How Authoring Tools Bridge the Gap between Training Agencies and Client Needs

Professional training is evolving at an accelerating pace. Gone are the days of solely relying on static manuals and passive lectures. Today, organizations are increasingly seeking innovative and engaging methods to upskill their workforce, boost performance, and ensure knowledge retention. That's where virtual reality comes in, promising higher engagement, stronger retention, and overall better training results.

This blog will explore the "ecosystems" of VR training. That is, a company decides they want to use VR - now what?

Historically, clients (often from L&D) sought VR as a novel solution to training challenges, particularly when in-person training proved impractical due to costs associated with actors, geographical distances, or the disruption of daily operations. While this model persists, economic changes and employee turnover impacting VR initiatives are paving the way for alternative approaches. The opens the door to training agencies to take over training initiatives in large businesses.

In just the last few years, we've seen a rise in the amount of training agencies looking to invest in VR. This can be due to a client looking for VR as a solution much in the same way as in the past, or wanting to add VR to their offering and increase both their training results and revenue.

The new system - Enter the training agency

It makes good sense for large companies to employ agencies that specialize in one type of training or another. For example, we see many agencies that focus on satety training and aggression training. The three key players are the client requesting training, the training provider or agency creating training, and the VR authoring tool that makes this possible. To understand this dynamic better, let's first consider the motivations and needs of the client driving this demand.

1. The visionary client: Driving the demand for innovation

Often, the initial spark for VR training comes from the client – the organization seeking to train its employees. These clients are typically driven by several factors:

• A need for enhanced learning outcomes: They recognize the limitations of traditional methods and are looking for more impactful ways to train, leading to better knowledge retention, skill development, and on-the-job performance.
• A desire for innovation: They want to be at the forefront of learning technologies, showcasing their commitment to employee development and a forward-thinking approach.
• Specific training challenges: They might face challenges like training for high-risk scenarios (where real-world practice is dangerous or costly), complex procedures with multiple steps, or the need for standardized training across geographically dispersed teams.

The client often has the need and the vision for innovative training, but they may lack the in-house expertise and tools to bring it to life. This is where the next crucial player steps in.

2. The training provider/agency: Crafting the learning experience

Training providers and agencies are the specialists in the learning and development domain. They possess the pedagogical expertise, instructional design skills, and understanding of adult learning principles necessary to create effective training programs. When it comes to VR, their role involves:

• Understanding client needs: Collaborating closely with the client to fully grasp their training objectives, target audience, and desired outcomes.
• Designing learning experiences: Leveraging their instructional design knowledge to translate training content into engaging and effective VR scenarios. This includes storyboarding, scripting, and planning interactive elements.
• Distributing and managing training: Once the VR scenarios are built, they are responsible for delivering the training to the client's employees, often managing user access, tracking progress, and providing support.

However, even with their expertise, training providers need the right tools to efficiently and effectively create and manage VR training content. This is where the power of VR authoring tools comes into play.

3. The enabling authoring tool: Warp VR

VR authoring tools like Warp VR are the unsung heroes that empower both training providers and, in some cases, even clients to take control of the VR training creation process. These platforms offer a comprehensive suite of features that streamline every stage of VR training development:

• Intuitive planning and design: Warp VR provides visual interfaces and tools that make it easy to map out the learning journey, define objectives, and structure the VR scenarios without requiring extensive coding knowledge. This allows instructional designers to focus on pedagogy rather than complex technical hurdles.
• Effortless building and content integration: The platform enables creators to seamlessly integrate various media types – 360° videos, 3D models, interactive elements, quizzes, and more – into immersive VR environments. This accelerates the development process and allows for rich and engaging learning experiences.
• Powerful interactivity and branching: Warp VR allows for the creation of complex scenarios with branching narratives, decision points, and interactive tasks. This fosters active learning and allows trainees to practice skills in a safe and realistic virtual environment.
• Performance analytics: A crucial aspect of effective training is measuring its impact. Warp VR provides robust analytics dashboards that track user progress, identify areas of difficulty, and provide valuable insights into training effectiveness. This data allows training providers and clients to iterate and optimize their programs.
• Streamlined distribution and management: Warp VR often includes features for easy distribution of VR training modules to end-users across various VR devices. It can also facilitate user management and progress tracking.

"What I like about Warp VR is the way their platform is designed around learning philosophy. High-quality technical solution. Co-creation of content. Fast response & real partnership.” - Ed de Kievit, OWNIT

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The Symbiotic Relationship:

The relationship between these three elements is symbiotic and crucial for successful VR training implementation:

• The client's need fuels the demand: The client's desire for innovative and effective training creates the opportunity for VR solutions.
• The training provider leverages authoring tools: Training providers utilize platforms like Warp VR to efficiently translate the client's needs into tangible and impactful VR training programs. The authoring tool empowers them to create high-quality content without being bogged down by technical complexities.
• The authoring tool empowers both sides: Warp VR not only equips training providers but can also, in some cases, empower clients with the ability to create or customize certain aspects of their training, fostering greater ownership and flexibility.
• Analytics drive continuous improvement: The performance data provided by authoring tools allows both training providers and clients to understand what's working, identify areas for improvement, and ensure the training is delivering the desired results.

Conclusion: A Collaborative Future for Immersive Learning

VR training is an industry that is predicted to grow dramatically as time goes on, but how exactly will this growth look? It's likely that the future of VR training will relate directly to the relationships discussed in this blog, starting with more 'clients' requesting VR training as the industry matures, creating a higher demand for dedicated training providers. They empower training providers to efficiently create engaging and effective VR experiences that meet the specific needs of their innovative clients. By streamlining the planning, building, and analysis phases, these tools are democratizing VR training, making it more accessible and scalable for organizations looking to unlock the full potential of their workforce. As VR technology continues to evolve, the synergy between visionary clients, skilled training providers, and powerful authoring tools will be the driving force behind the next generation of impactful and transformative learning experiences.

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