Talespin - CoPilot Virtual Human Training Technology

COPILOT

Teaching Leadership and Communication Skills with VR and AI

How do you practice skills like negotiating and sales, simulate what it’s like to handle a difficult customer, or gain experience giving critical feedback? Identified by LinkedIn’s 4th Annual 2020 Workplace Learning Report as a top priority for talent development, soft skills are some of the most valuable professional skills an employee can have, but are also among the most difficult to train and teach.

We developed virtual human technology as a tool for employees to practice the nuanced interpersonal skills that are critical to their professional success. Gaining exposure to challenging situations and being prepared to navigate them can mean the difference between empowerment, and making costly mistakes on the job.

The Need For Soft Skills

A growing gap exists among new generations of the workforce across interpersonal, leadership, customer service, and teamwork-related skills. Experts across the learning and development community cite soft skills as the largest skills gap, and one of the biggest challenges currently faced by employers.

CoPilot Results

PwC chose Talespin’s CoPilot platform to help enable the VR portion of a peer-reviewed research study comparing soft skill training modalities. “PwC Understanding the Effectiveness of VR Soft Skill Training in the Enterprise” is the largest-ever study of VR soft skills training for a large-scale enterprise deployment. PwC selected employees from a group of new managers in 12 PwC US locations to take the same unconscious bias training course in one of three learning modalities: classroom learning, e-learning, or a virtual reality soft skills training course created in collaboration with Talespin.

The study determined that virtual reality can be more effective at training soft skill concepts than classroom and e-learning training modalities across several metrics.

VR learners required less time to learn: VR-trained employees completed training up to 4x faster than classroom learners, and 1.5x faster than e-learners.
VR learners demonstrated higher confidence: VR-trained employees were 275% more confident to act on what they learned after training - a 40% improvement over classroom learners, and a 35% improvement over e-learners.
VR learners had a stronger emotional connection to training content: VR-trained employees felt an emotional connection to training content that was 3.75x greater than classroom learners, and 2.3x greater than e-learners.

VR learners were more focused: VR-trained employees were 4x more focused during training than their e-Learning peers, and 1.5x more focused than
classroom learners.
VR learning is more cost-effective: Above 375 learners, VR training costs less than classroom learning. Above 1,950 learners, VR training costs less than e-learning.*

Download the study

*ROI numbers provided are PwC specific results. Hourly cost per-employee is used as a key variable. Realized results may be different for each organization based on their hourly rates.

Cross-Platform Content Delivery

CoPilot content can be delivered via desktop streaming, desktop applications, and across XR devices, meeting learners anywhere, at any time. Organizations can select the delivery method that best aligns to their goals, lowering the barrier to entry for immersive learning.

XR devices
Talespin learning modules can be delivered as VR applications on the Oculus Quest and
HTC Vive Focus Plus.
Desktop streaming
Talespin learning modules can be streamed via a secure link through web browsers on PC and Mac desktop devices.
Desktop Application
Talespin learning modules can be downloaded as application executables to be run on PC and Mac desktop devices.

CoPilot Platform Features

CoPilot Virtual Human Training Use Cases

Human Resources

Interviews (Hiring)
Exit Interviews
Sensitivity Training
Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
Difficult Conversations

Conflict Resolution / Mediation
Intercultural Competence
Diversity and Inclusion
Employee Termination
Unconscious Bias Training

Coaching and Mentoring
Non-verbal Communication
De-escalation Training
Empathy Training
Interpersonal Skills

Sales and Customer Service Training

Building Rapport
Overcoming Objections
Negotiation (Business)
Communicating Product Knowledge

Closing Deals
Identifying Customer Needs
Cold Calling

Customer Service (General)
Customer Service (Complaints/Escalation)
Helpdesk / Technical Support

Leadership

Giving Critical Feedback
Performance Review
Talent Management

Team Management
Facilitating Group Discussions
Delivering Bad News

Manager/Direct Report Conversations
Giving Depositions
Public Speaking Practice / Presentation Skills