We’ve all seen the buzz around XR technology in corporate training, but let’s be real – not every implementation is a walk in the park.
Cutting-edge learning technologies are making a notable impact in corporate training. Whether it’s implementing XR to enhance the onboarding experience with interactive training or to support employees while on the job, virtual reality and augmented reality training programs are improving employee performance by giving people the chance to learn by doing.
It might be hard to imagine how organizations fail to meet their objectives with these impressive tech advancements, but there’s always room for error in the implementation process, especially if an organization lacks industry insights. Are you ready to advance your workforce with exciting new learning opportunities? We’ve put together an overview of the biggest mistakes to avoid when implementing XR technology for training.
AR and VR are not the same. Although AR and VR often overlap categorically, they serve separate distinct purposes and in many cases, can complement one another. VR serves as the bridge between foundational learning and the real world by equipping learners with the knowledge, skills, and practice to apply on the job. By contrast, AR is best used as a just-in-time training tool on the job. Learning in the flow of work can be a great asset for employees because they have quick, convenient access to items, like SOPs and 3D walkthroughs. Instead of trying to make a specific hardware fit your training use case, you should first identify the internal challenge you are looking to solve – the right hardware or modality will come naturally.
The XR space is growing so rapidly in popularity, new companies seem to be popping up overnight. While many vendors may showcase great looking examples, beneath the cool factor veneer are examples of programs that lack tangible metrics to demonstrate how their program can actually save organizations time and money. Finding an XR partner with an extensive learning background is helpful to ensure you aren’t designing and developing training that falls flat.
When using VR or AR devices, we open a whole new world of potential data collection to show exactly where an employee is proficient and where they still need help. Organizations can miss out on a huge opportunity if they only track completion rates. Capturing meaningful metrics is key to optimizing your training program and closing knowledge gaps. Don’t make the mistake of overlooking the value of training data.
If the right use case is identified up front and the pilot group is showing positive results, it’s important to prepare for what a full enterprise rollout looks like. For example, knowing how devices will be provisioned, stored, updated, and which contacts support of the hardware vs. the software, how do I run reports across different locations or groups, etc. These are all things that need to be considered.
It is crucial to involve IT early in the process. They can be your strongest support when it comes to managing and rolling out devices – it’s what they do best!
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Find a partner with established relationships.
Unlike many traditional learning projects, you could find yourself in a unique position to utilize several new vendors for content development, hardware (headsets, storage devices, and accessories), software, mobile device management (MDM), and analytics. Spend a little time up front determining if the vendor you are engaged with already has partnerships in place, so your project isn’t delayed due to the onboarding process.
Partnering with the right XR vendor can ensure that your organization implements a data-driven training strategy that will deliver strong ROI. With the correct modality and pilot strategy, your organization can engage your workforce with experiential learning opportunities.
Learn what matters most in a successful AR or VR program and discover what the next steps are! Contact Nick Day at nday@roundtablelearning.com to jumpstart the conversation.
