Flevy Management Insights Q&A

How can businesses leverage emerging technologies like AI and VR in employee training for non-technical roles?

     Joseph Robinson    |    Employee Training


This article provides a detailed response to: How can businesses leverage emerging technologies like AI and VR in employee training for non-technical roles? For a comprehensive understanding of Employee Training, we also include relevant case studies for further reading and links to Employee Training best practice resources.

TLDR Businesses can enhance employee training for non-technical roles by leveraging AI for Personalized Learning Experiences and VR for Immersive Training Simulations, supporting Strategic Planning and Digital Transformation.

Reading time: 4 minutes

Before we begin, let's review some important management concepts, as they relate to this question.

What does Personalized Learning Experiences mean?
What does Immersive Training Simulations mean?
What does Integrated Training Solutions mean?
What does Continuous Learning Culture mean?


Emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR) are revolutionizing the way businesses train their employees, particularly in non-technical roles. These technologies offer immersive, interactive, and personalized training experiences that can significantly enhance learning outcomes, improve engagement, and increase retention rates. By leveraging AI and VR in employee training, businesses can provide their workforce with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their roles, adapt to new challenges, and contribute to the organization's success.

Leveraging AI for Personalized Learning Experiences

AI technology can be used to create personalized learning experiences that cater to the unique needs, learning styles, and pace of each employee. By analyzing data on an individual's performance, strengths, and areas for improvement, AI can customize training content, adjust difficulty levels, and provide targeted feedback. This personalized approach ensures that employees receive the most relevant and effective training, leading to better outcomes and higher satisfaction.

For example, Deloitte's 2020 Global Human Capital Trends report highlights the importance of learning in the flow of life, suggesting that AI-powered learning platforms can offer just-in-time training that integrates seamlessly with employees' daily tasks. This approach not only makes learning more accessible and convenient but also ensures that training is directly applicable to the work at hand, enhancing its effectiveness.

Furthermore, AI can facilitate the measurement and analysis of training effectiveness, providing valuable insights into how training programs can be improved. By continuously monitoring employee performance and engagement, businesses can identify what works well and what doesn't, allowing for data-driven decisions in the development and refinement of training programs.

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Utilizing VR for Immersive Training Simulations

VR technology offers a highly immersive and interactive training environment that can simulate real-world scenarios, allowing employees to practice and hone their skills in a safe and controlled setting. This is particularly beneficial for non-technical roles that require soft skills such as communication, leadership, and customer service. VR simulations can mimic complex interpersonal interactions and challenging situations, providing employees with the opportunity to develop and refine these critical skills.

A report by PwC in 2020 found that VR learners are up to four times more focused during training than their e-learning counterparts and can be trained up to four times faster. This is because VR's immersive nature captures the learner's full attention and provides a realistic practice environment that is not easily replicated in traditional training settings.

Real-world examples of VR in employee training include Walmart's use of VR to prepare employees for Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year. By simulating the intense and chaotic environment of a crowded store, employees can practice stress management, customer service, and problem-solving skills. This not only improves their performance during high-pressure situations but also boosts their confidence and competence in handling similar challenges in the future.

Integrating AI and VR for Comprehensive Training Solutions

For maximum impact, businesses can integrate AI and VR technologies to create comprehensive training solutions that combine the benefits of personalized learning with immersive simulations. AI can be used to tailor the training curriculum based on individual learning needs and performance data, while VR can provide the practical, hands-on experience needed to apply those learnings in real-world scenarios.

This integrated approach can be particularly effective in fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Employees are more likely to engage with training that is relevant, interactive, and directly applicable to their roles. Moreover, the data collected through AI and VR can be used to continuously refine training programs, ensuring they remain effective and aligned with business objectives and employee development needs.

An example of this integrated approach is Accenture's use of a VR-based curriculum to train new hires. By combining AI-driven analytics to assess individual learning progress with VR simulations for practicing skills in realistic scenarios, Accenture has significantly improved the effectiveness and efficiency of its training programs, resulting in better prepared and more confident employees.

