Corporate buy-in: it’s the part of virtual reality (or any type of training) that most people dread. Why? There’s a lot at stake, especially if your company is just getting started with immersive learning.
While you might rather spend your workday brainstorming VR ideas or even drafting realistic scenarios, none of that matters if you don't get management and your team on board.
But how do you convince your stakeholders that virtual training is worth it? How do you show them that when done correctly, VR is not only beneficial, but also advantageous?
Don't fret! We’re here to help.
Here are 3 strategies for getting VR buy-in from management and your team:
- Set Expectations That Are Realistic
At the beginning, aim for the Minimum Viable Product—the MVP. A term often used with software development, MVP is that sweet spot between your dream training with unlimited resources (money, time, employees) and the training you need to create with limited resources.
So while MVP isn’t the most valuable player in this case, it IS extremely valuable in tempering expectations.
When presenting your immersive learning plan to management or a focus group, try showing demo videos or sample scenarios that fit the MVP. This will give an accurate representation of what your organization can realistically accomplish at the beginning of your virtual reality journey.
- Get Your Team Involved
It’s practical AND smart to use internal resources—we’re talking about your own team here. Most likely, you already know that it’s practical to first use the employees at your own company before hiring out for additional parts of the VR project.
However, here’s a smart tip that may be new to you: using your own team fosters project ownership and commitment. Think about it. If everyone at your company is new to immersive learning, this is a great opportunity for employees to build their VR knowledge together. Plus, each team member will feel a sense of ownership for their roles as they journey into the metaverse for this new virtual training project.
- Showcase Impressive ROI
The numbers speak for themselves—VR provides a high ROI (return on investment).
Take a look at the following example. Fendi created immersive learning with CenarioVR and trained their front line in-store staff on customer theft. After just six months, they realized a 400% ROI in the amount of theft shrinkage in their retail store. The numbers show that virtual reality was an excellent choice for Fendi.
You can find plenty of similar success stories online. (Or ask us—we have many to share!) Immersive learning provides a high ROI, so be sure to showcase the facts when you’re getting corporate buy-in.
Conclusion
Setting realistic expectations, getting your team involved, and presenting impressive ROI examples are all excellent ways to get management on board with VR. Plus, when you consider engagement and knowledge retention, the case for virtual training is hard to resist.
Want more tips on getting started with virtual reality? Download our free eBook: VRoom! Getting Started With VR for Training.
