When you are dealing with powerpoint presentations, videos and paper questionaires, training not only is dull for those being trained, but it's not all that effective.
Not only is it mind-numbing having presentation slides read out to you, but many people don't learn effectively through theoretical learning - they need to really see it and do it in order to learn it properly.
Nothing is as effective as a practical example - but you've only got one plant and letting untrained staff work on it can be dangerous for both them and for the plant.
Some people can learn well from theoretical training. Many perform well on exams and paper tests. But the more practical the mind, the less effective these techniques are to actually getting them to absorb the training and use it when they get out into your site.
By reproducing the real environment and making the virtual experience as authentic as possible, your trainees are doing the next best thing to a practical test. Unlike book and test based learning, this type of training is accessible to all participants, giving them field experience without ever being in the field.
Virtual training is completely safe - there is no risk to either your staff or your equipment when you let your audience into their training environments.
They see an accurate model of your plant the way it really is, becoming familliar with it as they learn and interact.
There's a difference between telling someone 'you might get hurt' and showing someone what would happen.
When people perform dangerous acts in the virtual environment, you can show them the life-threatening results of their action. You can even then launch other training as a result.
For example, when someone is shocked in the simulation you can launch CPR training to revive them.
There is no limit to group sizes when you are using virtual training.
You've got an unlimited number of sites that your staff can explore and interact with. They won't interfere with one-another or get in the way. Each person can take the lessons at their own pace and complete the training in their own time.
Your training can be automatically tracked and marked online.
Your training is multi-platform, meaning your staff can do their training modules anywhere - on the web, their Windows or Mac computers or even on tablets and phones.