4 Use Cases of Virtual Reality
What is Virtual Reality?
A really expensive way of having fun? A gimmick that makes you look more tech-like or sci-fi?
There are probably thousands of different responses you can hear about what Virtual Reality is, but unfortunately understanding how you can use Virtual Reality is rarely brought up.
Let’s change that. Here are 4 use cases of Virtual Reality.
1. Revamping Retail
There is a big debate around enterprise expectation of virtual reality’s potential, and fortunately, VR has found a number of ways to make businesses and industries more effective and efficient.
Let’s take a look at retail.
No, you won’t be needing to wear your VR headset every time you go shopping. We’re going to look at this from an enterprise perspective.
Using VR is a great solution for retailers when it comes to sharing immersive shopping experiences to prospective customers.
Take Westfield Mall, for example. Westfield utilized headsets to showcase the latest fashion collection to customers. Similarly, North Face used virtual reality technology to transport customers to Yosemite National Part as they were shopping normally — this is how Northface enhanced their storytelling around exploration. Lexus used virtual reality to allow people to take a test drive of their new models in a much more ‘realistic’ way.
Will the retail industry continue to use Virtual Reality to enhance the customer experience, or is this just a use-case that will slowly falter? What do you think?
2. Medical
Almost anyone can relate to being afraid of needles and injections at some point in their lives.
Imagine using Virtual Reality as a distraction method in a pediatric setting. Have them put on a VR headset and experience the thrill of riding a roller coaster or helicopter, but unknowingly receiving their injections at the exact same time you begin your ride.
The moment you take off your headset, you’re done.
Any method that increases the percentage of children vaccinated on-time and on schedule is critical in primary care pediatric. But that’s not all.
Using Virtual Reality, for new surgeons, you can participate in an operation in real-time. For nurses and doctors, you’ll be able to relax chronic patients with medical VR. And for patients recovering from a stroke, brain surgery, or other extensive injuries that require physical rehabilitation, Virtual Reality will inevitably help speed up the recovery process.
Even though the field is relatively new, there are already clear examples of VR having a positive effect on patients’ lives and physicians’ work.
3. Onboarding/Training
There are already many companies using Virtual Reality for employee training. For instance, Walmart is currently using Oculus Go headsets to help onboarding new employees by teaching them about new technology, compliance, and customer service skills.
VR is able to simulate real-life experiences, which is invaluable when it comes to employee training. This can effectively cut training time and efficiently onboard new employees by providing a simulation where these employees can be introduced to their work environment in a safe and comfortable way.
Not only that — with VR, you’ll soon be able to provide equal access to training in multiple regions.
How does this work? Well, if you have an employee in the U.S and one in Manchester, they both will be able to access the same training simply by putting on a headset.
VR is changing the future of HR in all aspects — recruiting, onboarding, and training. VR continues to open up new opportunities, and it won’t be long until it becomes mainstream in employee training.
4. Data-Visualization
The need for data and the theoretical value of data is high, but where’s the accessibility? How can you make data-driven decisions by spending hours looking at your monitor?
The solution — Virtual Reality.
How will you see new ways to visualize your big data sets? What would that even look like? Immersion and spatial computing offer ways of seeing and analyzing things at trillion and scale. Flat 2D screens will soon max out.
Virtual Reality is changing how companies visualize data. Don’t increase the distance between data and user with 2D interfaces — you’ll lose context and invite bias.
View your data in real-time, in its entirety, all in 3-dimensional. You’ll be able to maintain context, gain a holistic understanding, and essentially have fun with your data.
You’ll be able to easily craft immersive data experiences that help you gain actionable insights, faster. VR unlocks your brain’s processing potential, so you can see 100x more data with less effort.
While these are just 5 of the many use-cases of Virtual Reality in the enterprise, it’s definitely exciting to see how much momentum VR is gaining. In fact, it’ll soon become a $30 billion industry, growing twenty-fold in just 3 years.
You can start utilizing VR in your workplace today. Visit us at https://badvr.com/ to schedule a free demo!
