The whole sphere of Virtual Reality, in the ever-evolving landscape of technology, has emerged not only as a source of entertainment but as a powerful tool transforming the way businesses operate in today’s time.
The increasing significance of VR in businesses is drastically reshaping how we work, train, shop, and interact. Be it immersive training experiences or enhanced customer engagement, VR is definitely ushering in a new era of creation.
In this blog, we will reveal absolutely everything you need to know about the increasing significance of VR in businesses, exploring its applications, real-world examples, and the transformative impact it is having across various industries. Read on!
Training and Development with VR
In the realm of employee training, VR has become a game-changer. Companies are bringing to play VR to simulate real-world scenarios, providing employees with hands-on training in a safe and controlled environment.
For instance, Walmart has implemented VR in its employee training program that allows associates to experience various scenarios, from dealing with holiday rushes to handling customer service situations.
Over 30 Walmart Academies now utilize VR training programs, offering a two- to six-week immersive experience for enrolled employees. The VR-enhanced classes simulate realistic store scenarios, prompting trainees to make decisions based on presented situations.
In each Walmart Academy class, students use Oculus Rift VR headsets. During VR training, one student wears the headset and interacts with the scenario, visible to others on a large screen. Post-training, the class collectively discusses the scenario and the decisions made.
Other students have the opportunity to experience the same scenario, facilitating comparisons of behavior and the development of optimal strategies. Walmart extends the use of virtual reality to its stores, aiming to provide immersive training experiences, particularly for those unable to travel to the Academy.
This in-store training caters to a broader audience, including loaders, janitors, and store workers. This not only enhances employee skills but also boosts confidence in real-world situations.
Virtual Retail Experiences
Retail giants are adopting VR to create magical virtual shopping experiences. IKEA, a global furniture retailer, enables customers to visualize how furniture will look in their homes through VR.
Shoppers can virtually place furniture items in their living spaces, helping them make informed purchasing decisions. This not only enhances the customer's shopping journey but also reduces the likelihood of returns, resulting in a more efficient and customer-friendly retail experience.
Recently, Ikea introduced IKEA Place, an app utilizing virtual reality that enables users to virtually position 3D models of Ikea's furniture and fixtures within their living spaces. By employing true-to-scale models, users gain a more accurate visualization of how a particular piece of furniture would complement and fit within their environment.
The app prioritizes camera-first experiences, aiding customers in selecting furniture based on considerations of fit, design, and functionality. Currently, the app is accessible for download on iOS devices.
Moreover, Volvo employed VR technology to facilitate users in test-driving the XC90 through their smartphones, offering a virtual "weekend escape" via an app.
Since evaluating a car through a test run can pose challenges, especially when a nearby dealership isn't readily accessible, this VR test drive allows users to virtually sit in the driver's seat, embarking on a scenic mountain ride that provides an immersive experience with breathtaking 360-degree landscapes.
Additionally, the technology enables users, even those without a Google Cardboard headset, to explore the car's interior. The success of this campaign is evident in the increased volume of inquiries and over 20,000 app downloads!
Healthcare Transformation through VR
In the healthcare sector, VR is making waves in training, therapy, and even surgery planning. Medical professionals are using VR simulations for surgical training, allowing them to practice and refine their skills in a risk-free environment.
Furthermore, companies like Oculus are exploring VR applications in mental health therapy, providing patients with immersive environments to manage stress and anxiety. The potential of VR in healthcare is vast, promising improved patient outcomes and more effective medical training. Let’s understand psychotherapy with VR better:
While teletherapy involves virtual talk sessions, Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) takes place in a virtual world, often through computer games or headsets, and requires the involvement of a licensed therapist for it to be considered therapeutic.
It's crucial to distinguish VRT from relaxation apps or YouTube videos, as these lack therapist participation. A specific form of VRT, called Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET), immerses individuals in a lifelike 3D environment, often using headsets.
For example, someone afraid of heights might confront a virtual glass elevator to overcome their fear. VRET extends its benefits to addressing various phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and aiding victims of violence.
Virtual reality therapy creates a sense of safety and offers a unique advantage – users can experience challenging environments, like overcoming fears, and easily disengage by removing the headset if it becomes overwhelming.
Similar to teletherapy, VRT and VRET can be particularly advantageous for individuals with physical disabilities who face challenges attending in-person appointments.
An example of a VRET platform suitable for home use catering to both children and adults for treating phobias or social anxiety, with the requirement of a headset.
Collaborative Virtual Workspaces
The surge in remote work, especially post the Covid 19 pandemic, has prompted the utilization of Virtual Reality to establish collaborative virtual workspaces.
Leading this innovation is companies like Spatial, which spearheads the creation of virtual meeting rooms for they provide teams with a shared virtual environment for meetings and collaboration.
This not only enhances the feeling of presence and connection but also surpasses the constraints of conventional video conferencing, thereby amplifying the engagement and productivity of remote collaboration.
Spatial, as a virtual workspace, enables users to craft realistic avatars and collaborate closely by sharing content and utilizing whiteboards, mimicking the dynamics of an actual meeting room.
Founded in 2016 with a foundation in workplace collaboration, Spatial boasts extensive features for a metaverse platform. Spatial's metaverse spaces offer gITF integration for models, enhancing creations with PBR-based material properties for a more realistic appearance.
The platform facilitates asset incorporation through integrations with MetaMask, Google Drive, or OneDrive. Users can easily share their screens, leave digital sticky notes within the space for communication, and track thoughts during environment iteration.
