US retail giant Walmart is taking employee training to the next level with the introduction of virtual reality-based learning at a store-level starting next month.
The VR training program will focus on teaching employees about new technology, soft skills, like empathy and customer service, and compliance.
Walmart will send four Oculus Go VR headsets to every Walmart supercenter, and two units to every Neighborhood Market and discount store in the United States. With more than 17,000 headsets in stores by the end of the year, every associate will have access to the training.
Employees will use the headsets to access more than 45 activity-based modules developed by STRIVR. The platform delivers realistic, repeatable and scalable training content, which helps associates learn information more quickly and retain it better.
Derek Belch, CEO of STRIVR said: “We are entering a new era of learning, and Walmart continues to lead the way.”
“The power of VR is real, and when offered as a cornerstone of learning and development, it can truly transform the way an organization trains its people,” he added.
Walmart said in a blog post that “instilling confidence” is what makes VR so effective as a training tool. Because VR training is like an experience in real life, associates “have the freedom to make mistakes and learn by “doing,” all while in a safe environment”.
Andy Mathis, Oculus’ head of business partnerships said: “Walmart was one of the first companies to benefit from VR’s ability to enrich employee education, and its applications will only grow from here.
“What makes it so compelling is that costly, difficult, or otherwise-impossible scenarios and simulations become not only possible, but immediately within reach,” Mathis said.
Last year, Walmart first introduced VR to the world of employee training and development by using the technology to upgrade training at Walmart Academies nationwide.
