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Scale Your VR Training Program in 9 Steps

Scale Your VR Training Program in 9 Steps

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Adil U

Adil U

Adil U

Published on:

Published on:

Published on:

14-Nov-2024

14-Nov-2024

14-Nov-2024

minute read

minute read

minute read

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Your VR training program has come a long way. 

You’ve witnessed your employees more engaged. They show improved retention levels. And all in all, there’s a huge uptick in performance metrics. 

But now, it’s time to go beyond the pilot stage. 

Because now it’s time to maximize the potential of VR. Now it’s time to leverage it for better cost-effectiveness and increased coverage.

However, expanding to full scale comes with its own set of unique challenges. You need a strategy that’s both comprehensive and flexible.

Scaling a VR training program isn’t also a one-size-fits-all approach. 

But you can build a roadmap that propels your training to a company-wide standard. All you need is a little foresight and some savvy planning.

So without further ado, here’s your guide to scaling your VR training program in 9 steps:

Preparing for Scale

1. Reassess Your Goals

Let’s start by refining your vision. 

Scaling is much more than just adding more VR headsets. Or even expanding your user base.

It’s about aligning your program with the company’s long-term objectives. 

Ask yourself: What are you hoping to achieve with a full-scale rollout? 

You should meet with stakeholders from all of the departments involved and align on key outcomes that scaling should achieve. 

These discussions should include measurable KPIs and goals that the scaled program will impact. Be it lowering training costs or improving performance on specific skill sets. 

You should define these goals clearly and put them front and centre as your north star.

2. Analyze the Pilot Insights

Your pilot program has generated valuable data. And now’s the time to dive deep into it. 

Look at what worked and what didn’t. 

Were there any steps in the VR training experience that took your users longer than anticipated? 

Did your users face any technical challenges? 

Gather all these insights and more. 

Because if you dissect the pilot data, you will find areas that need tweaking before you expand. 

This is also the ideal time to look into what your VR vendor could have done to fix all these issues. Also, how they’ll fix these issues moving forward.

And don’t just look at surface metrics. Instead, you should dig into the qualitative feedback as well. 

Did your employees find the VR environment to closely match the real-world environment? 

Did they find the training experiences intuitive to use? 

Details such as these will help you identify the problems that your internal workforce faced during the pilot. These are valuable insights that let you optimize your program. From them, you’ll get a clearer picture of what changes are necessary for smoother scalability.

3. Secure Cross-Functional Buy-In

Scaling VR training isn’t a job for the learning and development (L&D) team alone. 

IT, HR, and compliance teams are crucial partners. Each can expertise and support to ease potential roadblocks. 

HR, for example, will be instrumental in promoting the program and tracking metrics related to employee engagement. 

IT, meanwhile, will ensure seamless integration with existing systems. 

Similarly, the digital team will troubleshoot hardware and software needs.

So, you should Involve these teams early in the process and discuss shared goals, requirements, and any concerns. 

Engaging cross-functional teams upfront creates a foundation of support. It also increases the likelihood of smoother, more sustainable scaling.


Scaling Your VR Training Program

4. Upgrade Your Infrastructure

Scaling from a pilot to full deployment means significantly more strain on your tech infrastructure. 

Because it’s not just about adding extra VR headsets. The platform you’re using to build and host content needs to be able to handle increased demand, too. 

Here’s where you should evaluate the scalability of both your hardware and software.

Consider adopting a scalable VR solution like VRseBuilder. VRseBuilder helps streamline VR content creation and deployment. It also helps you easily create and manage extensive libraries of VR modules without requiring an army of developers. 

Also, don’t forget to assess your network capabilities. Because depending on your organization’s size, you may need upgrades to support high-quality, real-time VR streaming across multiple locations.

5. Plan a Phased Rollout

Even though the goal is a company-wide VR training program, resist the urge to launch everything at once. 

Instead, opt for a phased approach. 

Begin with a single department or team. Use this as a test case for broader implementation. Doing so allows you to catch any issues early on. In addition, you can also get actionable feedback and iterate on your content and deployment strategies.

Moreover, each phase should include a structured feedback loop. So, track completion rates, user satisfaction, and tech performance. 

Then, as you roll out more broadly, use these insights to fine-tune the experience and improve scalability. 

A phased rollout builds momentum while minimizing risks. Then, as the program grows it makes the transition smoother.

6. Boost User Adoption

Scaling a VR program isn’t just about logistics. It’s also about user engagement. 

If they’re unfamiliar with the technology, employees may be hesitant to embrace VR. So, set up resources to make the transition easier. This could include detailed user guides, live demo sessions, or on-demand support.

One proven approach is to establish VR “champions” within each department. These champions, who receive specialized training, act as liaisons. They answer questions and encourage adoption among their peers. 

This network of champions can drive adoption rates up and help overcome resistance to change. 

It makes the scaling process feel less like a mandate and more like an exciting opportunity.

Ensuring Long-Term Impact

7. Establish Ongoing Feedback Loops

Scaling VR training isn’t a set-and-forget project. To keep your program effective, it’s vital to establish regular feedback loops. So, you can track its ongoing performance. 

This can involve automated surveys post-training, real-time analytics on module completion, and regular focus groups with users. You should also monitor key metrics like completion rates, user satisfaction, and performance improvements.

More importantly, you must act on the data you collect. 

When feedback indicates an issue—perhaps a module that’s taking too long to complete or content that isn’t resonating with users—don’t hesitate to tweak and improve. 

Because continuous feedback ensures your program remains relevant and effective.

8. Explore Additional VR Use Cases

Once your core VR training is stable, you can start thinking outside the box. 

The fact is, that VR’s potential extends far beyond skill-based training. It can be a powerful tool for onboarding, compliance, safety simulations, and even soft skills development. 

So, explore other departments that might benefit from VR upon the success of your training rollout.

Think about where immersive training could offer a more meaningful experience than traditional methods. For example, a VR module for onboarding could familiarize new hires with company culture. 

However, as you identify these additional use cases ensure you’re maintaining quality control. Also, ensure you’re not stretching your resources too thin.

9. Future-Proof Your Program

The technology that powers your VR training will inevitably evolve. So, stay ahead by keeping an eye on emerging trends. Also, maintain strong relationships with your VR vendors. 

Consider implementing regular program reviews. In them, you can assess user feedback, emerging tech developments, and new VR applications relevant to your industry. 

This approach will ensure that your program doesn’t stagnate. Instead, it will continue to offer value and align with broader organizational goals.

Conclusion

Scaling your VR training program is an investment in your company’s future. With the right planning, clear goals, and a willingness to iterate, you can transform VR from a pilot experiment into a cornerstone of your organization’s learning and development strategy.

But remember: scaling is a journey, not a destination. 

So, be patient and adaptable. And don’t be afraid to make adjustments as you go. 

The future of training is here—lean in, and make it a lasting success.