Breaking the Monotony: How AR VR Could Revolutionize Virtual Meetings

Virtual meetings have become a common part of daily operations in modern business. In 2020, millions of office workers shifted to remote work and video calls became a part of their routine. While some found solace in remote collaboration, others felt isolated and exhausted as back-to-back meetings blurred work-life boundaries. Managers were concerned about productivity pitfalls. However, the deeper challenge was maintaining focus, building rapport, and facilitating effective collaboration amidst the digital fray. This disconnection threatened the teamwork and innovation that organizations strive to cultivate.

Extended reality, or XR for short, has emerged as a solution to video conferencing challenges. XR is a collection of technologies that allow users to experience digital environments in unique ways. For instance, augmented reality (AR) involves using transparent lenses to superimpose virtual elements such as a whiteboard onto the real world. In contrast, virtual reality (VR) creates a fully immersive digital environment with the help of specialized lenses and headphones. A 2022 study conducted by multinational professional services firm PwC revealed that over 500 US companies had either incorporated VR into their operations or were actively in the process of doing so.

As the metaverse gains traction, companies like Meta (formerly Facebook) are investing heavily in AR/VR tools for immersive office experiences. With employees embracing hybrid work models and seeking innovative ways to engage with colleagues and industry peers, AR and VR in business prove invaluable.

The Rise of AR VR in Virtual Meetings

Numerous innovative AR/VR development services have emerged to address the shortcomings of traditional virtual meetings. These solutions offer features such as real-time data visualization, virtual annotations, and immersive presentations, enhancing engagement and collaboration among participants. For instance, Accenture integrated Spatial Systems, an AR collaboration platform, into their virtual meeting environment. It allows participants to meet in a virtual room where they can view and interact with 3D models, presentations, and digital content as if they were in the same physical space. According to a case study published by Spatial Systems, Accenture reported a 300% increase in productivity among remote teams using the platform.

Nestlé utilized Oculus for Business, a VR platform, to conduct virtual meetings and training sessions. Employees could join immersive VR environments to collaborate, attend workshops, and receive training. They reported a 50% increase in employee engagement and participation in virtual meetings conducted through Oculus for Business.

Advantages of AR VR in Virtual Meetings

1. Enhanced interactivity and immersion

Flexible working arrangements are becoming popular globally, but they pose challenges. Remote workers often feel disconnected, and AR/VR solutions can help bridge this gap. AR/VR-enabled virtual meetings offer enhanced interactivity and immersion, allowing participants to engage with digital content and interact with each other in more immersive ways. 

Pfizer has incorporated an AR collaboration platform, called Spatial Systems, into their virtual meetings. This platform allows participants to join virtual rooms where they can interact with 3D models of pharmaceutical products, annotate documents in real time, and collaborate on research projects. With the help of Spatial Systems, Pfizer employees can experience enhanced interactivity by being able to manipulate digital objects and collaborate seamlessly in a virtual environment. The immersive nature of the platform allows them to feel as if they are physically present in the same room, which fosters more natural and productive interactions.

2. Improved collaboration and brainstorming

According to VergeSense, 73% of organizations utilize more than one collaboration tool. VR and AR meetings foster creativity, planning, and team cohesion. Easily integrating into workplace strategies, these solutions enable immersive experiences for in-person and remote employees alike. Participants can engage in interactive environments, manipulate virtual objects, and co-create ideas in real time, fostering creativity and teamwork. AR/VR platforms offer spatial audio, avatars, and gesture-based interactions that mimic real-world communication dynamics. This facilitates natural and spontaneous interactions among participants, creating a collaborative atmosphere conducive to brainstorming.

For example, by using Oculus for Business, Volkswagen employees experienced enhanced interactivity by being able to manipulate 3D models of vehicles and components with natural hand gestures. The immersive VR environment provided a sense of scale and depth, allowing them to visualize designs more accurately and make informed decisions collaboratively.

3. Better representation and inclusivity

Virtual meetings make it easy for people worldwide to join in without having to travel, breaking down barriers like distance and time zones. This means everyone gets a fair chance to share their ideas, no matter where they’re located. AR/VR setups can be tailored to fit everyone’s needs, making it easier for people with disabilities to participate and allowing users to create avatars that represent them authentically. With features like spatial audio and gestures, communication feels more natural, just like talking in person. Virtual meetings can respect everyone’s cultural differences by offering customizable settings, creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued. By getting rid of visual cues like race or gender, virtual meetings help reduce biases so that people can focus on ideas rather than appearances, leading to fairer decisions overall.

 4. Increased productivity and efficiency

AR/VR virtual meetings help individuals get more done in less time. They save people from traveling, so they can join meetings from wherever they are, cutting down on wasted time and money. Plus, they make it easier for teams spread out across different places to work together, which means they can come up with ideas and solve problems faster. These meetings also keep participants focused and engaged because they feel more real, so they can remember information better and make decisions quicker. Even if someone works from home, they can still be part of the team and contribute just like they’re in the same room. And with everything they need right at their fingertips, like documents and presentations, they don’t waste time switching between different apps. These virtual meetings fit into their schedules better too, making sure everyone is there when it works best for them, which makes meetings more efficient and helps achieve goals faster.

Wrapping up

With more remote workers, video conferencing has become more popular. However, VR and AR offer even more immersive experiences that can simulate in-person meetings. These tools have been proven to improve creativity and productivity, allowing efficient teamwork and the visualization of complex data. 

If you’re looking to stay ahead of the industry and implement AR and VR conferencing advancements, we can help you. With years of expertise as an innovative AR/VR development company, we offer effective connectivity solutions to help you advance your digital transformation and enhance your workplace experiences.