Immersive technology is driving digital innovation and transforming industrial, energy and engineering enterprise
Ann Arbor, MI, December 2, 2021 – Enterprises are using efficiency, cost savings and safety as their main business cases to grow VR training programs, according to the Industrial XR Training Survey Sector Report released by Oberon Technologies® and Industrial XR Forum.
The Industrial XR Training Survey Sector report discusses the current state of XR training in industrial applications, with industry statistics, end user case studies and current challenges. The survey of industry stakeholders involved with XR training programs showed that most enterprises are still in the research and exploration phases, while the early adopters are scaling their programs. Almost 80 percent of respondents shared that the objective of their industrial XR programs is training and learning development and that the main goals of their XR training programs are cost savings, safety, employee engagement and employee retention.
“In this report, we are seeing that enterprises are using immersive worlds to train employees on everything from equipment operation and hazardous environments to safety and conflict resolution, because it provides significant cost saving in comparison to traditional training methods,” says Vi Kellersohn, CMO of Oberon Technologies®. “This backs up what we have been seeing from our clients for quite some time. Most enterprises don’t know the true costs of their current training methods until we compare them to VR as we help them craft their business case.”
Areas of Value for VR Training
Respondents to the Industrial XR Forum Survey indicated areas in their organization where they see the highest value for VR training opportunities. More than 60 percent of respondents said equipment use and operation training and safety training has the highest value. VR training allows for employees to train on hazardous tasks and equipment without risking safety.
The ROI of XR Training
As a newer technology, XR training often has higher up-front costs to develop, but also has a high ROI by reducing travel and equipment time. Survey respondents saw reduced travel time and reduced equipment downtime as the biggest potential benefits to their company’s bottom line.
Barriers to Adopting VR Training
Survey respondents also shared the greatest barrier their company faces in implementing VR training. More than 53 percent of respondents said that lack of executive buy-in and cost of VR technology are barriers to adopting VR training. Resistance to change from current training methods is not a barrier to most respondents, with only 33 percent stating that it is a significant barrier.
The report also includes resources, like white papers, case studies and videos from Shell, ExxonMobil, South Dakota Mines, MSHA and large electric utilities companies about their use of XR training for hazardous and dangerous situations and operating construction equipment.
Shell reported using XR to reduce the risk of training for hazardous and dangerous situations, including helicopter crashes. Their immersive tech program allows trainees to experience dangerous situations and learn how to respond to them in a safe, controlled virtual environment.
“We can deliver training where people are working, in the flow of training and work, which is a significant cost benefit for us,” says James Johnson, Global People and Organizational Development Leader of Shell.
Download the Industrial XR Training Survey Sector Report and watch an on-demand webinar about the survey’s findings.