AR and VR for Corporate Training: How it Works

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are both highly beneficial tools we can harness for corporate training plans. They've overtaken the use of traditional and generic training and development programs, by making training more engaging, interactive and personalised.

The use of VR and AR in corporate training 

VR and AR can be used to provide a comprehensive approach to employee training across your entire organisation. We can use VR and AR alongside artificial intelligence to create an entirely suitable training plan for your business, and personalised interactions for your employees. This is because AI is able to monitor the progress of individuals and keep track of their strengths and weaknesses, as well as altering training plans accordingly. 

These technologies can be used alongside traditional methods to implement an advanced version of established techniques. VR means we can host roleplay sessions in virtual environments to recreate the actual situation your employees would find themselves in. Without the help of VR, roleplay based training still works, but won’t be as realistic as with virtual reality. 

Product demonstrations also work much more smoothly thanks to VR and AR. Without actually needing access to the physical product or service, we can use VR and AR to simulate a lifelike replication. As with roleplay training, we could still carry out product demonstrations without VR and AR, but at a much higher cost, and much less convenience.

Examples of AR and VR training in a corporate workspace

Here are some good examples of AR and VR training in a corporate setting:

• Safety training - We can use VR to recreate realistic scenarios that expose employees to potential dangers of the workplace, as well as teaching them how to deal with them. 

• Healthcare training - Using VR, we can train healthcare professionals and simulate environments like operating theatres to increase efficiency in a low-risk environment. 

• Sales training - Possibly our most effective use of virtual and augmented reality is when providing sales training. We can build virtual but realistic environments for roleplay based scenarios, in which your sales representatives can work on their selling skills and handling objections.

• On-the-job training - Augmented reality allows employees to receive real time information/feedback whilst performing tasks. Typically, feedback would have to be given after the task has been completed, as a debrief. Thus, augmented reality saves time, and increases efficiency and information retention massively. 

How AR and VR technologies can help with corporate sales training

AR and VR help best with corporate sales training when harnessed with the goal being to improve traditional methods. As we’ve spoken about, this is evident with classic training methods such as roleplays and product demonstrations. However, there are a number of other ways which AR and VR technologies can help with corporate sales training.

• One such way is through the development of soft skills. eLearning courses can be developed to work with virtual reality to deliver targeted training sessions.
  
  This is perfect if there is a specific area you feel your team as a whole needs to work on, as we can develop a training plan, then apply it to an entire team. This is an efficient and effective method for developing soft skills.
  
  

• Another way these technologies can help with corporate sales training is through automated custom training. Customised and personalised training plans are one thing, but using AI to automate these processes is another. Artificial intelligence can analyse and monitor the individuals in your business separately, facilitating a highly customised experience which takes into account varying personal strengths and weaknesses.
  
  This is an improvement on department-wide ‘one size fits all’ type training plans, which are often helpful, but don’t account for the fact that everybody is different, and needs guidance in different areas. This is a highly reliable way to improve the skills your employees have, promoting corporate growth.

When to invest in modern sales training in a corporate environment

You should invest in modern sales training in a corporate environment if you’re looking to take your team to the next level. Investing in training for your employees is a reliable way to transform the culture within your workplace.

Show your employees that you’re investing in the future of your company, and their careers, through world class training from a proven provider such as Mentor Group. We’ve worked alongside some of the world’s biggest businesses to deliver useful sales training solutions which have garnered positive and tangible results - you can read about this in our case studies.

To begin your journey with us, get in contact. We’ll answer any questions you may have, before you start your training journey with us.