Since Apple introduced the Vision Pro headset in June 2023, companies have been hesitant to adopt it. Analysts are still waiting for the emergence of killer apps that can drive widespread adoption of VR headsets. Companies identify potential use cases, but they remain slippery about making huge investments until these persuasive applications emerge.
Similarly, the Meta Quest 3, which debuted in October 2023, has gained more traction among gamers. However, on the enterprise side, they share a similar reception to Apple’s headsets. It’s worth noting that Quest 3 is more affordable compared to the Apple Vision Pro’s $3,499 price tag, with the highest tier 512GB model priced at $649.99.
As it stands, the question of which devices will offer businesses remains open to the highest value. Here are five areas where businesses can potentially leverage these cutting-edge AR/VR headsets.
Training and simulation
Practical, real-world demonstrations are irreplaceable to training engineers, nurses, or technicians. However, global companies are currently facing the challenge of seamlessly operating across geographical barriers and overcoming operational hurdles.
This is an area where AR/VR headsets like the Apple Vision Pro and the Meta Quest 3 are particularly useful. Especially in training and simulation. For example, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines employs Apple Vision Pro to improve technical maintenance training.
Vision Pro allows technicians to engage in detailed simulations using the Engine Shop app. This provides step-by-step instructions overlaid on 3D models of engine design. This approach helps to enhance the training process, reduce reliance on physical equipment, and minimize errors.
“Apple Vision Pro considers incredible value to improve fleet availability and operation,” said Bob Tulleken, Vice President of Operations Decision Support at KLM. “Training employees with spatial computing reduces costly errors as they have the latest information needed to do their job before performing tasks. This is what we do. It not only makes you significantly more efficient at work, but it also provides a better work environment for employees to succeed.”
Building Information Modeling
Design flaws in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industries can be expensive, especially if identified after the building is completed. To address this, companies are increasingly using digital twins, making their designs more realistic visualised and finding errors before construction begins.
One company that leverages digital twin technology is Norwegian Architecture Firm A-lab. This replaced rendering and sketching with a 3D model in VR. A-Lab uses SentioVR, an independent software vendor, to create a virtual walkthrough of the proposed project. To visualize the environment, future clients will provide Meta Quest 3 headsets.
The high-tech partnership was particularly helpful for one of A-Lab’s clients. This required the buy-in from local politicians for the redevelopment site.
“With VR, the results of the project are much better. Angie Mendes, the company’s technology director, said:
real estate
Finding a home or office space was a labor-intensive task that involved multiple property visits, scheduling viewing with owners and real estate agents, and considerable time and energy. The introduction of AR/VR technology has changed the game for both real estate sellers and buyers.
For pre-sales condominiums, VR simulations provide clients with an immersive experience of what it’s like to live in a property space. With headsets like Apple or Meta, people can enter all the spaces within the virtual rendering.
For completed properties, clients can use AR technology to overlay digital information about physical spaces to determine whether a particular furniture fits in a particular space or whether the room is large enough for their needs. You can judge. You can also analyze real estate details, assess damages and receive recommendations for home improvements.
AR/VR headsets provide convenience for developers and real estate agents, allowing future clients to access all properties while they are in one location.
Collaboration and productivity
As work from setups rises from anywhere, businesses and individuals need the flexibility to be creative and productive without becoming the same physical space. To support this, Apple partnered with developers to integrate collaboration and productivity tools into the Vision Pro headset.
SAP Analytics Cloud allows employees and executives to access data dashboards and organize critical workflows within a virtual space. Through Vision Pro, users can also explore data using contextual 3D maps and graphics.
“We are leveraging the spatial computing capabilities of Apple Vision Pro with SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP Mobile Start. We believe that combining Visionos with generative AI will significantly improve the behavior of our enterprise. Apple Vision Pro With SAP Analytics cloud running in, customers can gain deeper insights from complex things through more intuitive processes, and SAP Mobile Start is a new and effective tool for all SAP business applications and workflows. It’s accessed in a way,” Philipp Herzig said. AI Officer, SAP SE.
Meanwhile, Copilot, an AI companion optimized for use with Microsoft 365 and Apple Vision Pro, is said to offer benefits such as better data visualization in Excel with MS teams and easier content switching. .
“Spatial computing has led experts to rethink how AI tools can be used. The Microsoft 365 and Apple Vision Pro teams allow users to view and manage apps side-by-side, making it a better organization and enables adjustments,” said Nicole Herskowitz, vice president of Microsoft 365 and Team.
Additionally, Apple introduced new features in WebEx, Zoom and Box in Vision Pro, focusing on enhancing spatial computing capabilities to improve virtual collaboration and data management.
education
Traditional teaching methods cannot be replaced, but they need to be supplemented by a digital-first society. Students are simplifying repetitive tasks using tools such as ChatGpt, and teachers are increasingly looking for more innovative ways to capture the child’s short attention span.
For generations raised on platforms such as YouTube and Tiktok, AR/VR offers important opportunities to fill learning gaps and present educational material in new and engaging ways.
In 2023, Meta collaborated with the VR Heroes and Poland’s National Research Institute (NASK) to launch a series of free workshops in Poland to introduce AR and VR education technologies to educators. These workshops were designed for teachers of all levels and were held at the Warsaw Community Hub in Meta. It features Meta Quest 2 headsets and dedicated educational apps, aiming to demonstrate how these technologies can be integrated into classrooms.
The training also included sessions led by NASK, which investigated the impact of VR on students and provided best practices for safe use of these technologies in educational settings. The goal was to develop teachers with the skills to utilize AR and VR in developing student creative skills and digital competency.
Academic research shows that VR can improve a variety of learning outcomes, including understanding, memory, student engagement, attention and motivation.
“Using AR and VR as educational tools will change the way students learn and increase cognitive processes and engagement. We look forward to following the progress of the Meta VR and AR education programmes in Poland. Poland’s Poland U.S. Ambassador Mark Brezinski said:
In a broader context, the adoption of AR/VR headsets by academic institutions remains uncertain. Schools and universities should consider return on investment and other priorities, especially in areas where access to basic educational resources is still limited. The decision to integrate these technologies depends on a careful assessment of costs and potential benefits.
