Unlocking VR's Potential for Remote Businesses

Leverage Virtual Reality for Remote Business Success.

What are the benefits of VR for remote businesses?

VR (virtual reality) can unite your remote team around one digital table, and create a shared space for lifelike meetings, seamless collaboration, and transformative training. Picture onboarding new employees in an engaging virtual office or crafting personalised workspaces.

VR for remote businesses also opens doors to interactive product showcases and immersive experiences, reducing travel needs and costs. And while there's an initial setup and learning curve, VR has the potential to revolutionise your business.

What is VR?

 
Unlike Augmented Reality (AR) which adds digital touches to the real world, VR tech allows you to explore and interact with a whole new, immersive, computer-generated world.

Learn more about the differences between VR and AR. 

How do I include VR in my business?

Maximising VR's potential involves six straightforward steps:
 

• Step 1: Understand your goals

Define your objectives. Whether it's enhancing collaboration, conducting virtual meetings, showcasing products, providing training or something else, clear goals will help your strategy.

• Step 2: Research and choose your VR tools

Not all VR tools are created equal, so make sure they match your goals and budget, and are compatible with your IT.

• Step 3: Know your VR

Ensure everyone’s comfortable using VR tech. Note that 25-40% of users experience some form of motion sickness when using VR. It’s important to offer training sessions or resources so everyone understands the equipment and its capabilities, however, understand that this tech may not be for everyone.

• Step 4:  Get feedback

Ask your team members, clients, and partners for regular feedback and use it to enhance the VR experience.

• Step 5: Data protection

Like any system, data protection and cybersecurity are crucial. Tips include keeping software up to date, taking extra steps to verify users and including VR in your privacy policies. 

• Step 6: Check results

Assess VR’s impact. Are you achieving your goals? Has collaboration, engagement and sales improved? Tweak your strategy where you need to.
 

What are the benefits of VR at work?

 

Whether it’s VR in marketing, in advertising or just better teamwork, there are plenty of examples highlighting how VR could be used in business:
 

• Immersive collaboration and brainstorming

Share digital spaces for dynamic and interactive brainstorming. Visualise ideas with virtual objects, sketches, and multimedia, sparking spontaneous collaborations.

• Virtual trade shows, seminars, and exhibitions

Imagine immersive booths and exhibition spaces without the physical setup. Customers across the globe can discover your products and meet your virtual Sales team, without paying for travel or accommodation.

• Remote product design

Designers can bring 3D models and prototypes to life in a shared virtual space. Make real-time changes, bounce ideas around and visualise new products – fast.

• Training simulations

Especially effective for hands-on training in healthcare or hazardous environments, remote workers can practise tasks, respond to emergencies, and hone their skills in a safe virtual setting.

• Enhanced data analysis

VR makes complex data pop like spreadsheets can’t – visually highlighting patterns and revealing trends that helps people absorb and understand information.

• Multilingual communication

Real-time translation can remove the language barrier for effortless interaction and idea-sharing across worldwide teams.

• Health and wellbeing

Guided relaxation sessions, stress-relief activities, and virtual journeys in peaceful surroundings can help ease employee stress and promote mental health.

• Corporate events and team building

It’s not always all about work. Think games, puzzles, virtual bars or even watch parties for fun, team-building opportunities.
 

Some of the key VR tools (free and paid for) - and their benefits

Whether you're a start-up or new to the VR landscape, there are several free and premium VR tools on the market. Just a few suggestions include:

Free VR tools for businesses

Mozilla Hubs: Create virtual meeting spaces, presentations, and collaborative environments, without downloads or installations. The free option allows 10 guests, making it ideal for micro businesses.


Sketchfab: Showcase interactive 3D product models, architectural visualisations, and design prototypes.


Engage:  Designed for remote training, collaboration, and events.


VRdirect: Virtual showrooms display your products to a global audience in a way that engages customers and encourages interaction.

Paid VR tools for businesses:

Meta for Work: Create collaborative spaces for business meetings, speedy design, occupational training, and more.


HP Reverb G2: For businesses wanting immersive training, simulations, or product visualisation. 


PsyTech VR: Enhances mental wellbeing through immersive therapeutic environments and interactive tools designed to reduce employee stress.

Virtualitics:  Merges artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and immersive visuals to help businesses gain insights and make effective data-driven decisions.
In a world where VR is reshaping the digital landscape, virtual reality can be a game-changer for remote businesses. By following a strategic roadmap, you could harness the power of VR to transform your business.

Want more advice on how VR could help your business? Speak to one of our V-Hub Digital Advisers to find out more.