The rise of the metaverse has driven an increased adoption of virtual reality (VR) as a training and development tool. According to PwC’s 2022 US Metaverse Survey, 51% of companies have either incorporated VR into their strategies or integrated it into at least one business line. Additionally, 34% of respondents highlight VR’s potential to provide a more effective way to develop and train employees as a key benefit.

VR training offers significant time efficiency compared to traditional classroom methods. Tasks that might take two hours in a classroom can potentially be completed in just 30 minutes using VR. Even with additional setup time for first-time learners to familiarize themselves with VR headsets, VR learners still complete training approximately three times faster than their classroom counterparts. This calculation excludes the time saved by eliminating travel to physical classrooms.

Beyond efficiency, VR-based training enhances confidence and practical application. Studies indicate that VR-trained employees are up to 275% more confident in applying their learning on the job, showing a 40% improvement over classroom training and a 35% improvement over e-learning.

While VR content demands a higher initial investment—up to 48% more than traditional classroom or e-learning approaches—its cost-effectiveness improves with scale. For instance:

• At 375 learners, VR training matches classroom learning costs.
• At 1,950 learners, it achieves parity with e-learning.
• At 3,000 learners, VR training becomes 52% more cost-effective than classroom training.