AR-Based Precision Training for Professionals

Quick take: Stop building POCs (or Proof of Concepts). With the market in flux, many teams are rethinking how they invest. What I’m seeing more often is a shift toward smaller, focused initiatives that deliver measurable results. And that makes sense - smaller bets with less risk. But rather than proving that a technical solution is possible - we have to demonstrate it is valuable instead. One approach that’s gaining traction with C Suite instead: Proof of Value. Rather than being concerned about solely how feasible a new idea might be, be critical of how valuable it is (and build up the ROI business case before getting started). Start with a specific problem. Choose a metric that matters to your leadership team. Understand the nature of the problem and its impact on the business. Run a small test to show what’s possible. Most importantly, measure and track the value you are creating. Even when capital expenditures are required - this strategy is working. For example: manufacturing companies have been struggling with workforce and skilled labor shortages. The cost of losing experienced skilled workers over time is exacerbated when retention of new employees is only 50% after the first 3 months. There is a training, onboarding, and effectiveness gap with skilled labor in manufacturing and teams are getting creative on how to address it. In this case, operators are creating ROI positive investments by totally rethinking digital products with AR (or Augmented Reality) to support training, onboarding, and guided assistance. They do it on a single line, shift, or site - and measure the impact. AR technology has evolved to where this is no longer a Proof of Concept required (the technology isn't experimental - it is ready to scale). Rather - it is a measure of how such AR solutions improve retention of knowledge, reduce turnover, and eliminate build errors. And the results are clear: • 80% reduction in assembly errors • 50% improved retention over other training methods • 20% reduction in assembly time This kind of PoV approach helps teams move forward with confidence and clarity, even when the broader market is in flux. Small steps. Real data based on value created. Clear direction.

The Skilled Trades Shortage Isn’t Just a Labour Problem. It’s a Training Design Problem. We keep saying: “There aren’t enough trades.” True. But here’s what we’re not saying: Traditional construction requires fully certified trades on every site, every time. Modular/offsite doesn’t. Offsite manufacturing breaks work into repeatable, controlled, process-driven tasks. That means we can: • Reduce variability • Standardize steps • Capture expert knowledge once • Scale it across many workers The real opportunity? Use VR to train. Use AR to guide. Use remote experts to certify. This isn’t theoretical. Major contractors like Mortenson are already using VR for workforce development and safety training to address labour constraints. ASCE has reported research showing immersive VR training improves learning outcomes compared to traditional paper instruction — even for complex, high-risk construction tasks. Industrial firms use remote assist platforms that let a worker stream their point of view while an expert draws spatial annotations and walks them through the job in real time. That’s the model. Not “unskilled replacing skilled.” But: Skilled experts supervising 10 crews instead of 1. Standard work replacing tribal knowledge. Evidence capture replacing guesswork. In modular, this works especially well because: • Factory stations repeat • Tolerances matter • QA is measurable • Errors are cheaper to catch early Imagine: A new worker installs windows in a modular wall system. They’ve already completed a 10-minute VR module showing: – Correct flashing sequence – Air barrier continuity – Common failure modes On the floor, they follow AR step prompts: 1. Sealant bead spec 2. Fastener pattern 3. Torque confirmation 4. Photo capture If they’re unsure, a certified envelope expert joins remotely, annotates directly in their field of view, and signs off digitally. That expert might supervise 5–10 stations at once. That’s not fantasy. That’s process engineering applied to construction. Will this replace licensed electricians and plumbers? No. But can it: • Shorten onboarding time • Improve first-pass yield • Reduce rework • Retain semi-retired experts as remote QA leads • Open pathways for underemployed workers to skill up into certified trades Absolutely. The real constraint isn’t technology. It’s whether we’re willing to redesign how construction knowledge flows. If we keep thinking “site-first, trades-first,” we stay stuck. If we think “process-first, expert-amplified,” we unlock scale. The housing crisis will not be solved with yesterday’s labour model. It will be solved with systems thinking. #ModularConstruction #WorkforceDevelopment #SkilledTrades #ConstructionInnovation #AffordableHousing

