The benefits of virtual reality and mixed reality training
Time and budget constraints, a dispersed workforce and employee retention challenges are pushing organisations to find innovative learning and development solutions. Virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) training is becoming a key option.
Traditional in-person training remains the most popular training method,1 but the VR and MR education market is not to be overlooked. Here, we'll dive into VR training, and why the technology is set to reach a value of USDÂ 28.7Â billion by 2030s.
What is VR and MR training?
VR training uses a headset and handheld controllers to create a simulation of a real-world environment. You feel as if you're in a new world with other learners, able to interact with objects and speak to each other. With augmented reality (AR), you remain aware of your physical surroundings, but digital elements such as audio, video and text appear on top.
Mixed reality (MR) blends the real and virtual worlds, allowing digital elements to interact with your environment. For example, you could place digital training materials on your kitchen counter or next to a cup of coffee.
Find out more about the difference between VR, AR and MR.
Why use VR and MR training?
Bring VR, MR and AR into a training environment and you create personalised, fully immersive learning experiences that can be delivered anywhere in the world, at any time, allowing employees to learn at their own pace.
The immersive learning experiences provided by VR add a new dimension to how employees can develop both hard and soft skills. In fact, Meta research finds that 65% of people who deliver VR training believe that the technology improves employee engagement and interaction compared to other online methods.2
In the real world, 70% of learning and development happens on the job through trial and error. We gain new skills through repetition. VR and MR training closes the gap between theory and practice, allowing employees to make errors in a controlled, low-risk environment until they know what they're doing.
The "hands on", experiential learning offered by VR is a proven technique for increasing knowledge retention. It also speeds up the learning process. 59% of employees who deliver training in VR believe that the technology improves learners' understanding of content compared with other online methods,3 helping learning and development budgets go that bit further.
Another benefit of VR and MR training is its potential to offer real-time feedback and data insights. This allows programmes to be tailored to the individual. As well as getting new starters up to speed, it keeps employees' skills up to date, allowing businesses to support a consistently well-trained workforce who feel capable and competent.
Compared with other online methods, 65% of people given soft skills training in VR feel more confident applying what they learned.4 This leads to greater satisfaction and fulfilment in the workplace, which in turn encourages employee retention.
Eight advantages of VR and MR training
1. Access from anywhere
For a remote workforce, who often feel at a disadvantage compared to their office-based counterparts, VR and MR training is a great leveller. Remote employees have access to the same training. But even better, training can be personalised to accommodate their location, role and experience – and address any knowledge gaps. Equally, headsets can operate without cables or even PCs – there's minimum setup required.
2. Focus and engagement
There's a positive correlation between learner engagement and effective teaching. By immersing employees in a distraction-free interactive world, VR and MR raises the bar when it comes to engagement. Meta research finds that 65% of people who are taught soft skills in VR believe the training improves their ability to remain focused compared to traditional methods.5
3. Faster and more effective learning
The experiential nature of VR and MR training engages the senses, encouraging active learning. It also accommodates different learning styles – for example, visual, auditory and kinaesthetic (which involves learning through bodily movement). This builds new skills more quickly and effectively.
Equally, practising new procedures before their official rollout, or getting hands-on with equipment upgrades before they're installed, reduces the time usually required to learn on the job. This has a positive impact on the efficiency of a business and can also reduce health and safety risks. VR and MR can also create replicas of the workplace, allowing employees to develop specialist technical skills on virtual production lines, or in simulated laboratories and operating theatres.
4. Scaling up
VR and MR makes it easier to deliver standardised, high-quality training across your organisation. And with remote or even virtual instructors, the necessary expertise becomes widely accessible. You can update headsets with new content on a regular basis, and real-time results make it easy to monitor progress and address any issues.
5. Cost savings
Setting up VR content requires up to a 48% more investment than similar classroom or e-learning courses. However, after the initial outlay, VR and MR training can be a cost-effective way to bring new skills into the business. At a scale of 2,000+ employees, the technology becomes the most budget-friendly option. It also reduces the amount of managerial support required, freeing up time for those in supervisory roles.
6. Better onboarding
VR and MR training helps new starters familiarise themselves with their role and fill any skills gaps. And multiple employees can be trained at the same time.
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer reaped the benefits of faster learning in VR when their immersive training programme resulted in a 40% reduction in training time. This helped operators manufacture more than 4.5 billion doses of the Covid vaccine.
7. Improved safety and risk reduction
Learning how to operate dangerous or expensive machinery, carry out complex procedures or manage high-stress situations becomes a low-risk exercise in the virtual world. Mirroring real-life situations, VR and MR simulations allow employees to practice, build confidence and hone their skills.
VR and MR is also an effective way to deliver bespoke health and safety training, as demonstrated by Enel Group's VR training scenarios set in wind turbines. In these immersive environments, mistakes become valuable learning experiences.
8. Environmental benefits and sustainability
VR training removes the need to travel to a venue or pay for accommodation. This reduces costs, cuts carbon footprints and minimises waste and equipment wear. It also allows businesses to share workplace sustainability policies in a virtual world, teaching employees how to care for the real world more effectively.
Industries using VR for training
The pharmaceutical industry
VR is helping to transform drug design. Software like Nanome enables scientists to recreate molecules in a fraction of the time compared to traditional 3D models, with greater accuracy. The team at Nanome believes immersive drug design will open the door to more breakthroughs in molecular science.
The shipping industry
Immersive learning is unlocking new levels of efficiency across global supply chains. At Maersk, VR training is empowering staff to work more efficiently and navigate complex challenges brought on by climate change. Next, the company plans to innovate further by using digital twins to make data-led decisions.
The renewable energy industry
Realistic, immersive training scenarios mean that energy companies can upskill their staff without disrupting operations. When Enel Grids teamed up with VR training software provider Vinci VR, they not only saw an improvement in the quality of their training but even more interest from students looking to start careers in renewable energy.
Getting started with VR and MR training
To add VR training to your organisation's learning and development mix, you can do one of two things.
- Download an app: Ready-made apps provide "off the shelf" training on a wide range of topics. The content your team needs to improve their communication skills, develop emotional intelligence and overhaul customer service could be a download away.
Alternatively, Talespin offers the option to take your current training modules and make them immersive. Your business gets the best of both worlds: content catered to your needs and optimised for a more engaging experience with minimal effort required.
- Partner with a software developer: For more tailored VR and MR training, businesses should explore working with an XR experience studio to create original content. The process may take longer, but a bespoke program gives you greater control over the topics employees learn, how they are taught and how its impact is measured.
"Where VR comes in, is to really provide learners and individuals at large, dispersed organisations the opportunity to focus and really fail in a safe place." – Stephen Fromkin, Talespin
Discover how Meta Horizon managed solutions can scale your organisation with virtual and mixed reality. Learn how you can use VR and MR to build the future of work and education with our success stories. Getting started is easy, please
VR learning and training
VR insights hub
Welcome to the new era of immersive learning
- 1. "Workplace learning and development – statistics and facts" Statista, accessed 31 July 2024, https://www.statista.com/topics/4281/workplace-learning-and-development/#topicOverview.
- 2-5. Source: "Survey: VR at Work, 2023" by CCS Insight (Meta-commissioned study of 500 UK and US respondents using VR at work), Feb 2024.
