Research Brief
A recording for this session isn't published. Below is the BPI editorial brief — key takeaways, an in-depth summary, and FAQs drawn from the original session materials and the presenter's body of work.
Presenter
Anders Gronstedt, Ph.D.
Description
VR and AR are here. Apple ARKit and Google ARCore are turning two billion phones into a magic lens that can arm your workforce with superpowers. Full-body VR offers a digital rehearsal space of such convincing verisimilitude that learners feel they are actually there. How are Fortune 500 companies driving business results by leaving the glowing rectangular screens behind to step into the virtual and augmented reality of the future? The new-generation phone-based AR can make the real world the canvas of any number of learning activities, from scavenger hunts to performance support. Meanwhile, VR is used as a “flight simulator” for any technical task that’s too dangerous, expensive, or inconvenient to practice in real life. It is also hailed as the “ultimate empathy machine” for any soft skill training. In this session, you will learn how industry leaders from healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing are ushering in a new era of experiential and visceral learning with mixed reality.
Learning Points
• How repeated movements in virtual and augmented reality causes changes in brain structure, which in turn improve performance in the real world • How a large number of enterprise-scale organizations have already demonstrated dramatic performance improvements with VR learning • How to leverage the cost of developing for VR and AR by deploying the same simulation to any flat-screen device, including desktops, tablets, and phones • How to develop VR and AR learning programs, along with typical timelines and budgets • How to make the business case for virtual and augmented reality learning
Key Takeaways
- 1.Virtual and augmented reality can alter brain structure through repeated movements, improving real-world performance.
- 2.Many large organizations are already achieving significant performance improvements using VR for learning.
- 3.VR serves as a “flight simulator” for practicing dangerous, expensive, or inconvenient technical tasks.
- 4.AR transforms real-world environments into interactive learning spaces for activities like performance support.
- 5.The cost of AR/VR development can be optimized by deploying simulations across multiple devices, including desktops, tablets, and phones.
- 6.VR can be used as an “ultimate empathy machine” for developing soft skills.
The Next Frontier in Corporate Training
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are moving beyond niche applications and into the mainstream of corporate learning and development. With platforms like Apple's ARKit and Google's ARCore, billions of smartphones can now function as AR devices, overlaying digital information onto the physical world. This capability allows organizations to arm their workforce with new tools for performance support and interactive learning.
At the same time, full-body VR provides a completely immersive digital environment for practice and rehearsal. Its convincing verisimilitude makes learners feel genuinely present, creating powerful, memorable experiences that translate to real-world skills.
How AR and VR Drive Performance
Leading companies across healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing are achieving significant business results by integrating mixed reality into their training programs. This new era of experiential and visceral learning moves beyond traditional screen-based methods to create deeper engagement.
Key Applications:
- Technical Skills Simulation: VR functions as a "flight simulator" for any complex or high-stakes task that is otherwise too dangerous, expensive, or impractical to practice in a live environment.
- Soft Skills Development: Often called the "ultimate empathy machine," VR allows employees to practice difficult conversations, leadership scenarios, and other interpersonal skills in a safe, controlled setting.
- Real-World Performance Support: Phone-based AR can make the physical workplace a canvas for learning activities, from interactive scavenger hunts to just-in-time performance aids.
The effectiveness of this approach is rooted in neuroscience. Repeated movements and experiences within virtual and augmented reality can lead to changes in brain structure, directly improving employee performance on the job.
Making the Business Case for Mixed Reality
Adopting AR and VR training requires a clear strategy for development and implementation. This session explores how to build a business case for investing in these technologies.
Key considerations covered include:
- Typical timelines and budgets for developing AR and VR learning programs.
- Strategies for maximizing return on investment. For example, a single simulation can be developed and then deployed across multiple platforms, including VR headsets, desktops, tablets, and standard mobile phones to leverage the initial development cost.
- How enterprise-scale organizations have already demonstrated dramatic performance improvements and what can be learned from their success.
This session delves into the transformative potential of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in corporate learning environments. It explores how these technologies move beyond traditional methods to create deeply engaging, experiential, and visceral learning experiences that are highly relevant for developing modern leaders and teams.
What you'll learn
- Understanding AR and VR Fundamentals: Differentiate between augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality, and understand their core capabilities.
- Revolutionizing Learning: Explore how these technologies are shifting learning from passive reception to active immersion and presence.
- Experiential Training Applications: Discover practical use cases for AR and VR in various corporate training scenarios.
- Visceral Learning Benefits: Learn how immersive experiences can lead to deeper understanding, better retention, and improved skill transfer.
- Future Trends: Gain insights into the evolving landscape of immersive technologies and their impact on leadership development.
Who this webinar is for
- HR professionals and Learning & Development (L&D) specialists.
- Organizational development leaders and strategists.
- Executives interested in leveraging technology for workforce upskilling and reskilling.
- Innovators looking to implement cutting-edge learning solutions.
- Anyone keen on understanding the future of corporate training and its intersection with immersive technologies.
Why it matters now
The landscape of work is rapidly changing, demanding more effective and adaptable learning methods. Traditional approaches often fall short in preparing employees for complex, real-world challenges. AR and VR offer a powerful solution by creating safe, repeatable environments for high-stakes training, scenario planning, and skill practice. As organizations strive for greater agility and innovation, leveraging these immersive tools becomes crucial for maintaining a competitive edge and fostering a highly skilled workforce. Even years after its recording, the foundational principles discussed by Anders Gronstedt remain highly relevant for anyone considering these tools.
How leaders can apply this
Leaders can apply insights from this discussion by evaluating current training deficiencies and identifying areas where immersive technologies could provide significant improvements. Consider piloting AR/VR solutions for tasks requiring hands-on practice, complex decision-making, or emotional intelligence development. By advocating for and investing in these technologies, leaders can create more engaging and effective learning pathways, ultimately enhancing employee performance, safety, and overall organizational readiness for future challenges. Exploring how these tools can simulate leadership scenarios or critical incident responses can be particularly impactful.
About this session
Key takeaways
Watching this webinar gives you grounded, practical perspective on VR, AR, Virtual Learning, Experiential Learning, Visceral Learning, and Mixed Reality. Expect ideas you can use in leadership conversations, not abstract theory, drawn from Anders Gronstedt, Ph.D.'s direct experience.
Who this is for
CHROs, HR business partners, talent leaders, executive coaches, organizational development practitioners, and senior leaders who are responsible for vr inside their organization.
Why it matters now
Workforce expectations, hybrid work patterns, and AI-driven change keep raising the bar on culture and leadership. Sessions like this help leaders make smarter, more evidence-informed decisions about VR, AR, Virtual Learning, Experiential Learning, Visceral Learning, and Mixed Reality.
How to apply it
Use the ideas here to challenge a current assumption on your team, design a single concrete experiment in the next 30 days, and bring one finding back to your leadership group for discussion.