Although PwC studies have shown that some VR training can quadruple learning speeds and nearly triple learners’ confidence, successful adoption is less about the technology itself and more about how you use it. Given the breadth of the potential business use cases of spatial computing, “it’s important to try to go beyond thinking about two-dimensional experiences and how they could be better in 3D,” explains Dalton, “because the real opportunity is for radical reinvention of ways of working, not just optimization or enhancement.” Use spatial computing simply to enhance an existing process, and given the current high cost of hardware and development, it may be difficult to demonstrate ROI. Think beyond current ways of working, and the potential gains could be exponential—assuming your target audiences are willing to try something new.
As with any emerging technology, there are some challenges to consider when using spatial computing, including finding ways to verify identity and asset ownership, clamping down on misinformation, and rethinking data and security strategies, systems, and processes. And because the potential for some users to experience nausea and discomfort while using VR headsets has been well documented, these kinds of interfaces may not work for everyone.
Such considerations are part of the reason that some uncertainty remains about the speed of adoption of these technologies, which means investing in them could be a risk in itself. “The technology and consumer engagement is not at a point at which we’d recommend anyone to invest a big chunk of their R&D or innovation or marketing budget on experimenting with it,” says Roberto Hernandez, PwC’s Global Metaverse Leader and PwC US Chief Innovation Officer. “But testing the waters with small investments and trials could prove a great use of your money.”