VR technology is being used for employee training by more and more companies. As we discussed previously, there’s effectiveness and limitations of VR for professional training. However, as technology advances, its application scenarios and advantages are expanding.
So why use VR in employee training?
According to research, performance on students' post-tests can improve by 25% when they learn with virtual reality technology. The brain tends to remember 10% of what it reads, 20% of what it hears and 90% of what it operates or simulates. Therefore, having employees learn in VR can boost their engagement and learning efficiency. Meanwhile, by simulating the actual working environment, it can also reinforce memory and improve knowledge retaining rate.
Personalized training
The immersive environment allows the training content to be personalized for employees based on their skill level and job requirements.
In addition, VR provides instant feedback so that employees can immediately correct mistakes and deepen their memory of the correct information, thus improving the effectiveness of the training. Furthermore, training content and feedback can be recorded throughout the entire process so that it can be easily updated.
Cost Reduction
Although the investment in VR equipment is high initially, in the long-term it decreases the cost, in terms of training space, materials and repeat sessions. Furthermore, one device can be used to provide training for multiple employees, regardless if they apply the same skills or not.
Training over geographic boundaries
VR breaks down geographic constraints, allowing employees to receive uniform training in the same virtual environment even if they are not in the same location, which eliminates the trouble and cost of traveling.
Moreover, employees are able to conduct collaborative training with teams in virtual environments through multi-user VR scenarios, which enhances the ability to collaborate in the actual working environment.
Next, let's take a look at a practical application of VR technology in employee training.
Walmart
Walmart is one of the earliest companies to apply VR technology to employee training on a large scale.
By using VR to simulate customer service, inventory management, store emergency handling and other scenarios, the employees complete these tasks in a virtual environment.
This training method allows employees to perform better when dealing with complex and emergency situations.
Shell
Shell is using VR to train employees about safe operations on oil rigs.
VR technology allows employees to practice how to respond to risky situations such as equipment malfunctions, fires or spills in a safe virtual oilfield environment.
As a result, on-site training requires much less time, while the safety awareness and emergency response skills of employees are enhanced.
Boeing
Boeing uses VR for the training process in the assembly of airplane parts. In the past, this complex training took a long time and and was easily error-prone for new employees.
With VR, employees can operate in a virtual environment and learn how to install and maintain complex airplane components, reducing the risk of making mistakes and improving their hands-on skills.
Such training is possible with TechViz's Virtual Assembly feature, which merges 3D models from different applications (Dassault Systèmes Catia V5, Autodesk Navisworks, Siemens PLM NX, etc.) into a virtual environment and then make them visualized. Additionally, changes can be made in real time across applications without the need to convert data.
UPS (United Parcel Service)
UPS (United Parcel Service) trains truck drivers with VR to simulate various dangerous situations in driving. Drivers can experience driving in different weather conditions through VR and learn how to deal with unexpected situations.
A similar case of training is the use of mixed reality to customize the training experience by the UK's National Highways. Using head-mounted gear, they provide an MR driving training simulator that allows drivers to go through a range of demanding training situations in order to develop professional driving skills and techniques, and to prepare them for situations they may encounter on patrol.
Thus we see that through VR technology, we can improve the effectiveness of employee training and reduce training risks in a number of ways, and it also has a positive effect on saving costs in the long-term.