In a context of talent shortages, hard-to-fill positions and rapidly changing processes, professional training can no longer afford approximation.
Yet in the field, due to a lack of suitable solutions, many companies and training organizations still make the same mistakes… which cost them time, money and skills.
The good news: immersive technologies (virtual reality, augmented reality, simulators, interactive 3D environments, etc.) now offer very concrete answers to these challenges.
Let’s look at 5 common mistakes – and how immersion helps avoid them.
Mistake #1 – Training only in real-life environments
For a long time, training has been done almost exclusively on the actual workstation: in the workshop, in the warehouse, on site, on the training platform.
This is essential… but not always feasible, and sometimes very costly:
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Downtime of machines, production lines or entire areas
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Risk of accidents for beginners
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Production pressure: “we don’t have time to take the time”
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Difficulty reproducing certain situations (incident, breakdown, peak activity, etc.)
How do immersive technologies fix this?
Immersive environments make it possible to take learning out of the real world… while staying as close as possible to real working conditions:
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In virtual reality (VR): learners train in a 3D environment that mirrors their future workstation, without blocking tools or workflows.
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In PC- or screen-based simulators: they can repeat procedures and check their understanding without using a real machine.
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In augmented reality (AR): once on site, they are guided step-by-step by visual instructions overlaid on their environment.
Result: during their first real-life experience, learners already have automatisms in place, which reduces errors, risks and stress.
Mistake #2 – Underestimating engagement and emotion in learning
We often think training is mainly about content: programs, objectives, frameworks.
But in practice, what really makes a difference is also:
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the level of learner engagement,
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the emotion linked to the experience (fear of making mistakes, pride in success, curiosity, etc.).
Hours of PowerPoint presentations or linear e-learning often create passivity: the learner watches, clicks, moves on… without truly experiencing the situation.
What immersive experiences enable
Immersive technologies put the learner at the heart of the action:
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They must make decisions, react, collaborate, solve a problem.
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They experience emotional involvement: they are actors, not spectators.
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They can face rare or sensitive situations (critical breakdown, safety incident, customer error…) that would be difficult to recreate in real conditions.
This intensity boosts retention and the adoption of the right reflexes.
We do not learn in the same way when we just see a procedure… versus when we actually live it.
Mistake #3 – Not truly measuring acquired skills
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Many training programs rely on very broad indicators:
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Attendance rate
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Immediate satisfaction
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Overall validation of learning outcomes
But in technical, industrial, logistics or construction jobs, what really matters is: the ability to apply the right action, at the right time, in the right context.
How immersive technologies change the game
Immersive tools allow for precise and objective measurement of performance:
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Task completion time
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Number of errors made
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Compliance with a procedure (order of steps, timing, etc.)
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Safety behavior: use of PPE, respect of zones, reactions to an incident
Data is automatically recorded and can be used by the trainer or training manager.
This makes it possible to:
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track each learner’s progress,
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identify areas to strengthen,
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adjust the training path with much greater accuracy.
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Mistake #4 – Not allowing room for error
In the real world, mistakes can be very costly:
accidents, equipment damage, production loss, dissatisfied customers…
As a result, mentors often give beginners very little freedom.
This is understandable… but it also limits their ability to truly experiment.
Immersive environments as a “safe zone”
The great strength of immersive technologies is that they allow learners:
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to make mistakes without real-world consequences,
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to start over immediately,
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to understand “what would have happened” in real life.
In VR or on a simulator, they can:
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test a bad decision,
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see its simulated impact,
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correct their actions,
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replay the scene until they master it.
Error becomes a learning tool, not a failure to avoid at all costs.
Mistake #5 – Designing static content that is hard to update
Technical jobs evolve quickly:
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new equipment,
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new procedures,
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new safety regulations,
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new ways of organizing workflows.
If training content is static (paper materials, videos unchanged for years, static PowerPoint decks), it quickly becomes disconnected from reality.
With immersion: living, evolving training content
Immersive technologies – when properly designed – make it possible to:
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adapt scenarios to new processes or equipment,
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create different difficulty levels for different learner profiles,
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integrate new cases: incidents, breakdowns, peak activity, change in instructions.
You move from “monolithic” training to a living system that evolves with the needs of the company or training center.
So, where do you start in practice?
Integrating immersive technologies doesn’t mean revolutionizing everything overnight.
The goal is not to oppose real-life vs virtual, but to build a combined learning path:
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Discovery and practice in an immersive environment
→ To understand gestures, risks and processes, without pressure or danger. -
Real-life practice on the job
→ With a mentor or trainer, to anchor learning in reality. -
Return to immersion
→ To work on specific situations, correct recurring errors and prepare for changes.
FAQ – Immersive technologies & training mistakes
- Why can training only on the real worksite be costly?
Because it ties up machines, disrupts production and increases the risk of errors and accidents for beginners. - How do immersive technologies reduce learner errors?
By allowing them to practice in a safe, repeatable environment where they can make mistakes without real consequences and try again until they master the skills. - How does immersion improve engagement in training?
The learner becomes an active participant: they make decisions, live through realistic situations and feel more emotion, which strengthens memorization. - Can you really measure skills in a simulator or VR?
Yes, immersive solutions track precise indicators: completion time, errors, adherence to procedures, safety behaviors, etc. - Does immersion replace on-the-job training?
No, it complements it. Immersion is used to prepare, secure and standardize training before moving into real-life situations. - What happens to the trainer’s role with immersive technologies?
Trainers spend less time explaining and demonstrating the basics, and more time supporting learners, correcting them and personalizing their learning paths.
What we can take away from this
Mistakes in professional training are not inevitable.
They often stem from old habits: training only on the job, measuring very little, avoiding error, freezing content…
Today, immersive technologies offer concrete answers to these issues:
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more safety,
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more engagement,
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more realism,
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more data to manage skills.
Want to learn more? Start here!
