Accelerate user onboarding by 25%
VR training pays off
Enterprise training in virtual reality has a return on investment of 219% and a payback time of less than six months, a recent study by Forrester Consulting concludes.
Key findings from a recent study by Forrester Consulting show that VR training:
- Accelerates user onboarding times by 25%
- Reduces worker training times by 75%
- Reduces knowledge worker training times by up to 50%
- Reduces travel and in-person training expenses by 50%
“The results presented in this report align perfectly with the data we have from the extensive VR training experience we have developed with Carlsberg,” says Michael Harboe, CEO of Virsabi.
Forrester Consulting Total Economic Impact Study
25%
Accelerated user onboarding time
75%
Reduced worker training time
50%
Reduced knowledge worker training time
50%
Reduced travel and in-person training time
Employees ask for more training
The study also highlights some unquantified benefits. One of them is that users trained in VR on Meta Quest headsets are more likely to deliver better customer service for their customers or stakeholders as a result of deeper learning or more frequent training.
More frequent – and more engaging – training also leads to better knowledge retention and even has employees ask for more training. As a quote from an XR Business Development Manager from the automotive manufacturing industry reads:
“Our users want more training on Meta Quest. I’ve been working in the training business for 25 years, and it is the first time I’ve been asked for more. They want more because the see the value of it, of course.”
From a Virsabi perspective there are additional reasons why users want to train more:
“First of all, new training in VR is interactive, meaning that it is realistic and physical. Whenever there is a possibility, we also add an element of gamification. No matter what you work with, everyone wants to beat their co-workers in a friendly competition,” Michael Harboe says.
Three year financial impact
219%
ROI
$6.1m
Benefits
$4.2m
NPV
<6mo
Payback time
Avoid bottlenecks in training
VR training also makes it possible for everyone to get hands-on training on specific tasks at no additional costs, even in hazardous environments. Virtual equipment used for training does not wear out over time, and students can safely practice for instance on high-voltage equipment.
It makes for faster and better onboarding, and it saves time and costs for the learners as well. And as responsible for the training you can be sure that everyone has a go at the task. As one person exemplifies it in the report:
“As a learner in this model, you could have a very passive involvement in the training experience. Students could intentionally or unintentionally become wallflowers. They would get credit just for being present at the training. We had no way of knowing how much of their training was tied to work in actual [job simulations]. Then there was a lot of staff time spent setting up, getting trained or certified, cleaning the lab, and all of that.”
Experiences across sectors like healthcare, education, and manufacturing show additional benefits like:
- more scalable training
- less idle time among students
- streamlining of the onboarding process
- meeting the expectations of the new generation
- getting learners more time on tasks in a safe and secure environment.
Financial benefits that stand out
The study by Forrester is a Total Economic Impact study. This means that Forrester interviewed six decision-makers from four organizations with experience using Meta Quest.
Forrester aggregated the experiences of the interviewees and combined the results into a composite industry-agnostic organization with revenue of USD 1 billion per year and 10,000 employees, 33% of whom train with Meta Quest.
Including costs for Meta Quest hardware, internal development costs, and a VR training development partner, the financial benefits over a three-year period are significant:
- ROI: 219%
- Benefits: USD 6.1 million
- NPV: USD 4.2 million
- Payback time <6 months
“The financial results from the report show that once an organization dedicates resources to VR training, the business potential is significant. At Virsabi, we always work with our customers to define the business value of a VR experience before we begin developing. For us, it is the best way to make sure that our customers come back for more,” says Michael Harboe.
The study by Forrester Consulting is commissioned by Meta. Forrester maintains editorial control over the study and its findings. Read the full report.