7/9/19--No offense to Microsoft—they have changed the world! But PowerPoint-based corporate training is definitely ripe for disruption. XR (Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality) has opened the door to the 3-dimensional parallel universe where humans can now “DO" anything they want—with no risk, near zero cost, and with near infinite scalability and repeatability.
The XR technology that has emerged in the last few years, from companies like HTC, Oculus, Microsoft and Magic Leap, and the advances in phone-based AR from companies like 8th Wall, provide modern corporate trainers and consultants with a brand-new quiver of tools so powerful and magical, that to not use them is downright dangerous.
Retaining employees and empowering them with constant training and support is key to success for most companies. Highly immersive XR-based training, even in its simplest form of 360-degree video with interactive hotspots, produces a level of engagement, retention and performance, that no medium from the 2D digital past can come close to achieving.
Any organization that has at least 50 employees such as sales, service, front line workers, or technicians should be taking full advantage of this new, powerful technology; especially those that operate in environments with complex products, complex processes or dangerous environments.
While overall adoption is still in the early stage, the decrease in technology costs and the emergence of cost effective XR Learning platforms such as XD Learning, the pace of conversion to XR Training is expected to accelerate rapidly over the next 12 months. In fact, industry trends suggest a 60% yearly growth in XR Learning overall.
All cutting-edge technology tends to be approached by industries with caution and even fear—but XR isn’t as scary as you may think. It is incredibly easy to use, has a low cost of entry, is highly cost effective, and can be justified with massive ROI that far outweighs even the most conservative risk premium.
Here's an example:
You are a product manufacturer and you have to train and evangelize your customers, employees, and partners on a brand new, relatively complex product. In which method would YOU learn best if you were in their shoes? A static presentation deck, 2D video and text, or through an immersive, 3D experience where the learner is literally at the center of the action but in a virtual, safe, intuitive environment.
Humans are used to seeing 3D objects. Therefore XR, due to its 3D, interactive elements, is a natural environment for human beings.
And while there's virtually no risk and no cost of failure, the amount of engagement and retention from XR Training is head-and-shoulders above all other learning modalities.
The wealth of data we can harness and study from each interaction in a 3D virtual reality training environment is exponentially larger than anything previously available.
XR Training can determine where the user was looking, how long they were doing a particular action, what buttons or levers they pushed, how many correct and incorrect decisions they made, and how they answered questions in words or actions. After performing the simulation in XR, were they able to approach the machine and make the necessary changes? input the necessary variables successfully?
Advanced XR Learning platforms capture all of this valuable training data and present it to facilitators, managers and learners in easy to use, concise reports. In addition, these platforms integrate with internal enterprise solutions to streamline the entire training process. Next generation platforms will even personalize the learning experience based on artificial intelligence and machine learning.
All this is 100% doable today! it's exceedingly cost effective due to advances in tech, and the abundance of highly trained resources who know how to maximize the value of these technologies to deliver measurable performance.
The decision between using AR, VR or MR is purely one based on the goals of the training program and should never be a decision of technology for technology sake. Yes, AR is “easier,” but VR may be the better option. Yes, MR requires more expensive headsets, but if your training goals necessitate it, the payoff will be assured.
Fear is natural, but fear is deadly in an exponential world where disruption is the norm. XR-based training has zero downside, virtually zero risk, and a unparalleled ROI for companies brave enough to make the leap.