Damon Shackelford hosted our online session with 20+ executives to learn from Duke Energy’s XR leader!
The conversation started with sharing backgrounds, focusing on experiences in the VR and utility space, with Jenny highlighting her background in nuclear energy and digital transformation. The discussion progressed to transitioning Duke Energy to an external profit center, developing virtual reality training for electrical operators, challenges in selling VR services, and exploring XR opportunities. Jenny expressed concerns about financial challenges, cybersecurity training, and lack of engagement, leading to plans for implementing design sprints for gamification. The team discussed implementing gamified simulation training, scenario planning, AI-powered characters in training, AR applications for customer delivery operations, and the implementation of a virtual training center metaverse. Jenny advocated for a centralized platform for all training materials within the metaverse. The meeting concluded after covering various topics related to VR training and XR opportunities at Duke Energy.
Topics & Highlights
2. Transition to Profit Center
next steps involve finalizing contracts, legal processes, and sourcing documentation to secure funding for hiring a business development person to handle sales.
3. Development of Virtual Reality Training for Electrical Operators
The decision to develop virtual reality training to reduce safety risks, increase engagement, and improve qualification rates for electrical and gas technicians was made, leading to significant industry firsts.
Approval obtained to sell virtual crew products built with non-regulated dollars, with plans to leverage marketing budget for sales in 2022.
4. Challenges in Selling VR Training Services
reasons behind making the VR training service viable for sale, including successful qualifications, shareholder expectations, and the company's first experience with Software as a Sales.
Various challenges discussed include approval difficulties due to fairness concerns, misconceptions about VR as games, and overcoming naysayers through successful demonstrations and positive feedback.
5. Virtual Training Environment Development
process of creating a custom virtual training environment using a simulation tool similar to SimCity, where trainers can build and customize their own substations for training and qualification purposes.
6. XR Opportunities at Duke Energy
concerns about financial challenges, cybersecurity training effectiveness, and lack of engagement in training programs, leading to the decision to implement design sprints for gamification.
plans to teach her team about design sprints for gamification in cybersecurity training, aiming to enhance engagement and understanding among participants.
7. Implementation of Gamified Simulation Training
challenges of securing funding upfront for the gamified simulation training despite potential cost savings of $10 million. Damon Shackelford and Steven F also express concerns about the difficulty in obtaining budget based on projected savings.
8. Scenario Planning and Visualization
explore the use of AI and deep learning to enhance the gamified simulation training, potentially making it more immersive and engaging.
interest in using AI to create a better business case and agrees to give it a try.
importance of exploring new business strategies and technologies, encouraging a mindset shift towards innovation and risk-taking.
9. AI-powered Characters in Training
The team is actively working on implementing AI-powered characters for training scenarios, focusing on creating avatars with specific job roles, incorporating PPE, and developing a virtual training center with a metaverse for multiplayer interactions.
10. Augmented Reality (AR) Applications
The team has successfully implemented an AR application for customer delivery operations using iPads, streamlining the approval process and reducing rework, with plans to explore more AR and VR applications.
11. Implementation of Virtual Training Center Metaverse
personal opinion on having all training materials in one application within a virtual training center metaverse
