Many companies are starting to use virtual reality (VR) to train their employees. Should yours?
If you’re skeptical, don’t be! There are many reasons why you should get really excited about using VR to train staff! One, training using virtual reality is quality training. People typically learn best through experience. Textbooks are not very engaging, and even live demonstrations doesn’t necessarily instill much confidence in the learner. Hands-on activities and practice help them develop skills faster and with more confidence. Another reason is because VR allows trainees to practice new skills before applying them in a real work setting. Mistakes during the training are expected. Mangers are understanding. Virtual reality creates a better training experience for staff and managers alike. Although the technology is not widely used in professional practice, it’s becoming a part of the future of onboarding.
Companies using Virtual reality to help train employees:
1. Logistical and Postal Services
Logistical and postal companies, including, UPS is starting to use virtual reality to train new student drivers. The VR headsets create simulations of roads and the potential hazards. Much like a video game, the users have a 360-degree overview of the driving area. Student drivers have to verbally identify obstacles in the road, including pedestrians, bikes, parked cars. Verbally explaining helps students prepare and plan how to navigate around those potential hazards and practice remaining calm in tense or stressful driving situations.
2. Law Enforcement
It’s becoming more common for law enforcement facilities are using virtual reality to train new officers. Police officers in New Jersey are using a virtual reality simulator, called the VirTra V-300, which are designed to mimic real-life scenarios that officers may encounter while on duty. Using five screens to give a 360-degree view of the situation, officers can prepare for a range of situations, from domestic violence to active shooter. The training officers are given training weapons which operate and weigh like real weapons they would use on the field.
Arguably, we learn best from our mistakes. There are approximately 10 to 15 different outcomes per scenario, each recorded by trained actors. The trainees can learn more about their own weaknesses and strengths, stress thresholds, and learn to keep composure. The training will help teach how to read a crime scene, identify and react to a dead body, and practice language while talking to civilians, perpetrators, and other officers.
3. Hospitality
Virtual reality in the hospitality industry allows trainee travel agents learn more about the resorts, activities, and other vacation experiences that they’re supposed to be selling to customers. These virtual tours help employees offer more authentic recommendations and suggestions to customers, helping them create better, more tailored tourist packages for prospective customers. Furthermore, hotel managers can virtually teach the staff how to prepare rooms and different etiquette to follow while dealing with customers.
4. Restaurants
Today, fast-food and leading restaurant chains are using VR to train staff. Restaurants like KFC and Honeygrow use virtual reality to train employees on cooking techniques, like preparing food and pulling noodles. VR can train staff to estimate serving sizes and maintenance crews to how to clean, fix, disassemble and reassemble equipment and machines. Using virtual technology, restaurants are improving their worker’s efficiency and reducing the chances of accidents.
How could virtual reality train your employees?
Virtual reality (VR) has taken the tech world by storm because it offers something unique to every company and its employees. What can it offer yours? Learn more uses of virtual reality on Arrival 3D!
