Technology is no longer a luxury or privilege worldwide; its use has become a fundamental element in the personal and business sphere. In such a busy and globalized world, companies must be fast and efficient with all their resources, technology in companies has arrived to solve problems and eliminate barriers in organizations through innovative systems that are adaptable to the needs of each one. What used to take weeks and even months today is possible to finish in a few minutes and without much effort or complication, thanks to the implementation of technology in companies.
It may sound or seem futuristic to imagine three-dimensional universes in which to immerse ourselves for entertainment or to try new experiences. Something that, until recently, we only imagined in dreams or after seeing the most cutting-edge technology fairs in the world. However, virtual reality is now more accurate than ever, and numerous examples of companies and sectors are working on and implementing it.
The number of people using virtual reality each month has increased by 75.7 percent.
The number of companies that use virtual and augmented reality today is still a minority, but it is indeed increasingly common to find this type of technology in many sectors; virtual and augmented reality is being used to transmit knowledge, save costs, and avoid employee mobility, evaluating human resources, safety training. In addition, virtual and augmented reality allows the user to enjoy a better experience and training in many areas without risking their health (driving heavy machinery, performing in the office, or simulated surgeries, for example).
Virtual and augmented reality are also successfully used as marketing tools to offer unique and different experiences to potential customers. Its application in this area can be found today in product demonstrations before its launch, the possibility of seeing how furniture looks in your location before buying it (augmented reality) or trying on clothing.
Virtual reality for businesses and its equipment
There are currently three specific virtual reality headsets: PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive. For mobile devices, some adapters take advantage of the power and capacity of the cameras to offer a virtual experience to the user (through photos and videos), which, although more limited, is economical and easy for the user to use.
The future of virtual reality for businesses
Virtual reality has applications in any field or sector, so the near future of this technology is promising within the business sector. Furthermore, the current situation, where mobility and meeting capacity is reduced, has led to an increase in investment by many companies in this type of technology, seeking better customer interaction.
Examples of virtual reality applications in current businesses
Some examples of virtual reality applications in companies today are:
- Virtual meetings. With programs that allow you to create virtual meetings with the ability to share whiteboards and interact more efficiently without the need to be physically present.
- Oilfield Test. With a test before admission and in the onboarding of the employee seeking to give him a score on the work he is going to do, obtaining a more comprehensive profile of the employee. Work IQ.
- FreightTest. With a test before admission and in the onboarding of the employee seeking to give him a score on the work he is going to do, obtaining a more comprehensive profile of the employee. Work IQ.
- Logistic Test. With a test before admission and in the onboarding of the employee seeking to give him a score on the work he is going to do, obtaining a more comprehensive profile of the employee. Work IQ.
- Entertainment business. The use of virtual reality is used in industries related to leisure, such as escape rooms or game rooms.
- Real estate. For visits to houses and flats without having to visit them.
- Safety Training. To ensure that staff receive adequate safety training
- Formation programs. To create more intense and dynamic experiences in training processes.
- Health sector. Virtual reality is used in different areas of the health sector, such as in therapies to treat patients with phobia and anxiety.
- Virtual shops. To improve the user experience when buying online (as with Ikea).
Virtual reality is becoming a common element of our daily lives, and more and more companies will offer services using this technology.
Advantages regarding virtual reality for businesses
First, we must understand that virtual and augmented reality are different concepts. In Virtual Reality, everything we see exists in the digital world; it is not part of reality. It is usually used through glasses and systems where we cannot appreciate the existing reality. Augmented Reality is when we add additional elements to the existing reality, whatever they may be. Augmented Reality enriches the current reality with other valuable and necessary information.
1. Entertainment
In this case, we will focus on Augmented Reality, where Bili Bala, a great Mexican artist with whom we collaborate on various successful projects, has experimented with technology while continuing to create analog, but constantly enhancing her creations through the offered virtual tools, generating incredible pieces that come to life through mobile screens. In addition, augmented reality (AR) can be used as another entertainment mechanism, mixing the virtual world with the world around us, as with Escape Rooms, which use invisible and virtual elements.
2. Signaling
Any sector where instructions can be given to a user, client, visitor, or worker; to carry out a specific action and even to do it in less time can be improved with this technology. Let’s think about tourism, where we can guide a visitor through the points of interest in our city; in culture and art, where we can recommend a person to the subsequent work in an exhibition and indicate information about it; great! Not? Through the indoor guide, you can make it easier for users to navigate inside the facilities without getting lost, offering the information they need instantly. Even RA also serves as a system that adds to inclusion, providing information to groups with some disabilities and adapting content for a friendlier journey.
3. Education
Suppose you dedicate yourself to education at any level. In that case, your students could learn the anatomy of the human body represented on an accurate scale since augmented reality allows the identification of each part of the body that did not exist when we were children!
4. Experiential Marketing
Augmented Reality can be used to create unique experiential marketing campaigns on the street, provide immediate information about any product that surrounds us, or even improve our commercials’ techniques and sales possibilities. For example, consider an interior decorator, a furniture salesperson, or even a remodeling company. Through a tool such as augmented reality, they could show the result of their work to their clients in a simple way and in the same final environment in which they are going to act, allowing the client to have a clearer idea of the result.
5. Increase your sales
Through augmented reality, potential customers can interact with each product, spending more time in stores. In addition, it is estimated that at least half of them will pay more for each product if they can preview it with augmented reality. This allows customers to make better decisions and save time.
In addition, Augmented Reality allows the personalization of the information shown to each client. For example, the prices or characteristics of each product could be established. This way, the customer ensures that he purchases the item that best suits him, avoiding a possible return. Customers will be more satisfied with their purchase and the experience they have had at the place of sale, thus increasing the chances that they will return to purchase the product or service. You can carry out a demonstration in situ, initially and interactively.
Without a doubt, the content offered through augmented reality is much more dynamic and interactive. It allows more information to be entered than in any physical format (such as a catalog or a brochure). As a result, interest will be generated, and your customers will remember the experience, making your brand stand out from the competition.