So you're on board with extended reality (XR). You've recognised the transformative potential of this technology. You've seen how it could be put to use in your industry. You know that XR will improve communication, collaboration and efficiency, and you're ready to embrace it – ports and all.

But is your board on board?

Being the sole standard bearer for a solution is always difficult – especially for a solution as novel and oft-misunderstood as XR. How can you convince your directors that XR is a wise investment? How can you demonstrate XR's potential, when – in all likelihood – they've never even tried an XR device before?

Don't worry – we've got your back. In this post, we highlight five challenges that board members might pose and share five ready-made answers so you can pitch with confidence.

Challenge: is the technology mature enough? I thought this was science fiction?

Answer:

We've come a long, long way since the 1990s.

That decade saw a wave of VR hype. Tech TV shows lauded the technology, but the world could see it was a work in progress. Choppy frame rates, dodgy graphics and reports of motion sickness did nothing to bolster its image.

We're not here to knock the early VR pioneers. But the fact of the matter is this: the underlying technology just wasn't ready to deliver an immersive virtual experience.

Today, it couldn't be more different. Computers have become fast enough – and small enough – to enable smooth, rich XR experiences that are light years away from those 1990s false starts.

Case in point: at least 88% of us carry an AR-capable device around with us every day. (We're talking about smartphones, in case that wasn't clear. It was? OK.)

Another case in point: VR is just about the biggest trend in gaming right now. There are more than 171 million VR users worldwide and 78% of Americans say they're familiar with the technology.

Perhaps your board couldn't care less about zapping vortigaunts in Half-Life: Alyx. And that's fine – because enterprise XR has also reached a healthy level of maturity.

Some of the firms that make business-focused XR devices have been around for decades. Take Vuzix, for instance. This well-known manufacturer was founded way back in 1997 – and is now an industry leader in AR technology. Hardly a start-up.

Challenge: I can see the potential, but I don't know anybody else who's doing this.

Answer:

We hear this a lot. But the truth is that XR has enjoyed a healthy adoption rate across several industries.

As you might imagine, this includes big names like Boeing, Airbus and, err… KFC. (Yes. Believe it or not, KFC uses VR to train its employees on proper frying techniques.)

But it's not just megacorporations who have seen the XR light. Plenty of SMEs are harnessing the technology for training, collaboration, customer engagement and more.

A 2022 study, which mostly – but not exclusively – polled European SMEs, found that more than 40% were using AR in some capacity. And a PwC industry analysis revealed that more than a third of London businesses had adopted VR or AR.

PwC's UK head of VR/AR commented: "many manufacturers have been using [immersive technologies] since the early 2000s – and retailers are keen to promote their investment in these technologies as a means of creating deeper connections with their customers."

Challenge: this would be a significant investment – I need to see evidence of ROI.

Answer:

We'll level with you. It's hard to pin down a headline ROI for XR technology.

This is because the XR umbrella encompasses many types of devices. These devices are used by a swathe of industries for countless applications. There are just too many variables to quote a confident figure.

What we can do is compare one type of device – an assisted reality (aR) headset – to its closest analogue, the smartphone.

Marketing intelligence firm VDC conducted a study that looked into the long-term value of aR headsets from leading manufacturer RealWear. It found that RealWear's HMT-1 headset had a five-year total cost of ownership (TCO) of around $5,300, compared to nearly $17,700 for a non-rugged smartphone.

Even rugged handheld computers – proper, tough-as-nails industrial devices – paled in comparison. These devices had a five-year TCO of more than $9,500. Ouch.

Challenge: won't frontline workers have trouble adapting to this technology?

Answer:

Some training will be necessary, of course. But XR devices are hardly technological conundrums. Manufacturers have taken pains to make them easy and intuitive to use.

Put it this way: can your frontline workers use smartphones? If the answer's "yes", then they should have no trouble getting to grips with XR hardware. In fact, many devices run Android – the same operating system that powers 70% of smartphones on Earth.

To make things even easier, you can use a platform like RealWear Cloud or ArborXR to remotely deploy apps and content to devices. This lets you manage which apps users can access and create streamlined, use-specific workflows to ensure operational efficiency.

Bonus: these kinds of platforms also boast impressive fleet management features, so you can upgrade, configure and deploy devices in bulk. Neat.

Challenge: I'll be honest. I just don't quite understand how these devices work.

Answer:

Why not invite them to try before they buy?

We realise that many people are new to XR technology – and we're keen to show what it can do. That's why we offer free demonstrations of any device in our online shop.

Got a particular use case in mind? No problem. We'll tailor our demonstration to show exactly how the device can be harnessed in real-world, frontline environments.

With our help, you might just spark that "a-ha!" moment that makes your directors fall hook, line and sinker for XR.

Expand Reality is a retailer of industry-leading XR hardware. Visit our XR store to explore devices from RealWear, Magic Leap and more.