Augmented Reality (AR) technology has been on the rise in recent years and is being used by companies to tackle challenges in the workforce, such as the pandemic and job abandonment. One area where AR is proving particularly useful is in improving employee onboarding and HR training. The traditional approach to training often falls to company veterans, which reduces their valuable time to perform their own responsibilities. By finding ways to shorten the duration of initial training, companies can help new employees become productive more quickly, and veterans can more easily resume their duties. AR-enabled smart glasses are a prime example of how augmented reality can be used to aid training and help new team members solve problems live, in real-time, alongside more experienced team members. A manufacturing worker, for example, can learn to use specific machines without hands-on training. AR technology promotes a much more immersive job integration, reducing training time and facilitating the creation of highly efficient learning environments to promote acceptance of new employees.
The use of AR technology in training and professional education processes has several benefits for Human Resources (HR) and the overall performance of companies. According to a survey carried out by TeamViewer in the United States, 86% of the executives interviewed stated that the use of augmented reality improved the quality of practices and training. The study also revealed that companies that train with AR are 2.5 times more likely to achieve their onboarding goals. Furthermore, 80% of onboarding leaders predicted that new technology should contribute to a real increase in frontline employee productivity by 2023, while 67% stated that augmented reality training will become a key competitive advantage. The use of AR technology in training can also help employees with professional improvement, maintaining engagement for updating, progression, and career enhancement with new training and the acquisition of new skills. This will also help keep workers who feel demotivated because they feel they have reached their full potential within the organization.
AR technology offers several possibilities for the use of augmented reality in onboarding, such as a worker using smart glasses and a custom QR code to log in to a training library of custom content. The employee can use voice commands to choose the most appropriate video, being remotely guided through a series of tasks and activities. RA can ensure that the employee follows the most appropriate protocols, such as the use of protective equipment. The system can also prevent the employee from moving on to the next task until they have completed the previous steps correctly and appropriately. Instructions, tips, and best practices can be transmitted to the smart glasses via text, voice recording, or video. The training is dynamic, and the employee can visualize all the results of the workflow. At the end, they can still return to the main menu and repeat the training, start a new session, or complete the work without visual aid.
Before embracing AR as a strategic tool for training and retaining frontline workers, companies must understand how to start a successful implementation. Platforms, teams, and IT will all need to be involved in this process, so determining a budget and what can be done internally or through a partner is crucial. As efforts scale up, it will become quite common to see a combination of internal and external work to deploy the technology.
Bottomline:
AR technology is proving to be an effective tool for improving employee onboarding and HR training. The immersive nature of AR technology allows employees to learn in a much more interactive and engaging environment, reducing training time and facilitating the creation of highly efficient learning environments. The benefits of using AR technology in training and professional education processes are numerous, including increased productivity, engagement, and retention of employees. However, successful implementation requires careful planning and consideration of the technology, platforms, teams, and IT involved. Companies that successfully implement AR technology in their training and professional education processes will have a significant competitive advantage in the years to come.
