What Are Some of the Top Use Cases of VR at Work?

By 2025, it’s expected that the VR market will reach a whopping $22 billion, a significant increase from less than $12 billion in 2022. More applications of VR are emerging, especially in fields such as health care, transportation and logistics and more. Additionally, more companies are investing in VR hardware and software, which helps the market grow and reach more people. VR is also starting to carve out its place in traditional office settings. How would VR impact an office, even if some employees are working remotely?

Virtual reality (VR) is playing an increasingly important role across various industries, from health care and manufacturing to retail, and, most notably, consumer electronics. For example, VR accounts for 53% of the market gaming sector. 

However, aside from its applications in the gaming industry, VR also has many use cases in the modern workplace. Whether it’s showing a new employee the ropes or helping employees learn updated safety protocols, there are a few ways in which modern workplaces can use VR. 

Below, find out some of the top workplace VR use cases that will likely become staples in future offices.

An employee’s onboarding experience plays a significant role in their future success at an organization. A poor onboarding experience can be detrimental, as it can cause employees to feel unprepared or lost in the workplace from the start. However, VR can be used to support employee onboarding and make it a fun, engaging experience for the new hire. 

Instead of sitting through boring presentations about company culture and policies, HR teams can use VR headsets and put employees in an immersive environment for a more entertaining onboarding experience. Not only does this help new hires feel comfortable in a new role, but it can also help recruit other employees if they know they can engage in a VR-based onboarding process. 

Safety is a top priority in every workplace, regardless of the company or industry. While some occupations are more dangerous than others, almost all companies have some safety policies and procedures in place. Employees who receive training on these policies can use VR headsets to imagine what a true emergency would look like. From there, they can follow procedures and learn how to respond to danger. 

This is only one example, as VR can serve as a helpful supplement to traditional training methods. It’s well-known that hands-on experiential training is much more effective and impactful than conventional training. VR can help companies provide new learning opportunities for employees. In addition to safety training, VR can improve other types of training, such as training for entry-level candidates or training seasoned employees on new technologies.

The ultimate goal for any company selling products or services knows how challenging it can be to successfully market those products or services. One thing every company tries to do is to stand out from the crowd, and prove why their products or services are better than their competitors. With VR, companies can provide tech-driven sales demos to do just that. 

Since the nature of VR is totally immersive, it removes any and all external distractions for the user. Consumers or clients can interact with products or services using a VR headset and experience them without any of these distractions. 

Remote work is the new norm, and isn’t going anywhere. With more remote employees than ever, it can be challenging for companies to make remote workers feel included and part of a team. Some remote employees experience periods of isolation or loneliness due to their work situations. Thankfully, VR technology can help bridge this gap between employees and the workplace. 

Instead of having in-person or online meetings only, organizations can adopt VR and hold VR-based meetings. VR meetings can be fun, enhance collaboration between employees and they’re a creative way to make everyone feel included. 

Most company leaders know that employee morale is an important aspect of running a successful, productive company. However, many also would acknowledge that finding innovative ways to engage their employees to boost morale can be difficult. Now, VR can help companies provide entertainment for employees, boosting morale and helping employees take a load off when they need it most. 

For example, employees who work in different cities or states can join in on fun workplace games. New VR gaming apps are always emerging, so why not put them to use every once in a while? If companies began incorporating fun VR games into their workflow, they may see productivity rise and fewer employees experiencing burnout symptoms. 

It’s no secret that VR, augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) will become more prevalent across a wide variety of industries. More companies are investing in and experimenting with VR, as it holds a lot of untapped potential. It’ll be interesting to see how the world of VR influences the modern workplace and employees.