From VRARA Member WarpVR: VR is a powerful tool for training agencies looking to scale, improve their offerings, and differentiate themselves from the competition.
Introduction
At least 77 studies have found VR to be more effective than traditional learning. By traditional, we mean book learning, on-the-job training, watching a presentation, and even some forms of e-learning. If you work in L&D or as an instructional designer, you might already be aware of similar statistics. Still, for many training agencies, there are a lot of questions that boil down to, “I see the statistics, but how do I know it will work for me? What do I need to do to implement this?”
In this blog from VRARA Member WarpVR , we’ll attempt to address those questions starting with covering some of the typical challenges that we hear from training agencies looking to expand into VR.
The Challenges Training Agencies Face
Training agencies today encounter several key challenges that can impact their effectiveness and efficiency. Among these are:
Engagement: Traditional training methods often struggle to hold learners' attention in an age of digital distractions.
Retention: Retaining information from conventional training sessions is increasingly challenging, affecting training outcomes.
Ease of use: Retraining or hiring new employees makes it too expensive or time consuming to adopt new technologies. New technologies need to easily fit in to existing workflows or training programs.
Cost-Effectiveness: High costs associated with physical training spaces, travel, and time out of the workplace are major concerns.
VR has the power to address all of these concerns, especially anything related to learning quality.
The Power of VR in Training
VR training can exist on it’s own, or it can augment existing training. For example, some trainings or groups of training might be more suited to VR than others. The first that comes to mind is a set of trainings that develops interpersonal skills or soft skills. These types of training benefit greatly from the real-life aspect of VR which makes them significantly outperform traditional training in this context.
Let’s discuss the benefits of VR training more broadly:
Experiential learning: VR places learners in a simulated environment where they can interact and have true-to-life training, making learning experiential.
Enhanced Engagement: The interactive nature of VR keeps learners engaged, which enhances the overall learning experience and effectiveness.
Repetition and Practice: VR allows learners to practice and repeat scenarios multiple times until they master the skills, providing a safe space for trial and error.
Accessibility: VR training can be accessed remotely and on devices such as smart phones, tablets, and computers. Learner convenience one of the most valuable aspects of VR training.
But there are other benefits that work outside of the training itself:
Expanding agency offerings: VR is a unique type of training that can set agencies apart from their competitors.
Hiring new employees or upskilling: 360 video requires little to no new employees or upskilling. 3D simulations on the other hand will require significant investment.
Integration with workflow: 360 video functions similar to other eLearning in terms of workflow. If you can add an eLearning module, you can add 360 video VR. Scroll down a few sections to learn more about 3D vs 360 video.
Off-the-shelf and customized training
Different agencies tend to offer different types of trainings. VR can be used in both customized content and off-the-shelf content.
Off-the-Shelf Content: This type of training involves pre-designed VR training modules that are ready for immediate use. These modules are general and can be applied across various industries and scenarios. They offer quick deployment and cost savings, as they do not require additional development time.
Custom Content: Customized VR training is tailored to the specific needs of a company. This approach ensures that the training content aligns perfectly with the company's processes, culture, and objectives. While more time-consuming and potentially more costly upfront, custom VR training can deliver highly relevant and impactful learning experiences that address precise training requirements.
This can create difficulty when choosing a VR platform, because the time required to create scenarios can vary greatly. This usually comes down to whether a company chooses 3D training or 360 video training. Each has its merits, but 3D training is far, far more expensive and resource intensive. While a 360 video training can be ready in a few weeks, a single 3D scenario might takes 6 months or more to develop.
More on 3D vs 360 video
Because VR training is often split into 3D and 360 video, it can be difficult for newcomers to estimate the cost of training. It is a serious impediment in the industry, as 3D training providers don’t mention 360 video in their advertisements or content related to cost. Some articles list the cost as around 50,000-150,000$ to create, and others go even higher. Why? For a 3D training, you’ll need a lot more trained professionals inducing 3D modelers and all of the software that they will require. The production will take months, with the modeler being paid around 100$ per hour in some cases. This only applies to 3D modeled training though, and not 360 video, which is significantly cheaper.
360 video, at Warp VR for example, will cost 100 euros for each scenario per month, with that price decreasing as more scenarios are added.
Of course, both 3D and 360 will require some equipment, especially 3D which will almost always need to be played on a VR headset. 360 video however, can be played on a variety of devices such as tablet, phone, or computer.
Implementing VR Training in Your Agency
Assessment of Needs: Identify your clients' training objectives and determine how VR can address these goals effectively. Focus on the specific outcomes they desire, such as improved engagement or retention. Alternatively, you can plan off-the-shelf content that can either fit your training niche or appeal the largest amount of clients possible (like safety training, aggression training, procedural training, etc.).
Choosing the Right VR Platform: Evaluate VR platforms based on your technical requirements, budget, and the types of training you offer (360 video vs. 3D simulations). Ensure the platform integrates seamlessly with your existing workflow.
Content Development: Plan, film and construct your training within your VR platform you. The more prepared you are, the smoother it will go. Check out our knowledge hub for more info on this (or give us a call and we’ll explain it).
Pilot Testing: Conduct pilot tests with select client groups to gather feedback and refine the training content. This step ensures the VR training is effective and well-received before full-scale implementation.
Integration and Support: Ensure the VR training integrates smoothly with your clients’ existing Learning Management Systems (LMS). Be sure to check the support ratings of the platform that you do choose. Customer success and support can significantly cut down time to see ROI.
You can also check out or blog on typical implementation concerns here.
Choosing 360 or 3D options
We’ve spoken a lot about the differences between 360 video and 3D training so far, but now let’s discuss some use cases.
360 Video: This is ideal for scenarios where a real-world environment needs to be captured and presented as-is. For example, safety protocols in a factory or onboarding tours of a corporate office can be effectively showcased using 360 video. It provides an immersive, real-world experience that is straightforward to produce and requires minimal post-production work.
3D Training: This option is better suited for interactive training modules that require high levels of interaction and detailed simulations. 3D training is perfect for complex skill development, such as surgical procedures, mechanical repairs, or any scenario where users need to interact with virtual objects. The creation of 3D environments requires more time and expertise, but it allows for a fully interactive and customizable training experience.
Source: https://www.roadtovr.com/osso-vr-training-surgeons/
Conclusion
VR is a powerful tool in the arsenal of any training agency. It offers a completely new experience to clients looking to enhance the quality of their training programs, while also improving scalability and engagement, and making learning more enjoyable and effective. With VR, training scenarios become immersive, allowing learners to practice in realistic environments without the risks associated with real-world training. This leads to better retention of information and skills. Additionally, VR training can be easily updated and customized to fit specific client needs, providing a versatile solution for diverse industries. Integrating VR into your training offerings can set your agency apart from competitors, demonstrating your commitment to innovative and effective training solutions.
