How Virtual Reality Is Helping Remote Workers

There are still some issues with perception and experience of working with the technology, with struggles for acceptance of VR in the workplace. However, Zain Jaffer, founder and CEO of Zain Ventures, believes that COVID-19 has accelerated the move towards immersive virtual experiences in the enterprise. He states that the adoption increase is a result of the following aspects:

• Affordability – VR hardware is now more affordable. Other technologies such as AI and machine learning allow for ease of VR software technology integration with minimal cost.
• Reducing ‘in person’ activity – VR has promising applications for team-building: training, upskilling, and re-skilling operations. The technology is considered equivalent to face-to-face training. VR training comes at a lower overall cost, and also reduces training time, which enables employees to spend more time on other necessary tasks.
• Intra-company engagement – VR boosts creativity and aids collaboration during remote work. Teams can visualise projects and share more detailed versions. Three-dimensional technology facilitates a better interface; companies using 3D instead of 2D achieve a 40% higher sales conversion rate.

Use Cases in Retail

CEO of Vertebrae, Vince Cacace, has been involved with the rise of AR over the last 10 years. He has stated that AR has received a large boost from the retail sector, especially with physical shops closing during the pandemic. As the technology improves, and as smartphone cameras detect greater distance and depth, it will become easier to place virtual objects in physical environments using AR.

Cacace is quoted to have said that 3D and AR technology can now benefit smaller brands and products, where it was initially used for large scale items.

Connecting Workers

Since COVID-19, AR and VR have changed the way people interact. It allows for people to connect with each other and collaborate in meetings. Employees from any part of the world can work on projects together and discuss ideas. Company designers can create 3D models and view them in VR to visualise scale and adapt it.

For travel applications, VR also allows customers to view desired hotels. This encourages bookings, in turn boosting revenue.

Training Remotely

VR functions as a digital workplace, acting as a training tool for new employees and remote workers. The immersive nature of the technology overcomes lack of engagement by removing distractions and providing instant feedback to the trainee. VR modules can use animations or video recordings to simulate scenarios for managers to practise in. Employees can also use VR for repeated practise due to lack of required supervision, which improves confidence.

According to Derek Belch, CEO of Strivr, the collaboration aspect of AR and VR may become essential to the digital workplace.

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