AR is the future of deskless learning... just ask your hair stylist. AI and learning tech often bring to mind corporate offices and online courses. But what about industries where hands-on skills and real-time interaction are key? On the latest episode of They Learn You Win, I spoke with Jonathan Sorber, Director of Learning Design & Analysis at Sport Clips Haircuts. And Augmented Reality (AR) learning was a game-changer for their frontline workers. Sport Clips found that VR, while immersive, didn’t align with how stylists learn best. Augmented reality, on the other hand, proved to be a powerful tool for training, particularly for: ✅ Guided skill development AR can overlay real-time, step-by-step instructions to help stylists refine techniques as they work, rather than pulling them into a simulated environment. This makes learning more practical and immediate. ✅ Product knowledge retention Stylists consistently ask for better product training. Instead of static materials, AR allows them to interact dynamically with product information, improving recall and confidence in making recommendations. ✅ Enhancing the client experience Imagine a customer waiting in the lobby, scanning a QR code, and instantly seeing a preview of different haircut styles or playing a quick game to learn about haircare products. This not only engages clients but also supports business outcomes by educating them on styling options and products. This isn’t just a win for stylists, it’s a lesson for anyone training a deskless, customer-facing workforce. Learning for these workers can’t be stuck in a classroom or behind a screen. They need training that meets them where they are, whether that’s behind a barber’s chair, on a retail floor, or in a restaurant kitchen. That’s why AR works so well for frontline roles, it integrates into the flow of work, instead of interrupting it. It’s the difference between watching a video about a haircut and actually seeing augmented instructions in real time while you perform it. It’s also the difference between memorizing product details and having interactive overlays that reinforce knowledge as you need it. Too often, companies chase shiny new tech without asking: What actually makes our people better at their jobs? Sport Clips got it right. The use of AR was practical, engaging, and results-driven. Check out the full interview in the comments below.

Behind the scenes shaping the future of industrial (oil wellhead digital twin) training with XR! I’m sharing another behind the scenes chat with our XR (Extended Reality) team in Switzerland, and what they’re currently building is truly industry-defining. We’re transcending traditional performance support by seamlessly blending the physical AND digital worlds. Our current project involves creating a highly detailed 3D printed model of an oil wellhead. The team are converting that physical model into a precise 3D digital twin. Then, we’re turning this digital twin into an AR performance support learning experience. Here’s the vision…. Imagine a technician on a plant site, facing a complex oil wellhead operation. Instead of flipping through manuals or relying solely on memory, they can simply point their phone, smart glasses or tablet at the real-life equipment. Instantly, the AR experience overlays step-by-step, contextual instructions right onto the physical wellhead, providing real-time guidance exactly when and where it's needed. This radically improves human error, accelerating training and complex operational tasks, and democratises expertise across a global workforce. This will become more than just a training tool; it's a fundamental shift in how we leverage technology to support our client partner’s global energy operations. I am proud to lead a team that is driving this level of innovative transformation. The future of industrial performance support is certainly here! #XR #AugmentedReality #AR #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #OilAndGas #GlobalLeadership #FutureOfWork

One of the most meaningful pieces of research I’ve worked in recent years involved a deep collaboration with a major airline to adopt Augmented Reality (AR) for Digital Transformation. This wasn't just just about theory, but about creating real value in real operational settings, where precision and performance matter. In the age of digital transformation, AR is reshaping how work is done—especially in high-stakes environments like aircraft maintenance, where a single oversight can have critical consequences. In collaboration with a major airline, we embedded AR into aircraft turnaround inspections, replacing paper-based workflows with near-eye digital guidance. Over a 3-month period, our research team stayed onsite, collecting rich multi-modal data, first-person and third-person video, eye tracking, wearables data, combined it with image recognition, expert coding, and surveys to understand several key questions: How does AR affect operational processes? How does it influence employee attention and behavior? And ultimately, how does it impact work performance on the ground, in real operational settings? Our first academic paper based on this research has just been published in MIS Quarterly "Augmented Reality at Work: Attention Dynamics and Their Impact on Work Performance", in collaboration with my co-authors Cheng Yi and Runge Zhu. 🔍 What did we find? - AR enhances focus and task performance by reducing the attention-switching cost between the physical and digital world. - But design matters: when AR displays become too information-dense, users experience heightened cognitive load, which can hurt performance. - Interestingly, AR benefits fatigued workers even more, and its focus-enhancing effects spill over into subsequent tasks—even when AR is no longer used. 🚀 Why does this matter? Because this is not lab research. This is real technology, tested in real operations, under real pressure. It shows that AR, when thoughtfully designed, can empower employees, enhance precision, and support safer, smarter, more efficient workflows. 💡 For organizations embracing digital transformation: - Use AR to present core, context-sensitive information—avoid clutter. - Adopt a dual-device strategy: AR for real-time execution; smartphones/tablets for complex processing and interaction. - Identify where human attention is most strained—and where AR can most meaningfully reduce that load. This work shows how AR + AI can serve not only as tools for automation, but as technologies that support human expertise in the moments that matter most. #MISQ #AR #DigitalTransformation #AI #HumanCenteredDesign #AttentionManagement #SmartMaintenance #Aviation #XR #HCI #EmpowerEmployees #RealImpact #EnterpriseTech Erasmus Centre for Data Analytics Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM) Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University