These functionalities are accessible from both web browsers and mobile apps. Moreover, Spatial extends compatibility to VR headsets like the Meta Quest, enabling 3D drawing, auto layout features for galleries, and the incorporation of LiDAR scans to integrate the real world into the virtual environment. The platform provides a versatile range of tools and capabilities for users to explore.
Enhanced Product Prototyping and Design
VR is remodeling the product development process by offering immersive prototyping and design experiences. Automaker Ford, for example, utilizes VR to visualize and modify car designs collaboratively.
Engineers and designers can step into a virtual environment to assess and refine the design, saving time and resources in the physical prototyping phase. This not only accelerates product development but also fosters innovation and creativity within the design teams.
By incorporating virtual reality collaboration into their remote work strategy, Ford's design team has effectively showcased the immense value of immersive technology in the corporate realm.
The utilization of virtual reality has proven particularly advantageous for Ford's Australia Design Studio, providing an expansive platform for globally dispersed product design teams to collaboratively engage in intricate projects from diverse locations worldwide.
Through the Ford VR studio, individuals such as designers, engineers, and product developers can seamlessly enter virtual collaboration spaces from any location, essentially transforming their homes into fully immersive studios equipped with features that significantly elevate productivity and operational efficiency.
This innovative platform operates in tandem with HTC VR headsets, empowering remote workers to visualize 3D renderings of models and engage with them in real-time, mirroring the dynamics of real-world design reviews.
Unlike traditional approaches, VR in Businesses imposes no constraints on time, place, or space, allowing everyone to contribute to the project in a manner that is most convenient, productive, and comfortable, especially in challenging times.
From a creative perspective, VR affords Ford's design team the freedom to explore novel ideas that would have been impractical in the physical world due to limitations in time and cost.
Recruitment and Onboarding
VR is revolutionizing the recruitment process by offering virtual company tours and immersive onboarding experiences. Deloitte incorporates VR in its recruitment process by offering virtual office tours and inclusive onboarding experiences.
It not only attracts top talent but also ensures a smoother transition for new employees into the company culture.
Deloitte’s VR evaluation initiative involves a simulated setting where recent graduates are given a puzzle to solve, and the results reveal their strengths and capabilities, ultimately influencing recruitment choices.
VR and AR technologies assist prospective hires in remotely envisioning the workplace and becoming acquainted with daily work scenarios. Moreover, VR advancements empower recruiters to introduce gamification features into the recruitment procedure, adding interactivity.
VR-driven safety training enhances employees' proficiency in operating hazardous machinery, managing fragile raw materials, and more. These innovations also elevate technical training by immersing recruits in the intricacies of their job responsibilities.
Virtual Adventure in Tech and Creativity
Innovations keep getting better and the possibilities are endless once VR is incorporated in businesses; the increasing significance of VR in businesses is undeniable today. In the beginning of 2022, Samsung introduced its own immersive virtual realm, 837X, modeled after its flagship store in New York City.
Over time, this virtual world has expanded to incorporate a customization-focused adventure known as "You Make It." Described as a "choose-your-own-journey" quest, You Make It features vibrant colors, intricate landscapes, and three magical characters guiding users through an engaging adventure.
This quest offers a groundbreaking digital experience that intertwines technology with art, music, fashion, and sustainability. Adapted from the physical Samsung flagship location in New York City’s Meatpacking District, this blockchain-powered metaverse serves as a platform for fans to explore the limitless possibilities of Samsung technology.
Marked as one of the most extensive brand takeovers in Decentraland, participants can undertake quests to earn exclusive NFT badges and unique wearables, all while being immersed in Samsung’s core values of connectivity, creativity, and sustainability.
VR in Fashion and Beauty
Positioned at the forefront of the evolving landscape of in-store experiences, the VR digital technology as we have seen by now is, quite literally, refashioning the future. L'Oreal, the beauty industry leader, stands as a trailblazer in this movement, introducing remarkable innovations.
Embracing VR technology, L'Oreal presents an interactive platform for customers through its Makeup Genius app. This application revolutionizes the makeup trial experience, allowing users to virtually experiment with different looks and explore curated styles.
Particularly noteworthy in the current pandemic scenario, Makeup Genius serves as a safe avenue for testing makeup products that enables users to try out various options without the need to venture out to a physical store.
Accessible on both mobile and desktop devices, the Makeup Genius app offers more than just a virtual try-on experience. Users can take advantage of personalized recommendations, ensuring a tailored exploration of L'Oreal's extensive product range.
Additionally, the app provides timely alerts about new product launches, enhancing the overall engagement and convenience for beauty enthusiasts exploring L'Oreal's offerings in the digital realm.
The Future of VR in Businesses
As the realm of integration VR in Businesses continues to seamlessly intertwine with the fabric of business operations, the significance of Virtual Reality emerges as a transformative force.
From improving employee training and collaborative workspaces to strengthening customer engagement and marketing experiences, VR has transcended novelty to become an integral tool for innovative enterprises.
The immersive nature of VR not only fosters a sense of presence but also breaks down geographical barriers, allowing teams to collaborate globally in ways never before imagined.
With its expanding role in shaping diverse sectors, VR also stands as a testament to the boundless possibilities that technology unlocks, promising a future where businesses not only adapt but thrive in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
The journey into the virtual frontier has just begun, and businesses embracing VR are poised to lead the way into a new era of creativity, connectivity, and unparalleled experiences that are elevated on a whole new level.