Virtual and Mixed Reality (VR/MR) simulations are supposed to deliver ROI for things like VR training programs — but for many companies, it’s been a financial headache. So what’s going wrong?
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Failing To Plan Is Planning To Fail
The strongest VR/MR projects start with a clear plan. Without it, teams risk misaligned goals, bloated budgets, and endless delays. The most successful projects define clear learning objectives, plan for scalability, and build logical, step-by-step flows for the training experience.
Naturally, it can be overwhelming and difficult for companies to accurately outline a plan of this sort because — how do you plan for something you’ve never worked with before? Planning a VR/MR experience requires design thinking, pedagogy, and hands-on experience. It’s always best to work with a consulting team that has expertise in the software you’ll be using. That’s where OVA, the creator of StellarX, steps in. The team guides you through planning every stage of the project, from defining key actions to anticipating future needs.
This may seem like less of a software problem, but don’t be mistaken: your plans are reliant on the abilities of your software. Be aware of how your chosen software handles the production phase, because things can go awry here.
It Doesn’t Have To Fall Apart During Production
This is where your chosen software shows its true colours. Overcomplicated platforms can quickly turn a promising project into a resource-intensive nightmare.
Even highly technical teams can encounter challenges when trying to capture the intricate details of a simulation. It can quickly become a tangle of complexity, frustration, and endless roadblocks. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are some of the most commonly cited issues clients had previous to using StellarX, and why they switched over:
Prerequisite skills
Many VR/MR platforms demand 3D modeling, programming, or technical expertise just to get started. This often forces companies to hire specialized teams, driving up costs and timelines. Services might be available, but a highly technical software creates long timelines and delays, even when used by experts.
StellarX removes the technical barrier with intuitive, no-code tools and AI. You don’t need to be a programmer or 3D artist.
You can create and customize immersive experiences using simple drag-and-drop tools or AI Voice Assist, and import 3D objects from databases like Sketchfab. This enables teams to be self-sufficient and iterate faster. Over 90K people have already been creating experiences in StellarX on their own.
Unnatural visuals and interactions
Poor visual fidelity and unnatural interactions can ruin an immersive experience. If your training feels like a 90s video game, it won't engage learners or prepare them for real-world challenges.
StellarX’s realistic simulations are a result of a host of features like physics-based interactions, realistic lighting, and life-like avatars. Every detail is designed to make the experience feel as real as possible. Your team can lift, grab, and manipulate objects in VR as if they were physical objects.
See how ArcelorMittal’s StellarX experience accurately replicated their control room and plant, topped with explosions and complex mechanics. Unlike with rigid, gamified platforms, they can push, pull, and rotate objects just like in real life, ensuring muscle memory and procedural knowledge stick.
Little attention to nuance
Some VR/MR platforms restrict you to pre-built templates, which limit your ability to customize training to fit your processes, equipment, or environment. This "cookie-cutter" approach doesn't account for the nuances of your business. Ignoring whether your solution respects these differences can be the start of a much bigger problem.
While StellarX has templates to help you get started, you’re never locked into them. You can use them as a way to jumpstart creation so you don’t have to totally start from scratch, and modify every aspect of them to reflect your unique environment. This customization allows you to train employees in highly specific, industry-relevant scenarios.
The Royal Canadian Air Force’s feeder school for engineers is using StellarX to teach aircraft operation, maintenance, and exploration tasks in VR. One of their scenarios includes interactive training on a very specific engine called the CT155 Hawk MK115 Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour Mk. 871 Turbofan. Highly specific means highly specific.
Managing everything inside the experience is impossible
How do you get files onto a software in your headset? How do you manage them? Importing 3D models into VR/MR software is often slow, buggy, and full of compatibility issues. Many companies waste hours troubleshooting file formats and re-uploading assets.
With StellarX’s Content Management System (CMS), the Asset Hub, you can import, preview, sort, and manage 3D models, images, and media files in seconds. Everything syncs automatically with your app for instant use in VR or MR, with no back-end headaches or file format problems.
Pedagogical gaps
Much like the way teachers develop curriculums to best help students attain and retain knowledge in a subject matter, training should be fitted to learners’ pedagogical needs. At times, clients know their goals, but when it comes to the details of a curriculum, they are really unsure. This results in an endless cycle of building VR/MR training experiences that fail to meet their purpose.
