Virtual Reality in Colombia: what is it and how can it help companies?
Virtual Reality (VR) is a technology that offers multiple solutions for Colombian companies: virtual reality education and training, virtual meetings, 360º streaming, guided experiences for groups, serious games and much more… This tool allows the visualization of content in virtual environments, which are displayed on devices called virtual reality glasses. These glasses allow the user to visualize the contents on special screens, located close to their eyes. In this way, much more realistic experiences are generated than through the use of a traditional screen, or even 3D. For this reason, VR is a technology that offers solutions to help companies in Colombia improve productivity, facilitate communication and increase return on investment (ROI). Although VR is a tool that offers many possibilities for development, most virtual reality companies in Colombia have started with games and fun experiences. This is a young technology whose limits are yet to be explored. In this article we will look at other areas where it has been of great use.
What is virtual reality and how does it work?
As we have already seen, with VR users can access virtual content on adapted devices, which are virtual reality glasses.
They isolate users from the outside world and place them in a 360-degree virtual environment.
This will allow virtual reality agencies in Bogota and other cities to create immersive, realistic and interactive experiences.
An example of this is the amusing video below, which shows how players from Fulham, England’s historic soccer team,
tried to walk along a wooden plank on top of a skyscraper.
Although it is a totally virtual and simulated experience, it is so realistic that some of them, professional soccer players, did not even dare to try it.
The glasses, therefore, are a very important factor to enjoy an immersive and quality VR experience.
It is a device that over time became more accessible and affordable for all budgets.
In this sense, the launch of the Oculus Rift was a turning point for VR, as this model developed by Facebook became very popular.
However, there are many other models of virtual reality glasses, adapted to the different needs of all users.
TwoReality, Colombia’s leading virtual reality agency.
Virtual reality is a clearly growing, accessible and multipurpose technology with a lot of room for growth in Colombia, starting with the capital city. Virtual reality companies in the country are still scarce, mainly dedicated to entertainment use and for this reason TwoReality is becoming the main virtual reality agency in the country. In TwoReality we have more than ten years of experience in the development of virtual and augmented reality applications. We have worked with major brands such as Banco Santander, Bacardi, RedBull, Reebok, Bayer or Pepsi allowing us to be the main virtual reality reference in Spain. Now, thanks to our experience and professionalism, we want to bring the great benefits of virtual reality to a society as dynamic and modern as the Colombian one.
State of virtual reality in Colombia
Many Colombian companies are evaluating efficient, agile, modern and effective ways to conduct their training. It is no longer possible to gather groups in training to deliver knowledge. The cost of trainers and venues is being shifted to modern techniques. Virtual simulations are now being developed with glasses and tablets in which it is possible to bring the adherence of knowledge to 45% or even 80%, instead of the traditional 15% obtained with master classes. It has also reached large manufacturing and electrical industries where a step-by-step simulator can guide an operator through the maintenance process of large pieces of machinery. This avoids errors, stoppages caused by intervention errors, industrial accidents and even fatalities. These systems allow large industries to maintain safety protocols. They also indicate to the officer what the site, machine and process hazards are, during training with virtual reality goggles and later on site in the live process. These simulators can be used over and over again until the person feels they have mastered the process and can even be evaluated at the end of training. Thanks to a system of sensors and hot spots to which the gaze is directed during the training, a set of metrics can be generated or even a test for evaluation step by step or at the end.
Virtual reality sector in Colombia
These tools can be used in any industry or business, from banking to Industry 4.0, electricity, gas, finance and administrative processes. Access to virtual reality glasses is possible through local distribution companies or even purchased online. With the hardware at hand, it is possible to load the goggles or an app on a tablet in a matter of seconds and start learning directly from them. Manufacturing companies can take advantage of virtual or augmented reality by reducing the preparation time for new workers, improving the quality of their work immediately. In large industries or hydroelectric plants, it is possible to prepare maintenance material that helps to train new collaborators or also to help experienced ones to face new instructions quickly and accurately. It is also applied to food and beverage preparation processes to train chefs, bartenders and baristas without spending money on travel, accommodation and wasted inputs, also introducing evaluation questions. These tools allow to increase quality in production thanks to augmented reality that can control the production process step by step, reducing errors that lead to returned products due to inconsistencies or damage.
