AR & VR Employee Onboarding

The journey of employee onboarding has evolved from manual and digital processes to the immersive realms of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). Initially, onboarding was paper-based and focused on face-to-face interaction, transitioning to digital mediums with the advent of online technologies. However, these new digital methods often fell short in engagement and interactive learning, leaving employees isolated and lacking critical knowledge. AR and VR technologies are addressing this issue by offering interactive, collaborative, and real-world onboarding scenarios for new hires, whether for virtual tours, safety training, or technical know-how. 

Documents and slide decks are now being replaced by 360 images, 360 videos, and even interactive 3D models, easily viewable on any phone, tablet, PC, or VR/AR headset. These technologies foster a two-way interactive experience, enabling new hires to interact with the content, ask questions, and receive instant feedback, thus creating a conducive learning environment. 

The transition to AR and VR in onboarding isn’t a mere trend, but a substantial stride towards enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the onboarding process. By addressing the core challenges of traditional onboarding, AR and VR have not only made the process more engaging but have significantly upgraded the onboarding experience, ensuring that new hires are well-equipped and confident as they step into their new roles.

• Facility Walkthrough: virtually guide employees through offices, factories, or other facilities in an interactive and engaging process to ensure productivity from day one. 
• Team Integration: enable new hires to meet their future team in an interactive and immersive virtual environment.

• Building Security: leverage VR technology to teach new employees on proper sign-in procedures, fire evacuation and protocols, electrical safety, etc. 
• Equipment Safety: create realistic and interactive training scenarios for equipment handling, lockout-tagout, proper PPE, and more.

• Technician Onboarding: use VR and AR technologies to virtually train new technicians on proper repair and maintenance procedures with step-by-step instructions. 
• Manufacturing Processes: Train manufacturing personnel in equipment handling, machine operations, and product inspections.

• Candidate Assessment: provide a realistic, contextual skill assessment to verify that the prospective employee is a good fit. 
• Training Evaluation: make the onboarding process more efficient by using AR and VR technology to assess the skill set of new hires and adapting the training content to meet their specific needs.

• Product Knowledge: onboard sales & marketing teams with interactive and engaging virtual product demonstrations and information, empowering them to start selling with confidence. 
• Customer Communication: train new hires on how to effectively communicate technical information and handle objections.