Seabourn is using a virtual-reality training application
from Pixvana to solve the problem of how to train waitstaff in a realistic
off-ship environment.
The two companies said Pixvana's interactive VR training
video enables new Seabourn employees to master the 105-table main dining room
on Seabourn's latest ships without access to the actual room.
"A major hurdle to staff training is the fact that the
ship is almost always in full operation, with the dining room perpetually
occupied with either customers or the cleaning crew," said Rocky Sudlesky,
lead specialist for Seabourn fleet learning and development. "Finding a
window of time to manually train new employees was both cumbersome and
inefficient."
Using VR goggles saves time and money, Sudlesky said, and
provides staff with an engaging way to learn.
Pixvana created 26 service scenarios that can be downloaded
to any Oculus Go headset in the highest resolution, ready to be accessed on
demand.
"We believe there's huge potential for immersive
learning in the corporate world," said Pixvana COO Rachel Lanham, adding
that Seabourn's use of the technology puts it in the vanguard of VR adoption
for training.