Virtual reality experience in Colombia
Thanks to virtual reality systems, it is possible to bring the product to the customer using glasses or tablets that deliver emotions, sensations and demonstrations. Today it is possible to develop 100% virtual content with an almost identical appearance to the real thing or to record them in reality to execute them in a virtual world. These experiences are being used by tourism companies to show the experience of visiting museums, exotic places, famous cities or popular sites without leaving the couch. Although it is not possible to travel or stay with the comfort and freedom that existed before the pandemic, the excitement and interest of the traveler can be maintained with these systems. Content has been developed in 360º videos for various cities around the world, balloon flights, paragliding, airplanes and parachutes recorded from real life, which give the user a sensation almost identical to that of real life. While the virtual experience does not replace the real thing, it does serve as a taste of what the live visit will be like, creating future travel buyers now. It is even possible to experience the view of the seabed during a diving session with all the fauna and vegetation of the famous reefs, for those who prefer to stay on land or cannot afford such trips.
Benefits of virtual reality for companies in Colombia
Many metrics can be improved by virtual reality systems, from training to remote operation of machinery with mixed reality. They reduce the time spent in face-to-face training because each person experiences it for themselves and can repeat it as much as they wish without the trainer being present. It avoids the travel and accommodation costs that we often incur when organizing group meetings so that we can have a facilitator with the whole group simultaneously. Because these simulators are developed hand-in-hand with the material experts, all options, steps, processes and precautions can be included as desired, without losing content in the voice-to-voice. It is very easy to deliver the knowledge of the experts in the same tool, which does not depend on the speaker or on a Train-the-Trainers process that takes time and effort to settle the ideas. In these simulators it is possible to develop risk situations, such as working at heights, fires, working with high voltage networks or chemicals, without the risk of accidents or fatalities. A good example is Porsche, which strengthened the factories in Leipzig and Zuffenhausen and called it Porsche Production 4.0. Before anyone else, in 2011, Airbus started using the QA tool with AR – Smart Augmented Reality Tool (SART). Since then, SART has been installed on one hundred tablets and more than 1,000 employees use it every day.
Virtual reality ventures and startups in Colombia
For the past couple of years, several educational institutions and governmental entities have taken on the task of fostering learning in universities and supporting local entrepreneurs. TwoReality has been developing simulations, marketing campaigns and industry tools for more than ten years for different countries with more than 70 key clients and more than 100 projects completed to satisfaction. The experience of successes and failures over time allows us to know in advance what will be the mistakes, the risks and the most efficient way to create a simulator. Also, thanks to our experience we can determine the development time in a very precise way, reducing the delivery time and always lowering costs. It is great news that several Colombian entities are betting on these new technologies, supporting young entrepreneurs and allowing companies of all sizes to take advantage of them. High quality development requires at least three years of experience in complex projects, making mistakes and especially learning from experts in real life situations. There are not many companies in Colombia that deliver this type of products and services, as they are more focused on the entertainment aspect than on the industrial or training aspects.
Virtual Reality Bogotá
The ability of virtual reality to generate immersive experiences, as well as the popularization and cheapening of VR glasses, will allow many companies to start incorporating this technology and develop the virtual reality industry in Colombia. We know that the entertainment sector was a pioneer and virtual reality games became very popular. Now, VR proved to be useful for many other purposes: in education, for example, it is very useful to create immersive and interactive academic content that improves students’ performance. On the other hand, the use of this technology in marketing campaigns allows us to generate unique experiences for our potential customers. It is an excellent tool to enhance teleworking and remote meetings; in this way, companies in Colombia will be able to differentiate their brand and improve productivity.
Virtual reality in Medellín
In Medellin we have a multitude of industries and multi-Latin companies that can outperform their competitors thanks to these systems that help optimize and streamline processes. Today’s competitiveness is based on satisfying the user and exceeding their expectations thanks to innovative experiences. In order to reach international markets, it is necessary to start by providing the user with a unique view and sensation that connects with their emotions. By starting marketing campaigns with this vision, it is possible to draw a line of chained actions that feed the emotion and the senses, solving the need long before delivering the product. Medellin is characterized by the quality of its products and the warmth of its inhabitants. It is possible to transfer these same sensations thanks to simulations and 360º tours. Thanks to a detailed project management process we can deliver to our clients a training or maintenance system of the highest quality. This team can deliver results on time, by working together rather than delegating functions. Based on the creativity and execution systems very common in the Antioquian culture, we are able to create experiences, record unique tours and allow locals and visitors to experience the unique sites and processes of the country.
