Ask someone in the extended reality (XR) industry to describe their field in a single word and you might get back "transformative". But ask someone in IT and they might be less complimentary.
As a company specialising in XR hardware, we get it. XR is transformative – you can see it in everything from life-saving XR-enhanced patient care to expedited maintenance on factory floors, aided by assisted reality devices.
But the thing about XR is that it's new. And newness is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it attracts passionate early adopters and risk-takers. On the other, it can lead to a situation where everybody's waiting for somebody else to take the plunge and tell them what it's like.
Perhaps the key barrier for many companies who are interested in XR is that they're battling with the perception that it's difficult to deploy – all roadblocks and no smooth cruising. Sadly, this can lead to people sticking with the status quo.
Again, we get it. No one wants to spend a load of money, experience a load of disruption and then have nothing to show for it but a load of dusty headsets in a stock cupboard.
Well, we're here to tell you that while there are obstacles to XR deployment, they're all surmountable with a bit of forward planning and a bit of adjustment in the workplace.
Scan this list and you'll probably see one of your concerns. We hope to show you that they're not only surmountable but ultimately forgettable. Once you've deployed XR in the workplace, you won't look back.
1. Knowledge gaps
As we said, XR is new. And it's complex. This isn't like getting used to a new power block or set of kitchen knives. Choosing hardware and figuring out a deployment strategy requires expertise.
As an organisation, this presents you with a choice. You can either train existing staff or you can get a consultant in.
Both are viable solutions and both have their pros and cons. The main thing is to go for the one that best fits in with your existing pool of talent and your short-term, medium-term and long-term commitments.
Knowledge gaps can be bridged – and once they are, your organisation will be reaping the rewards of XR.
2. Fear of complexity
No one likes a logistical headache (apart from sadists and pharmacologists). You may consider organisation-wide deployment to be simply too complicated.
That's why it pays to start small and scale up – to try out the new tech on a pilot group and then fine-tune your strategy for full deployment.
This has another positive outcome, too. Your group of guinea pigs should yield someone who can double as an "XR mentor" – a first port of call for employees when they, too, join the XR party.
3. Fear of expense
The good news is that XR unlocks cost savings over time. On-call expertise, remote assistance and VR training all allow you to collaborate with teams who are scattered geographically – and maintenance is minimal.
The bad news is that there's an upfront cost – and there's no getting around it. Those headsets, smart specs and training sessions won't pay for themselves – at least not immediately.
But it's a classic case of spending money to make money. Once deployed, you'll soon be making substantial savings on training and travel, for starters.
4. Analysis paralysis
How is XR deployment like online shopping? In both cases, you can feel overwhelmed by choice.
Ever tried to choose the perfect dehumidifier, coffee grinder or clothes rack online? Ever felt simultaneously sad, angry and confused? You're not alone – analysis paralysis is all too common when you feel bombarded with information.
This problem can only be compounded when the products you're investigating are high-tech and complex.
Here at Expand Reality, we've written several guides to help you figure out the best hardware for you – take our shoot-out between the Vuzix Blade 2 and M4000.
Still not sure what to go for? Then get in touch – we'd be delighted to talk you through your options.
5. Fear of disruption
Digital natives won't remember this, but switching from landline to mobile was kind of a big deal. It took time and a bit of effort to get used to this new way of communicating. But it's safe to say that very few of us are looking back on our old landline with a wistful smile playing on our lips.
Does change bring disruption? Well, yes. In the case of XR, you might face sceptical staff and teething technical troubles.
But if you focus on careful planning and building an XR-friendly culture, this disruption will be short-lived – and you'll soon be basking in the virtual sunshine.
6. VR sickness
If you're planning on providing virtual reality (VR) training, you need to be aware that VR sickness is a thing. Not a big thing, and not even a common thing, but a thing nonetheless.
Most people get along with VR just fine. But some people experience cold sweats, headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizziness or some combination of these. Staff well-being is all-important – so if members of your team appear to be unsuited to the tech, you may worry you've made the wrong choice.
However, VR sickness is a bit like seasickness. The longer you're on the digital boat, the more likely you are to adjust.
This is another area where planning is paramount. Training in increments means that your teams will adjust to VR with a minimum of discomfort.
Final thoughts
XR saves money, boosts remote collaboration, provides memorable training and slashes your travel costs.
Does that mean deployment is a doddle? No. But it does mean that it's worth it.
The main thing is to dedicate time to a deployment plan that's in line with your commitments, deadlines, budget and personnel. Once you've laid the groundwork for that XR-ready workplace culture, it's up, up and away!
At Expand Reality, we stock cutting-edge industrial XR wearables. Feel free to contact us with questions about your own XR deployment.