The human resources department is an essential part of any organisation, so long as that organisation is human-led (obviously). 

Until we collectively sign off on a fully mechanised workforce, HR departments will continue to shape and manage the culture and performance of the people at the heart of every business. 

But with an increasingly competitive labour market and the evolving nature and scale of the modern enterprise, effectively translating business values and making cultural changes within your workplace can be challenging – especially in an increasingly multinational framework. 

Today's HR departments have a lot on their plates. They have to recruit successfully from a large pool of applicants, provide instructive and engaging onboarding and training, and maintain a program of learning and development – all while potentially losing senior members of staff to retirement.

However, extended reality (XR) presents a variety of tools and applications that promise to transform HR and consolidate a lot of moving parts that can frustrate the evolution and growth of your business. 

So how does it work?

XR encompasses the four main branches of computer-mediated reality: assisted reality (aR), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR). 

Each has unique advantages in the context of HR. We're here to guide you through some of their benefits and hopefully convince you to adopt the technology for your organisation. 

Let's get started. 

Improving the recruitment process

Finding talent can be hard. That's not because of a lack thereof, but because talent is so often obscured by conventional recruitment methods. 

Application forms and interviews can only show you so much about a person. What's more, applicants are given very little insight into your company and its culture. 

Reaching the right people is about sending out the right message. You get out what you put in – basic mathematics, right?

If you're sending out boring application forms and conducting rudimentary interviews, you're less likely to get the best out of your applicants and more likely to blunder the recruitment process and risk unsettling the balance within your team. 

This is where extended reality (XR) can play a pivotal role in improving your recruitment process and connecting your business to the right individuals with the right skills. 

With XR-enabled devices, companies can share more about their brand identity and core values with applicants. 

For example, applicants can be invited to take virtual tours of your offices or workspaces. These could be live video-streamed tours with software like SimplyVideo, or interactive tours uploaded to social media. 

When it comes to selection, XR offers a whole host of opportunities for businesses to whittle down applicants and hire with confidence. 

The technology is so advanced now that it's less a question of if you should use XR than it is how you should be using it. For instance, Jaguar Land Rover set its candidates a code-breaking challenge using a VR app, showing how gamification can be used for recruitment purposes. 

Many companies are using XR to measure soft skills like problem-solving, communication and teamwork. By simulating real-life situations, employers can quickly gauge the suitability of a given candidate with more accuracy. 

Transforming onboarding and training

You can't possibly communicate everything about your organisation to your new starters in the recruitment process – and that's why onboarding programs exist. 

However, if you're still loading up the old PowerPoint files and dusting off the old corporate welcome videos, you may want to rethink your approach. 

XR can help you reimagine and explore effective ways of onboarding that won't leave your dewy-eyed newbies feeling cold or puzzled.

With VR headsets, new hires can begin situational tasks in an immersive and interactive virtual environment – or play through a guided history of the company. VR is proven to improve memory retention and on-the-job performance because of its repeatability and closeness to real-life scenarios. 

Or how about this? You can help your recruits get to grips with new equipment using AR glasses and video conferencing software like SimplyVideo. Just set up workbenches and start a video call with a company expert, which all participants can join.

Our software lets recruits "see through the eyes" of the expert, so they can learn exactly how to carry out a new task, guided by a seasoned veteran.

The best bit? These new recruits can join from anywhere and from any device, so it's ideal for training remote staff and global teams.

Emboldening employee communication and participation

Connecting your staff and fostering a cohesive team can be a challenge. Businesses are often stretched across multiple locations with departments rarely intermingling (except, perhaps, at the end-of-year office party). 

But why does Darren in logistics need to know Salma in product and design? Well, it's part of a bigger picture that's often overlooked. 

Creating a culture within your organisation where staff feel connected and informed about the different sides of the business helps build morale and confidence across your workforce.

XR can be used to tighten schedules and improve performance, but also to build cohesion and strengthen professional and personal relationships. It allows voices to be heard and knowledge to be shared. 

A cornerstone of business-focused XR technology is collaboration. By introducing innovative video-conferencing software like SimplyVideo, employees can share problems, ask questions and access expertise across departments and across sites. 

With hands-free headsets, engineers can troubleshoot mechanical failures in real time with a remote expert, supporting their learning and development. AR- or VR-enabled headsets can be used to create team-building exercises to boost morale and share the company's vision. 

Supporting learning and development 

Maintaining an environment of support and development for your staff is essential for retention down the line. 

XR can be used with new starters and experienced staff alike. Some older (and younger) staff may need soft skill updates to acclimate to diversity and inclusion standards, adopt new skills as they take on more responsibility or learn about a new region for those relocating. 

XR has the potential to empower your staff to make confident decisions and reduce costly errors. A workplace culture that is motivational and encourages learning translates to higher performance and productivity across the board.

Revitalise your HR with SimplyVideo

If you're thinking of updating an existing development program or want to introduce innovative XR solutions to your HR workflow, look no further than SimplyVideo. 

SimplyVideo is an intelligent and user-friendly video conferencing service. With next-generation collaboration tools built in, it empowers global teams to work faster, strengthen connections and solve problems like never before.

The software is compatible with all major XR devices as well as tablets, smartphones and desktops. Want to try it out? Sign up now for your 30-day free trial.