A recent article by Retail Times explored how immersive technology, particularly virtual reality (VR), is reshaping workforce training by offering faster, more cost-effective alternatives to traditional methods. The findings have clear implications for high-risk sectors like oil and gas, where safety is paramount and training costs can be significant.
Historically, training in emergency response has meant physical drills, costly travel, instructor fees, and limited access to complex environments. These exercises are valuable, but they often come with long planning cycles and operational disruption. With VR, that’s changing.
Simulation software like STRX enables oil and gas companies to deliver high-impact training inside digital twins of their real-world facilities. This allows personnel to walk through realistic emergency scenarios—whether it’s a gas leak, fire, or structural hazard—without leaving their home base. Teams can train from anywhere in the world, together, in shared multi-user sessions that replicate the pressure and complexity of real-life incidents.
What makes this especially valuable is that training becomes repeatable and scalable. Once a scenario is built, it can be reused, modified, and updated instantly—without the need for new equipment or physical setups. And because it all happens in a virtual environment, there’s no downtime for the facility and no risk to the team.
More frequent training means greater preparedness. Studies have shown that teams who train regularly retain knowledge better and respond more effectively when it matters most. This translates directly into improved safety performance and, over time, reductions in Total Recordable Incident Rates (TRIR).
For companies balancing risk, cost, and regulatory pressure, 3D VR platforms like STRX aren’t just another piece of software—they represent a shift in how emergency preparedness can and should be delivered in a digitally driven oil and gas industry.
Read the full article that sparked this discussion here: https://retailtimes.co.uk/experts-say-immersive-tech-could-cut-training-costs-for-small-businesses-by-half/