Here’s How XR Will Transform Businesses Everywhere
Explore the future of business with XR technologies: VR, AR, and Metaverse redefine training, product presentation, and collaboration.
Leaders seek to harness AI-driven XR innovations and understand their full potential. Ross Fernandes, head of XR tech at Qualitest, explores the transformative potential of XR technologies, from AR and VR to the Metaverse, in optimizing business practices.
As companies increasingly offer flexible work options, the rapid advancements in extended reality (XR) technologies have opened up opportunities for businesses to optimize their practices and enhance overall performance. From augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) head-mounted displays and gaming-like consoles to the now infamous Metaverse, XR solutions will shift remote collaboration from a one-dimensional experience into a multi-dimensional one.
XR, which essentially encompasses VR, AR, and mixed reality (MR), offers unique capabilities that can revolutionize employee training, product presentation, and service delivery in the following ways:
Fast-track Training for Enhanced Learning
One of the more impactful applications of XR in business is fast-tracking employee training and strengthening the learning process for future employees and leaders alike. While popular employee learning software has long ruled the workforce, studies are consistently showing that XR-based training leads to significantly higher retention rates compared to traditional training methods.
To effectively utilize XR for training purposes, consider identifying XR technologies that align with your company and training goals. Depending on the industry, these may include immersive VR simulations, AR overlays for real-time instructions, and MR-based interactive experiences. For example, in manufacturing and industrial sectors, VR simulations can be used to train employees on operating heavy machinery, assembly line processes, and safety protocols. On the other hand, AR can provide real-time instruction and guidance, and MR can enable iterative maintenance and troubleshooting training.
Another example of an industry ripe for XR optimization is healthcare. AR overlays can assist in providing real-time information and guidance during medical procedures. VR simulations, meanwhile, can offer realistic training scenarios for medical professionals, allowing them to practice surgical techniques, patient diagnosis, and emergency response in a controlled environment. Essentially, imagine having a tumor, and from afar, your doctor can ultrasound it without even needing to be in the room!
See More: Exploring Generative AI’s Rise Across the Enterprise
Enhance Product Presentation for Immersive Experiences
Another benefit of XR technologies is its ability to offer your company the capability to create immersive product presentations, which can boost customer engagement and increase sales. Leveraging XR tools and platforms create visually appealing and interactive product experiences. From building XR-powered presentations to utilizing synthetic artifacts and animated characters, XR tools provide a more enhanced showcase for available products.
One example in retail was when IKEA launched its app called ‘IKEA Place.’ The app lets users virtually place furniture and home decor items in their own space using smartphones or tablets. Customers can select products from the IKEA catalog and see how they would look and fit in their homes in real-time through the AR overlay. It uses the device’s camera and advanced AR algorithms to accurately map the physical space and scale the virtual furniture accordingly.
Increase Speed and Efficiency of Product Delivery
XR can be pivotal in accelerating product delivery and streamlining service provision across industries. By leveraging the technology, you can enhance efficiency, reduce errors, and provide real-time support to your workforce.
Step one involves identifying use cases to assess your industry-specific use cases for XR implementation. For example, in manufacturing, AR can assist shop floor workers by providing visual instructions and resolving issues in real time, eliminating the need for extensive 1,000-page-plus manuals.
Next, you should explore collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams, which enable avatars to interact and converse. These tools facilitate seamless, integrated remote collaboration and allow geographically dispersed teams to work together more effectively.
Consider These Five Things Before Proceeding
In light of XR’s benefits, we hear from clients often who want to rush into adopting the solutions for their companies. However, implementing XR solutions is an overhaul and requires many considerations to the challenges that can arise, including:
1. Return on investment (ROI): XR implementation can involve significant investment from your company to get the ROI you desire. Instead of diving in headfirst, assess the potential ROI by implementing a specific use case before committing. That can be anything from training sessions to assembly line procedures, wherever you feel your company most requires XR capabilities.
2. Device selection: Choose XR devices that suit your business needs, considering portability, battery life, and comfort. We’re monitoring industry developments such as Apple’s advancements in XR headsets, which promise improved performance and extended battery life. Battery life is a key component when deciding as well. In the future, battery life will improve as much as the iPhone or anything else has, but for now, it remains a heavy consideration.
3. User experience: This is potentially the most consequential human element of the adaptation. User fatigue is a real experience, and companies often forget this, but the human brain can only adjust to so much input. Typically, we estimate that users have around 20 minutes of the technology before they start to grow tired of it, and potential physical discomforts, like heaviness of equipment or headaches, are also to be considered. Design experiences that provide breaks and limit usage to avoid physical and cognitive strain on users.
4. Bias and discrimination: Companies are best to remain cautious of potential bias in XR applications. XR is human-made, meaning implicit bias is a guarantee, so companies must do their best to ensure that XR experiences are inclusive and do not perpetuate discriminatory practices or harm marginalized communities.
5. Legal and ethical implications: The question of legal and ethical considerations is often presented when discussing these types of technologies. While it’s true that companies must address legal and ethical concerns when implementing XR solutions, many ramifications are not that different from what we already know through other means of technology.
For example, these considerations may include compliance and prohibited actions. Therefore, company music clearly defines the boundaries of XR device usage and ensures that employees adhere to company guidelines and aren’t utilizing the devices for their fun or, let’s say a Saturday night house party.
Measure Effectiveness and Impact
To best measure the effectiveness and impact of XR implementation in 2023, companies should track key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned with their business goals, with ROI being the critical determinant and user feedback being the other.
ROI evaluates the financial impact of XR implementation on productivity, cost reduction, and revenue generation across your company. Start with a pilot, look for adoption and effectiveness, then monitor before and after and experiment and continue to build on it from there.
User feedback, meanwhile, collects feedback from employees and customers to gauge their satisfaction levels, identify areas for improvement, and track user adoption rates. This helps your company better understand what the experience feels like for the employees to adapt the system to the protocol better.
Ease Your Users In
To ensure a smooth transition and successful integration of XR technologies into existing workflows, we recommend beginning with a pilot program involving key users to assess the impact of XR on specific tasks or processes. Monitor the before-and-after results and gather feedback to refine the implementation strategy. Another recommendation is to engage influential stakeholders and corporate sponsors who can champion the adoption of XR technologies. Their support and endorsement can facilitate user acceptance and drive widespread adoption.
Ultimately, by leveraging XR technologies well, your business can optimize its practices and unlock new growth opportunities. From fast-tracking training, enhancing product presentations, streamlining delivery processes, and facilitating remote collaboration, XR offers transformative possibilities across multiple industries. With careful planning, collaboration with XR experts, and a focus on user experience, companies can embrace XR and drive business optimization.
How can XR enhance our training programs? Let us know on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn. We’d love to hear from you!
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