarios or emphasizing emotional engagement, VR would be a preferable option.

VR training programs AR vs VR - The Benefits of AR & VR for Employee Training — AR and VR comparison

No matter which approach you choose, when it comes to building AR/VR solutions, you first need to conduct thorough research into the market and find reliable specialists in the field.

Read our comprehensive comparison of AR vs. VR employee training.

How to Choose a Reliable VR Training Provider

When choosing a VR training provider, you should pay attention to:

VR development expertise. Review a provider’s portfolio to assess their experience and project availability similar to your requirements in terms of industry, complexity, and objectives.
Client testimonials. Look for what other companies say about working with a potential VR provider, especially from your domain.
Instructional design capabilities to evaluate whether the company can provide learning scripts for effective learning outcomes.
Project management and timelines. Assess the company’s project management capabilities and discuss milestones, deliverables, and communication channels to ensure smooth collaboration.
Cost transparency. Request a detailed breakdown of costs and pricing structures for the VR training development project.

Virtual Reality is a complex technology that demands expertise across various disciplines such as development, design, and business analysis.

In terms of training, a subject-matter expert is a must, as a development team may be unaware of specific details in the sphere. For example, only after communicating with chefs were we at HQSoftware able to set up precise hand positioning of users when cutting vegetables for VR cooking training.

To take into account all nuances, HQSoftware’s AR/VR development team includes an experienced educational design lead, responsible for learning scripts. The specialist communicates closely with the client’s subject-matter experts to deliver a realistic training experience. Moreover, we can create learning scenarios from scratch, covering the full cycle of AR/VR training development.

Here’s what instructional designers do before the development process kicks off:

Outline learning objectives;
Develop scripts;
Map VR interactions;
Identify key metrics.

Having worked with 15+ AR/VR projects, among other aspects of designing VR training solutions, we also can :

update previously deployed VR scenarios seamlessly;
build a feature for tracking user performance;
enable shared virtual sessions;
implement efficient data storage and analytics technologies;
integrate a training solution with third-party software, e.g. LXP or LMS systems.

With our experience, we aren’t limited to these options and can provide any AR/VR development services according to your training goals.

Want to create an AR/VR solution for employee training? We’re ready to help!

HQSoftware has a team of skilled professionals ready to tackle the project. Ask me!

Anna Halias
Business Development Manager

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Setting Goals when Using Virtual Reality for Training

Successful use of Virtual Reality for employee training depends entirely on setting the right training goals. Training goals usually can be divided into three groups:

Productivity. These business-oriented goals describe what exactly you want to achieve with the training. Do employees have to learn new skills to perform better at their current jobs? Or do you want them to explore new challenges, ethics, or ways of communicating in an interactive way?
Outcomes. Define what you want your employees to learn in the course. Is it a particular applied skill, or a collection of soft skills?
KPI. Key Performance Indicators describe what specific expectations a business has for a task or employee. KPIs can measure whether the employee has succeeded in a given task. In VR training, you can also set KPIs for educational tasks.

While setting VR training goals, you can also utilize the SMART goals framework. SMART is the acronym that stands for:

Specific. You should have one detailed goal for one VR training. Instead of a vague goal like “improve employee performance,” make it more specific, such as “enhance employee proficiency in handling customer service scenarios using VR simulations”.
Measurable. The goal should be determined in a quantitative form, such as the number of completed VR modules, the percentage rise in employee performance, or time it takes for participants to achieve specific tasks.
Achievable. The goal should be realistic and attainable within the resources available, considering factors such as budget, technology limitations, and training duration.
Relevant. You need to align the goal with the overall objectives of your company and the specific needs of the trainees.
Time-bound. Set a deadline for achieving the goal. This could be a specific date or a timeline based on training schedules or project milestones.

VR training programs goals setting - The Benefits of AR & VR for Employee Training — SMART goal framework

With all that information at hand, businesses can prepare a well-thought-out plan for VR training implementation and build an efficient solution with a reliable vendor.

VR and AR Training Programs

To build an effective AR/VR training program, you need to understand how such solutions work and what to consider when designing VR training.

VR training solution architecture

At its most basic, VR training software includes the following elements:

Web administration panel. Allows for creating, adding, and managing learning scenarios.
VR engine, e.g. Unity or Unreal Engine.
VR training software. The VR application runs the simulation: processes the data from controllers; generates visual, audio, and sensory feedback; runs training scenarios; powers characters’ AI, etc.
VR hardware. It typically includes a VR headset with displays, lenses, motion sensors, and sometimes hand controllers for interaction within the virtual environment.
Cloud storage. Cloud is used for storing databases, assets, training simulations, and user information.
Networking infrastructure that enables communication between VR headsets and software. It includes network protocols, servers, and data transfer mechanisms to deliver content to users in real time. Networking infrastructure is essential for multiplayer VR experiences.

