Enhancing Operational Resilience through the Gradual Adoption of XR Solutions

Ulla-Maaria Koivula September 13, 2024

Introduction:

Operational resilience is no longer just about maintaining business continuity; it’s about staying adaptable and responsive to evolving challenges. Immersive learning and XR (Extended Reality) technologies, including Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), are emerging as critical tools in this transformation.

However, many organizations hesitate to embrace XR because they believe it requires an “all-in” investment from the start.In reality, the adoption of XR technologies can be phased in steps that are scalable and manageable. This allows companies to start building operational resilience gradually, without the need for immediate large-scale investments.

1. Start with Scalable Content Creation

Organizations do not need to invest in expensive hardware like headsets from the outset. Instead, the first step is building the capability for immersive content creation. The creation of XR content that is accessible and engaging on multiple devices should be a priority. Here’s why:

• Versatility: Content that can be used across platforms (mobile, desktop, large touch screens, shared spaces) ensures wider adoption, especially in the initial phases.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Investing in content first allows organizations to use existing digital infrastructure, like mobile devices and desktop computers, for immersive learning.
• Learning Curve: By focusing on content early on, teams can familiarize themselves with XR tools and workflows, easing the later transition to more advanced hardware.

It’s important to remember that creating immersive learning content isn’t just about producing flashy visuals. It’s about designing learning experiences that solve real operational challenges, such as employee training, compliance, and knowledge retention.

2. Ensure Immersive Content is Accessible Across Platforms

Once immersive content is created, making it accessible across platforms is key to ensuring it reaches a broad audience. This includes:

• Mobile Devices: With most employees already equipped with smartphones, making immersive content accessible on mobile is an immediate win. Mobile XR solutions are more practical for on-the-go training and field operations.
• Shared Learning Spaces: If organizations prefer learning in small groups instead investing in individual headsets, shared immersive spaces can be a cost-effective way to introduce teams to immersive learning. (More about ThingLink powered immersive learning spaces here, add link)
• Multi-Language Support: Ensuring immersive content can be easily adapted and localized for different languages helps organizations operate across diverse regions, enhancing both training and operational resilience on a global scale.

In sum, starting with mobile or shared environments reduces the barrier to entry, and the flexibility of XR adoption ensures that companies can roll out new technology where and when it will have the most impact.

3. Gradually Upgrade Hardware for Enhanced Immersion

Once the content is in place and being used effectively on more accessible platforms, upgrading hardware becomes the logical next step. This phased approach allows for:

• Smarter Investments: Rather than purchasing headsets or immersive room technology upfront, organizations can buy hardware once there is valuable content ready to use, maximizing ROI.
• Tailored Solutions: Different teams or departments may require different hardware. For instance, a high-tech manufacturing team may need AR glasses for on-the-job training, while corporate employees might benefit more from immersive VR environments for soft skills training.

Additional Point: Investing in hardware too early often results in high costs with low immediate utility. By flipping the approach—content first, hardware later—organizations ensure they are ready to leverage immersive tools effectively when they make the transition to advanced technology.

4. View XR Adoption as a Journey to Operational Resilience

The move toward immersive learning solutions should be seen as a journey, not a one-time upgrade. By gradually adopting XR solutions, organizations can:

• Minimize Disruption: A phased approach ensures minimal disruption to current operations while building capabilities over time.
• Scale with Confidence: Organizations can assess the impact of each phase and scale immersive learning solutions as needed, ensuring that investments are justified by demonstrable benefits.

Boost Long-term Resilience: Ultimately, as XR tools are integrated into learning and development, organizations can build a more resilient workforce. Employees are better equipped with immersive, hands-on training, leading to faster response times, improved skills retention, and adaptability in changing operational environments.

Conclusion:

By adopting XR solutions step by step, organizations can transform their learning infrastructures and operational resilience without the pressure of going all-in at once. The journey begins with scalable content creation and making immersive experiences accessible on existing devices, before moving on to more advanced hardware when ready.

This phased approach ensures that when the time comes to invest in immersive meeting rooms or headsets, there’s already a wealth of content ready to be deployed, maximizing both the financial and operational benefits.

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