Why virtual reality is changing virtual collaboration

Virtual collaboration has long been lived normality in many German companies. Be it voluntarily, because businesses had already integrated digital working into their own operations some time ago. Or by necessity, because the restrictions of the corona pandemic required a rethink.

Either way, scenes like the following are therefore no rarity:
On a Thursday afternoon, a meeting for a new campaign is scheduled in the marketing department of a mid-sized company. Team lead Mr. Schmidt is in his office at the company. The graphic designer Ms. Humboldt joins from the home office, because she's looking after her child who has a cold at home. The SEO expert Mr. Stietz uses the internet of the business lounge at the airport in New York to present his new concept in the meeting before departure. The freelance copywriter Ms. Kowalski joins from her van in South America, where she's spending the winter months.

None of the team members is in the same place or even in the same time zone. And yet they work together on the same project.

This situation is exemplary of new working realities made possible by media of digital communication. And these are diverse!

Virtual collaboration is already lived reality in many companies. This allows employees to work from different places.

The possibilities for shaping virtual collaboration seem almost limitless, given the countless software, methods, strategies and infrastructures.

On top of that, advancing digitalization, globalization and also the effects of the pandemic are true catalysts for New Work concepts. Especially in the case of remote work and working from the home office.

All the more interesting is therefore the question: what comes next?
What does the future of virtual collaboration look like?

It's exactly this question we devote ourselves to in this article. This much can be revealed up front: in terms of virtual communication, we're far from having reached the zenith. And virtual reality will play a big role in this further development.

What does virtual collaboration actually mean?

But before we look into the future, a brief look at the status quo is worthwhile.

By successful collaboration, we usually understand several people who align their individual abilities and talents so that they reach a shared goal in the most effective way.

Virtual collaboration means exactly the same. With the small but subtle difference that here the collaboration takes place digitally.

This detail „digital”, which seems so unremarkable in word form, brings with it a complete paradigm shift in everyday work.

Compared to all members of a team or department collaborating on site, numerous aspects change in virtual collaboration. Especially when the individuals are in different destinations.

Virtual collaboration: the evolution away from a fringe phenomenon

At the latest since the corona pandemic, digital collaboration is no longer a foreign word for most German companies, but a daily routine.

Which is no surprise. After all, especially given the harsh and abrupt restrictions at the start of the corona crisis, many firms were forced to send their employees into the home office from one day to the next.

So even those businesses that were previously rather conservative or even dismissive toward digital change had to admit that things simply no longer work without virtual collaboration.

Because digital collaboration no longer concerns only traditional workflows. We live in times of virtual congresses, workshops, training and further education, all the way to large events with several hundred participants.

In other words, people can work together for years without ever having met even once in real life. Of course, such cases have existed for decades, especially in internationally oriented companies.

What's new, however, is that, through virtual collaboration, the number of people who work on shared projects without physical closeness is no longer a minority. Quite the opposite – it's rising exponentially. And if you believe the forecasts, it could be the majority in the near future.

With that, a new need arises over which leaders worldwide are already racking their brains: how can a sense of closeness and togetherness be created in times of digital collaboration and physical distance?

How virtual reality will change digital collaboration

So here we are, at our look into the future.

Digital change is underway and virtual collaboration is increasingly entering the departments of German companies. The first wave of the big switch as well as equipping and upgrading is done. Many firms have created a solid foundation for the daily togetherness of their hybrid and remote teams with a kit of MS Teams, Zoom and co.

But how does it go from here?
To answer that, one of the currently biggest pain points of companies serves as an indicator – the lack of human closeness.

Employees can chat, align via calls or even see each other in video calls. But as personal as this exchange may be, it doesn't hide the fact that things are missing.

We stare at screens instead of reading from faces. And we squeeze the mouse instead of our favorite colleague. Important components of human communication simply come up a little short in virtual collaboration.

