Virtual reality for companies: 15 practical applications
companies use virtual reality above all to train people, sell and present products, show facilities at a distance, design and validate projects and improve safety. These fifteen applications are the most common, and the ones that best justify the investment.
Training and people
1. Technical and operational training
Practice with machinery, maintenance procedures or assembly, without stopping production or risking equipment.
2. Safety and risk prevention
Simulation of fires, work at height, confined spaces or evacuations. See VR for occupational health and safety.
3. Onboarding new employees
A tour of the facilities, an introduction to the culture and first tasks in a guided environment.
4. Soft skills
Difficult conversations, leadership, customer service or conflict management through simulated scenarios.
5. Training for customers and distributors
Teaching people to use a complex product without anyone having to travel.
Sales and marketing
6. Product demonstration
Presenting equipment that cannot be transported, or that does not yet exist. See product demonstrations in VR.
7. Virtual showroom
An explorable commercial space with the full catalogue, accessible from anywhere.
8. Virtual visit to a factory or facilities
For customers, auditors or investors who cannot travel. See how to create a virtual factory visit.
9. Experiences at trade shows and events
Attracting visitors and explaining complex products with impact. See VR at trade shows.
10. Immersive brand campaigns
Worlds created to stir emotion and generate recall, with the possibility of capturing leads.
Design, engineering and construction
11. Design review
Walking through a building, a plant or a product before manufacturing it, in order to detect errors and decide better.
12. Remote collaboration
Teams in different locations reviewing the same 3D model in a shared space.
13. Works and logistics planning
Simulating assembly sequences, access routes or the layout of spaces.
Other applications
14. Tourism, culture and heritage
Virtual visits to destinations, museums and places that are hard to access.
15. Health and wellbeing
Training for healthcare professionals, simulation of procedures and relaxation or rehabilitation programmes (in projects supervised by specialists).
How to prioritise
Ask yourself, in this order:
- Where do we have an expensive problem? (accidents, travel, repetitive training).
- Will the use be repeated? The more times, the better it pays for itself.
- Do we have the content? Plans, models or video shorten the project.
- Can we measure the effect? Training time, errors, sales, visits avoided.
Key ideas
- Business VR focuses on training, selling, showing and designing.
- The best cases are those that combine risk, cost or difficulty of access.
- Repeated use improves the return.
- Starting content (plans, CAD, video) speeds up the project.
- How the effect will be measured must always be defined.
Frequently asked questions
Which application is easiest to start with?
Virtual visits and product demonstrations are usually faster than a full training simulator.
Can I combine several applications with the same content?
Yes. A 3D model of a machine can serve for training, sales and trade shows.
How many people can use the experience at the same time?
It depends on the number of headsets and the format. At trade shows, turns are usually organised.
Does it work for non-industrial sectors?
Yes: retail, tourism, education, health, property and services.
More guides on this topic
How to create a virtual reality experience for your company
A process for creating a virtual reality experience: objective, script, 3D content, development, user testing, deployment and measurement. A step-by-step guide.
How to measure the engagement and ROI of a virtual reality experience
Which metrics to use to measure a virtual reality experience: participation, time, completion, learning, leads and return on investment, with examples.
How to organise a virtual reality experience at an event safely
A guide to organising a virtual reality experience at an event or trade show safely: space, staff, hygiene, queue management, health and a contingency plan.