By leveraging AI and VR in employee training, businesses can provide personalized, immersive, and effective training experiences that not only enhance skill development and performance but also support the organization's broader Strategic Planning and Digital Transformation goals.

Best Practices in Employee Training

Here are best practices relevant to Employee Training from the Flevy Marketplace. View all our Employee Training materials here.

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Explore all of our best practices in: Employee Training

Employee Training Case Studies

For a practical understanding of Employee Training, take a look at these case studies.

Employee Training Enhancement in the Construction Industry

Scenario: The organization is a mid-sized construction company specializing in commercial real estate projects.

Read Full Case Study

Workforce Training Strategy for Boutique Hotel Chain in Leisure and Hospitality

Scenario: A boutique hotel chain, operating in the competitive leisure and hospitality sector, is facing significant challenges related to workforce training.

Read Full Case Study

Employee Training Strategy for Craft Brewery in North America

Scenario: A prominent craft brewery in North America, recognized for its innovative and diverse beer offerings, is facing challenges with employee training that are impacting its growth and product consistency.

Read Full Case Study

Transforming Workforce Training in Air Transportation: A Strategic Framework Approach

Scenario: An air transportation company implemented a strategic Workforce Training framework to address its talent development challenges.

Read Full Case Study

Workforce Training Program for Retail Apparel Chain in Competitive Landscape

Scenario: The company in focus operates a retail apparel chain, which has recently expanded its footprint across multiple states.

Read Full Case Study

Pricing Strategy Initiative for Boutique Consulting Firm in Digital Transformation

Scenario: A boutique consulting firm, specializing in digital transformation services for the healthcare sector, is struggling with competitive pricing pressures and the need for advanced job training to stay ahead.

Read Full Case Study


Explore all Flevy Management Case Studies

Related Questions

Here are our additional questions you may be interested in.

What role does leadership play in the success of employee training programs, and how can leaders be more effectively involved?
Leadership is crucial in employee training success, emphasizing the creation of a Learning Culture, Strategic Planning, Resource Allocation, and continuous Monitoring and Evaluation to align development with organizational goals. [Read full explanation]
How can companies integrate ethical considerations into their employee training programs, especially in sectors with high regulatory scrutiny?
Companies can integrate ethical considerations into employee training by aligning programs with Core Values and Strategic Objectives, incorporating Continuous Learning and Feedback Mechanisms, and ensuring Measurement of Impact and Accountability, fostering a culture of ethics and compliance for business success. [Read full explanation]
What are the challenges and opportunities in integrating cross-functional training programs within an organization?
Integrating cross-functional training programs offers opportunities for Innovation, Operational Excellence, and Strategic Planning but requires overcoming departmental silos, aligning with strategic objectives, and managing resistance to change. [Read full explanation]
What strategies can companies implement to measure the ROI of their employee training programs effectively?
Effective ROI measurement of employee training programs involves Strategic Alignment with business goals, leveraging Advanced Analytics, and employing a Multi-faceted Evaluation Strategy, as demonstrated by Google, Amazon, Siemens, and IBM. [Read full explanation]
What role does training play in ensuring the success of organizational change management initiatives?
Training is indispensable in Change Management, significantly increasing success rates by equipping employees with skills for new processes and fostering adaptability and continuous learning. [Read full explanation]
In what ways can organizations leverage data analytics to enhance the effectiveness of workforce training programs?
Organizations can improve Workforce Training Programs through Data Analytics by identifying skill gaps, personalizing training content, and measuring training effectiveness for targeted, engaging, and impactful outcomes. [Read full explanation]

 
Joseph Robinson, New York

Operational Excellence, Management Consulting

This Q&A article was reviewed by Joseph Robinson. Joseph is the VP of Strategy at Flevy with expertise in Corporate Strategy and Operational Excellence. Prior to Flevy, Joseph worked at the Boston Consulting Group. He also has an MBA from MIT Sloan.

It is licensed under CC BY 4.0. You're free to share and adapt with attribution. To cite this article, please use:

Source: "How can businesses leverage emerging technologies like AI and VR in employee training for non-technical roles?," Flevy Management Insights, Joseph Robinson, 2025




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