The StellarX Masterclass gives project leaders the foundational knowledge in executing an VR/MR experience. StellarX’s creators, OVA, also offer end to end services that fill these pedagogical gaps.
Why Your VR/MR Software Fails You At Implementation
Ok, so you got through the first two steps. Similar to the implementation and integration of any software in an organization, this is typically where things start to falter. Let’s run through some of the most common reasons why this happens, and go over StellarX’s fixes:
So many technical difficulties
Sometimes, trouble begins with just trying to install the software. Other times, it’s because VR/MR experiences have varying levels of internet and CPU demands that impact performance, and some tools are not interoperable.
The wrong tool might not work with the headsets you have or you’ve budgeted for, they might freeze up, or worse, the frame rate might drop which, other than being annoying, will make your employees nauseous. Then, lack of connectivity means you can’t extract data from the experience.
You know what’s so great about app stores? They make installing apps really straightforward. No unzipping large folders, fussing with settings, or spending time in the backend connecting it to your other tools. Just plug and play.
StellarX is available on trusted app stores, making implementation a breeze. Its interoperability makes connecting to your tools like an LMS simple. It is what lends StellarX to being super scalable. Being available cross-platform also means StellarX is friendly to the technology your team feels ready for. Plus, the Performance Profiler gives full transparency into the performance of your experience.
The University of Manitoba implemented StellarX alongside other non-VR solutions to create a telerehabilitation program for stroke patients. Part of choosing StellarX was its ability to work with these other platforms seamlessly.
Stale content that’s expensive to update
Your organization grows, changes, and innovates. Perhaps there are new regulations it needs to follow. But many VR/MR platforms make it difficult (or expensive) to update training content. Small updates often require you to hire technical teams, or repurchase custom content.
StellarX makes it easy for you to update content without help. It’s the reason why StellarX was built to be so easy-to-use. Change workflows, swap out assets, and introduce new processes with just a few clicks. You control and own the experience, so you can hop in and change things whenever you want. No need to wait on a vendor to unlock things for you.
No insight into what’s working
Analytics are a cornerstone of every organization. Clients have invested into projects, only to be unsure about what exactly the ROI of their VR/MR experience was.
VR/MR analytics are a part of StellarX, capturing key learning data to help you understand the success of your experience.
Measure anything you’d like to gain a view on engagement, competencies, and areas for improvement. The analytics feature enables you to make informed improvements and personalize your training. You can learn more about this feature here.
Collaboration is limited to talking
VR and web solutions where you can talk to your peers with avatars really took off during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But collaboration in VR/MR solutions being restricted to this usage is boring, and barely useful beyond a fun new way to run a meeting. Business leaders have shared wanting to be able to actually do things together, complete scenarios together.
In StellarX, you can collaborate with teammates in a VR/MR Space with ease. All you need to do is share a Space code, which they can enter to join an experience with you. Responsive avatars that move, react, and interact naturally are part of the package. Avatars follow your body movements, can pass things to others, and more.
Take Tactik360 for example — with StellarX, they were able to build an experience where firefighters could practice emergency procedures together and work on team responsiveness.
Evolving Features for Lasting Results
StellarX is backed by an in-house team of technologists, researchers, developers, designers, and simulation design experts who ensure every feature is practical, intuitive, and impactful.
One of the new features the team is rolling out with clients on Government and Enterprise plans is the AI agent which, among other things, aims to greatly facilitate knowledge transfer. As experienced workers retire and other industries face instructor shortages, knowledge risks being lost.
StellarX addresses this with its Conversational AI Agent, designed to capture and redistribute expertise. Trainees can get answers to highly technical or specialized questions by speaking with AI Agent Avatars, even if an expert isn't on-site. This future-ready approach to knowledge transfer ensures organizations retain essential skills and experience.
The A-Team
OVA, the creator of StellarX, has a clear 1-2-3 implementation process that provides hands-on support to help you adopt and integrate VR/MR into your existing workflows. From defining goals to creating custom assets, providing training, and offering ongoing technical support, the team works directly with you every step of the way.
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StellarX’s solutions have been tried, tested, and refined through real-world use cases. Its models have been proven to deliver high ROI and measurable results throughout many industries, whether it be defence, manufacturing, education, or the public sector.
VR/MR simulations can achieve so much when done right. If you feel ready to regain confidence in VR/MR and drive measurable results, book a consultation, and we’ll design a strategy tailored to your business needs.
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