- 68% think AR/VR headsets will be used for virtual immersive workplace meetings within the next two years.
- Metaverse ‘generation gap’ in evidence as younger IT decision makers are likely to be more positive about VR adoption in the workplace
Adoption of metaverse-enabling immersive technology in the workplace is gathering pace, finds Quocirca’s newly published report on “The Future Immersive Workplace” based on research among UK IT decision makers (ITDMs). More than two thirds expect VR/AR headsets will be mainstream in the workplace for virtual immersive meetings in the next two years and 61% are already using at least one application of VR/AR.
As businesses look to develop virtual office environments, the metaverse may provide the answer to the challenges of replicating physical in-person interactions. Creating an immersive ‘space’ for remote and office-based workers could improve the employee experience, and level the playing field between those physically working in the office and those working from home to foster effective collaboration as employees make a return to working via a hybrid office/home environment.
The study found a generation gap in VR/AR perceptions, with almost three quarters (73%) of ITDMs aged 18-34 believing AR/VR will be used for virtual workplace meetings within the next two years, compared to only 53% of ITDMs aged 45+.
The research asked 124 UK-based IT decision makers in SMEs (<250 employees), mid-size organisations (250-999 employees) and large enterprises (1000+ employees) for their views on immersive technology and current adoption levels*.
The key findings:
- 68% believe VR/AR headsets will be mainstream in the workplace for virtual immersive meetings within the next two years.
- 61% are already using at least one application of VR/AR.
- The most popular VR/AR tools are those for remote employee training, used by 36% and remote field service engineers, used by 35%.
- SMEs lag behind larger companies in AR/VR technology adoption, with 50% currently using at least one VR application compared to 65% of mid-sized and large enterprises
Quocirca research director Louella Fernandes comments: “It is clear that IT decision makers believe AR/VR technologies have strong potential to become mainstream, with more than two thirds expecting them to become more prevalent in the workplace.
“It seems that younger, Gen Z, ITDMs are more confident and positive about using VR/AR in the workplace and consequently will be more likely to drive adoption in the next few years. While user experience may hinder the pace of adoption, immersive technology promises to support more engaging collaboration across the hybrid work environment, bridging the gap between office and remote workers.”
Virtual immersive collaboration and meeting tools
Companies are beginning to explore the value of the metaverse for collaboration, with 26% already using VR tools for immersive virtual collaboration experiences and a further 29% in the process of evaluating them for this purpose. A similar percentage is using VR for conducting virtual customer visits and 31% are evaluating the technology for this purpose.
Louella continued: “The availability of environments such as Meta’s Horizon and Horizon Workrooms – now in open beta – and Microsoft’s growing portfolio of mixed reality offerings, is prompting organisations to take bolder steps to evaluate how AR/VR technology and the metaverse can solve some of the challenges raised by long-term hybrid working. There is clearly an appetite for metaverse-based workplace solutions that give organisations and employees incredible geographical flexibility while solving some of the collaboration challenges presented by remote working.”
Quocirca’s report “The Future Immersive Workplace: how AR and VR technology will shape collaboration in the hybrid work era” is available to clients at https://print2025.com/reports/the-future-immersive-workplace/
About Quocirca:
Quocirca is a global market insight and research firm providing strategic market analysis and intelligence to print industry business and technology leaders. Quocirca specialises in analysing the convergence of print and digital technologies in the future workplace.
Since 2006, Quocirca has played an influential role in advising clients on major shifts in the market. Our consulting and research is at the forefront of the rapidly evolving print services and solutions market, trusted by clients who are seeking new strategies to address disruptive technologies.
Trusted by global industry organisations, Quocirca offers a wealth of specialist knowledge across the connected print ecosystem. Our extensive research activities are backed up with rigorous analysis and a robust primary research programme.
*Quocirca conducted this survey of 124 UK-based ITDMs in November 2021 with the aim of understanding which AR and VR technologies they have already adopted and what their expectations are for how VR/AR usage will grow within their businesses in the near and longer term. 24% of the respondents were from SMEs (<250 employees), 37% were from mid-size organisations (250-999 employees) and 39% were from large enterprises (1,000+ employees).
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