VR training technology stack

As we can see from the architecture of the VR training app, the software always consists of several layers that are built with different technology.

Web administration panel	JS, HTML, CSS, Python, Go
Cloud storage	Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud
VR training app	Unity, C languages, Oculus SDK, GearVR SDK, iOS/Android SDK, WebVR

Features of virtual training simulations

Virtual Reality for employee training can serve various business domains, solving different kinds of problems. Each case may require specific features, but there are many features that are essential in any type of VR training software.

Features for the web administration panel

Authoring tools that allow instructors to manage training simulations.
Performance analytics. Administrators and trainees are able to see their performance in the form of dashboards. They can use this information to assess the effectiveness of training scenarios and correct the curriculum.
Scheduling. Scheduling features can be useful for group training sessions: everybody can be up to date on when the session starts and get timely notifications.
Training programs. Those are virtual training scenarios that trainees take. Administrators can edit them, remove them, and upload new ones with authoring tools.

Features for VR training app

In-app video streaming is great for recording and playback VR sessions and guides, so trainees can refer to the information later.
AI-controlled virtual characters for communicative training with virtual avatars.
Multi-user sessions allow for encouraging collaboration with other trainees and/or instructors during group tasks and simulations.

These are features that will help you cover the basic needs of whatever domain you provide training for.

Types of VR apps

There are three major types of Virtual Reality employee training apps that companies can use, depending on their business needs:

Non-immersive VR. The user is not immersed in the virtual space — it is displayed on a screen and does not replace the physical reality.
Semi-immersive VR. Such VR apps allow for seated or stationary environments. The trainees can’t move but can look around through a VR headset and interact with objects inside the environment using pointer controls.
Fully immersive VR. This is a fully-featured VR environment. The trainee can freely move around the space and interact with objects. Such apps are more versatile and can be used to make immersive simulations with complex training scenarios.

All variables mentioned above, along with some other aspects, determine overall development costs. So, how much does AR/VR training software cost? Let’s sum up in the next section.

Cost of Designing VR and AR Training Simulator

The rough cost of an AR app can vary from $11,000 for an MVP up to $65,000 for a custom AR app with basic features. The estimate for VR training can range from $35,000 to $150,000 depending on simulation capabilities.

The cost of designing AR/VR training depends upon the:

number of features to be created;
virtual content, which can include 3D environments and objects, interaction animations, and sound effects;
team composition, which may include PM, BA, UX/UI designer, software developers, QA, instructional designer;
technology stack;
project duration and team location; and
type of solution — non-, semi-, or fully immersive for VR, and marker-based, markerless, or location-based for AR.

Additionally, VR training requires special hardware, with some of the more affordable options, such as those from Oculus, starting at $300 apiece.

AR/VR Training: Our Success Story

VR training for dementia caregivers

In collaboration with Dementia Reality, HQSoftware has built a VR training program that immerses professionals and families in the world of dementia, providing firsthand insights into daily challenges and effective care strategies.

Covering various aspects of caregiving, from daily activities to communication techniques, the solution equips users with the knowledge and empathy needed to deliver high-quality care.

Alexey Dunaevsky
Educational Design Lead
at HQSoftware

Through full immersion, learners are able to understand how people with dementia feel, which fosters an empathetic approach and reduces mistakes caregivers may make.

Our team also addressed the challenge of the lengthy and inconvenient loading of learning modules in a VR headset by implementing a custom compression module. This module not only streamlined the video downloading process but also eliminated the need for prolonged headset activity during the download, enhancing the overall user experience.

App for visualizing MRI and CT scans in VR

Bodyscope is an app for recreating plain MRI and CT images in volume in Virtual Reality, enhancing the perception of medical students, interns, and specialists in other medical fields.

With this VR app, learners can interact with 3D models, rotate and scale them, and apply filters to visualize specific tissues by density. This helps learners to improve their spatial vision and better understand how a pathology on a plain scan looks in the real human body, reducing mistakes while working with actual scans.

The app also allows for shared virtual sessions, enabling people from various locations to participate in the same simulation.

Several hospitals have already tested the solution as a supplementary tool for educating young doctors, with positive results. According to a transplant surgeon, VR allows for clearer visibility of details, which makes identifying and diagnosing pathology easier.

If you are looking to develop your AR/VR training solution — feel free to contact us. We will discuss your ideas, come up with a project specification and a cost estimate.

Yuri Yarmolovich

AR/VR Expert

A developer with extensive expertise in AR/VR, very ingrained into the topic of Mixed Reality development. Shares his knowledge and the results of many years of work.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is virtual reality training?

How much does virtual reality training cost?

How does VR for training work?

What is the future of training?

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The Benefits of AR & VR for Employee Training

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