Does that mean we have to come to terms with it and get used to not only the spatial but also the human distance? Not necessarily. Because one future trend of virtual collaboration wants to change exactly that. Virtual reality.

What is virtual reality?

Imagine you go through your new employee's workflows with them step by step. They stand beside you and observe your approach. The fact that they're wearing a Hawaiian shirt and flip-flops bothers as little as the fact that the two of you are actually on two different continents.

You ask yourself how that's possible? Virtual reality! By this concept we mean an extremely immersive experience created by simulating a reality. Users perceive the experience so intensely because they can actively explore their environment and interact with it.

The whole thing takes place in 3D with the help of a VR headset or a similar application for virtual reality. Admittedly, VR technology, measured by how long it has existed, is still in its infancy. The computer simulations are nevertheless already so advanced that any environment can be reproduced very realistically in a 360° perspective and actively experienced.

Through the use of VR headsets, companies are given the chance to create a realistic virtual workplace for their employees.

That makes virtual reality a true playground for creative applications. Especially in digital collaboration.

The advantages of virtual reality for virtual collaboration

The potential of VR technology for the virtual communication of hybrid and remote teams is gigantic. To give you a taste:

• Meetings could, thanks to avatars, literally become moments of encounter again. Employees dive into a room in which other team members become digitally tangible. The exchange thereby feels livelier and less distant.
• Onboarding and training no longer have to be purely theoretical. With the help of a virtual reality simulation, employees can practice and learn at virtually recreated workplaces.
• Analysis and problem-solving for new ideas and projects can be done far more efficiently through 3D models viewed together in a digital meeting room.
• Through the visualization of facts, the creativity and productivity of participants is fostered in brainstorming sessions and workshops.
• Virtual reality ensures less distraction. Especially in longer video conferences, many a muted employee quickly lands with their attention in their email inbox. A VR environment encourages participants far more strongly to actively take part in what's happening.
• Versatile applications make VR headsets a universal tool in virtual collaboration. They can be used in nearly every industry and can be useful in diverse scenarios – from onboarding through online conferences to project kick-offs.

On top of that, VR headsets prove very advantageous in the context of virtual collaboration:

Virtual reality adds a personal touch to communication

In digital collaboration, communication between individual employees runs mainly virtually and asynchronously. Through the use of virtual reality in the interaction, this exchange is made livelier. Facial expressions and immediate gestures help to build trust and closeness. That doesn't replace the chat in the kitchenette, but it's considerably more personal and tangible than classic video calls.

VR headsets make visualizing projects easier

Digital collaboration has special prerequisites for it to work. Every employee needs appropriate technical equipment and access to relevant information and work resources. Accordingly, it takes a physical and virtual infrastructure through which all necessary processes can be realized securely, reliably and efficiently. Viewing facts and models in 3D space helps to avoid mistakes, misunderstandings and communication gaps.

Virtual reality as a technological upgrade with little extra effort

Employees need no prior knowledge or training to be able to use virtual reality. It also doesn't take much equipment to be able to use the technology. For simple versions, all it takes is one VR headset per employee and appropriate software.

The costs for VR equipment are relatively low

The expected costs, at prices of about €400 to €1,000 per headset, plus around €40 to €80 monthly license costs per employee, are likely manageable. Especially since VR technology, on the other hand, enables savings, for example in travel costs. More precise price information isn't available yet, since it hasn't been decided which provider will ultimately prevail in the market.

VR headsets as an important asset for digital leadership

Virtual collaboration requires leadership that ensures set goals are reached even across the distance. That takes not only great flexibility and agility, but also human sensitivity. After all, your own team members should feel as integrated and valued as possible.

Virtual reality can significantly simplify this process of leading people under modern working conditions and with new methods. Leaders thus have the chance to meet their team members on an approachable and interactive level.

Even if the use of virtual reality in virtual collaboration is still at the very beginning, the technology is promising in any case.

That more and more providers of VR headsets and the design of digital collaboration spaces are pushing into the market proves that something is happening here that has a future.