Extended Reality (XR) is the new name coined for Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality technology and has been one of the most significant technological breakthroughs in recent years. Virtual Reality headsets such as the Oculus Rift and the Playstation VR have already made it into households around the world and revolutionised the gaming experience. Aside from gaming, Extended Reality continues to develop in a number of other industries, helping with the improvement of work itself and helping HR professionals to enhance the worklife of employees. Here’s how XR can improve staff engagement in the workplace:
Training
One of the biggest benefits Extended Reality brings to the workplace is that it can train new recruits with super realistic simulations, and it encourages staff to get hands on with their role. This is particularly invaluable for jobs that require a lot of attention to detail, as it can make new hires feel more at ease when carrying out high-pressure or high-risk tasks in real life. Virtual Reality is already very prominent in this area, with 63% using, or planning to use, VR for training and simulation. As an example, firefighters have been using VR training to great success, by simulating large blazes in different settings, so they are fully prepared for any type of outcome.
Collaboration
Many companies have branches on different corners of the globe which means that international group projects are commonplace. Implementing Extended Reality in the workplace is an excellent way to boost the levels of interactivity between all employees, regardless of where they are in the world. These technologies provide a completely different experience to video conferencing, as users will share the same virtual space as their co-workers so they feel more engaged with one another. Businesses are starting to realise that using XR in the workplace is far more conducive to completing successful collaborative projects than traditional methods, and this will easily allow employees to work remotely more often than not.
Affinity
There can be times in a worker’s career when they feel that they’re not fully engaged with their employers, and this can lead to low morale and under-par performances. Depending on the nature of your business, it can sometimes be hard to get your workers to feel any affinity with it. With Extended Reality though, studies have shown users are more likely to feel an emotional connection to the message shown because of how immersive the experience is. A multi-sensory experience is unlikely to stay out of mind for long, which is why XR should be considered as a mainstay in any workplace, regardless of industry. As the human attention span is open to many distractions, it’s important for companies to focus on immersing their employees with groundbreaking technologies such as XR.
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality have successfully made it into the mainstream in regards to gaming and entertainment, but they are also rapidly evolving for a wide range of business practices. Not only can they massively improve staff engagement, but they are also creating dynamic interactions between brands and customers and helping developers design products quicker and more effectively.
