In the world of smart technology, have we advanced to the point where VR has a role in building maintenance? Virtual reality has been around for almost half a century, most often associated with entertainment, but it is making its way into office spaces and building maintenance as an effective tool for operators.
New advances in VR are helping to improve efficiency and streamline building maintenance by simplifying equipment repair, addressing labour shortages, and improving safety.
Equipment repair
VR has been used to help improve equipment repair, making it easy for technicians to follow step-by-step instructions given to them while wearing the headset. By placing the engineer in a fully immersive digital environment, the problem can be assessed efficiently, and the solution can be applied quickly. Not only is this useful at the point of failure, but the technology allows access to equipment before failure, making it possible for engineers to predict – and in some cases even avoid – impending equipment issues or failure.
Labour shortage
This technology also helps address the issue of labour shortages, meaning that off-site maintenance or troubleshooting becomes simpler when there are not enough engineers for an on-site visit. Not only can VR help bridge the gap when demand becomes too high, but it can also offer a long-term solution. We are seeing the potential for a STEM (science, engineering, technology and mathematics) skills shortage, and the need for professionals (with less experience) to be able to apply those skills may be necessary to get the job done, even if the workforce is short-handed.
Improved safety
Studies show that about 28 per cent of manufacturers are using AR (augmented reality) and VR to improve plant safety. Using this technology for increased safety can be as simple as adding smart technology to hard hats to help protect workers. VR headsets can also support, or in some cases replace technicians, allowing for more training opportunities within the field, where employees can be trained in a “hands-on” capacity, without even touching the equipment. This can help cut down on training time, making safety more accessible for your employees.
As technology continues to add efficiency, save time and money, and make the workplace safer, there is a place for VR in building maintenance as part of a smart approach to the job.
