Augmented Reality (AR) for Employee Training: Benefits, Examples & Steps to Build Your Program

Facility teams today face mounting pressure to onboard workers faster, reduce downtime, and maintain safety, service, and compliance standards across multiple sites. Yet traditional training methods—slide decks, classroom sessions, or shadowing—often can’t keep up with the complexity of modern operations.

Augmented reality (AR) training offers a smarter alternative. By layering digital instructions, safety protocols, and operational or service details over a photorealistic model of your facility, teams can learn and practice in a controlled, immersive environment before ever stepping on site.

On a webinar discussing the future of work, our own Britannia Asher noted that we’re already seeing AR drive faster onboarding, fewer errors, and safer, more consistent performance. She said Matterport digital twins are “routinely saving customers about 50% in both the time and the cost to bring people on site, and the immersive interactive capability has increased their retention and the performance of their training programs by up to 30%.”

Now is the time to invest in AR training for your business. Here’s everything you need to know about what these programs look like and how they can add value to your operations.

What is augmented reality (AR) training?

Augmented reality makes it possible to enhance one’s surroundings through the addition of a digital interface or on-screen elements. Augmented reality training uses AR technology to enhance training by providing users with additional information or guidance. 

So, what does this training solution look like in action?

• Simulated training in any available space

• Guided navigation around a workspace

• Assisted hands-on training

• Quick access to product or space information via scanning

• Realistic simulations for high-risk jobs, like airline pilots or medical professionals

• Virtual coaching for jobs, athletics, and more

The possibilities for AR training are endless, with more use cases cropping up regularly. While it is especially beneficial for jobs requiring hands-on activities, AR training can be applied to nearly any profession or role.

5 key benefits of AR training programs

AR training enhances traditional learning methods by adding digital, hands-on experiences to your programs. That augmentation delivers the following benefits:

1. Experiential e-learning with reduced risks

Experiential learning, where employees learn by doing, consistently outperforms traditional training methods. A study from Engageli found that active learners retain 93.5% of information in safety training, compared to just 79% for passive learners.

But in facility environments, hands-on training (whether focused on equipment maintenance, cleaning protocols, or safety procedures) can be costly and risky. Mistakes during a maintenance walkthrough or service task can disrupt operations or potentially endanger staff and occupants.

Augmented reality training solves that problem. Using photorealistic digital twins, teams can simulate maintenance, safety, or service scenarios in a completely risk-free environment. Employees can navigate work sites virtually, identify hazards, and practice both technical and people-facing procedures, cutting on-site training time and risk exposure dramatically.

By blending real-world accuracy with virtual safety, AR training delivers the benefits of experiential learning without downtime, danger, or disruption.

2. Faster and more streamlined new employee onboarding

Onboarding can be one of the most time-consuming and stressful parts of workforce management. New hires need to learn safety protocols, facility layouts, and standard operating procedures quickly, yet traditional methods often rely on shadowing or classroom sessions that pull experienced staff away from their work.

AR training helps new employees ramp up faster and with less friction. Immersive simulations allow them to explore the facility, practice core technical or service tasks, and make mistakes safely long before they step on site.

As Sophia Moshasha of the VR/AR Association and The World Bank explains, extended reality “can transform the first-day experience by removing the pressure of walking into a brand-new workplace full of unfamiliar faces. In an immersive environment, new hires can explore at their own pace, make mistakes without embarrassment, and get comfortable with their role before diving into live interactions.”

For facility teams, that translates to more confident employees, fewer onboarding delays, and faster readiness across every location.

3. Remote job training opportunities

Many organizations operate across several plants, offices, or campuses, making it expensive and time-consuming to get everyone on-site for instruction. Any chance to train remotely is an opportunity for efficiency.

With AR training, facility leaders can capture a space once and reuse it everywhere. A digital twin of a plant, workspace, or common area lets both technicians and service staff walk through the same environment, review standardized procedures, and learn how to perform tasks safely and consistently no matter where they’re based.

4. On-demand instructions and manuals

Even the most experienced technicians occasionally need a quick refresher. Whether it’s a repair sequence, lock-out/tag-out procedure, or inspection checklist, that information is often buried in PDFs or outdated binders.

In manufacturing and other technically complex environments, AR-enabled digital twins bring that information directly into context. Employees can scan equipment to pull up the exact maintenance manual, see step-by-step overlays, or access short video guides embedded in Tags.

For facility managers, this means fewer interruptions and safer operations. Instead of calling for help or searching through shared drives, technicians get the right instruction at the right moment, keeping maintenance workflows moving and incidents to a minimum.

5. Just-in-time learning for evolving technology

Facility operations never stand still. New systems, sensors, and safety protocols roll out constantly. But traditional training models can’t keep up with that rate of change. Teams either wait for the next scheduled session or rely on outdated materials to troubleshoot in the moment.

AR training enables just-in-time learning. When a new process or piece of equipment is introduced, managers can update the digital twin instantly with tagged instructions, demonstration videos, or interactive overlays. Employees see those updates the next time they enter the space, learning as they work. No downtime or retraining cycles required.

The result is a workforce that adapts in real time, staying aligned with the latest technology and procedures without disrupting daily operations.

4 examples of AR training & their impact

The value of AR training comes into focus when you see it in action. Across industries—from manufacturing to aviation to retail—organizations are using digital twins to standardize instruction, improve safety, and scale learning without adding cost or downtime.

The following examples show how companies are applying AR-powered training built on Matterport to solve specific operational challenges and elevate workforce performance.

1. Improves plant accessibility for remote safety training

Manufacturing and production are about as hands-on as a job gets. While some training happens at a computer or in seminars, the majority of learning for these roles happens on the job. Unfortunately, manufacturing and production don’t allow for many slowdowns, which are typical when someone has questions.

With AR training, you can guide new hires through technical assemblies, deliver more insights on certain equipment or products, and provide a fuller training experience with fewer slowdowns.

For example, RemSense used digital twins to build Virtual Plants for their client, Woodside Energy. Using Matterport Pro2 cameras in combination with Matterport APIs and SDKs to add sound a video, RemSense made it possible for Woodside Energy’s employees to remotely access facilities in a photorealistic way. Woodside trainees were able to engage in their training by wearing VR headsets to walk through the facility environment and understand the ins and outs of the plant, complete with audio.

2. Lower engineering training costs for construction 

Training in construction is often time-consuming and dangerous. On-site training is ideal, but can be especially risky for construction specialists with less experience. Not only this, larger worksites are often busy and tightly scheduled, making it difficult for trainees to flag a manager or seasoned employee for help.

Using AR training, you can help construction workers with on-screen guided prompts that walk them through various pieces of equipment, point out why certain materials are used, and so on. This allows new hires to safely learn on the fly, getting valuable hands-on experience while minimizing risk. And, they don’t have to hunt down a manager or trainer to answer as many questions.

For example, Aetos Imaging's Aetos Operate platform utilizes Matterport’s 3D digital twins to revolutionize building engineer training. With a focus on creating engaging simulations and modules, the platform allows for step-by-step guidance through critical operations. This training approach provides engineers with immediate access to comprehensive building information, optimizing operational efficiency.

Notably, organizations using Aetos Operate have reported significant reductions in energy costs and enhanced onboarding processes for engineers. The platform's innovative training system is poised to transform the future of building management by significantly shortening the learning curve for new engineers and promoting overall sustainability.

3. Enhance workforce training quality and engagement

Having the most up-to-date knowledge is critical for field service staff. Long PowerPoint presentations can be fatiguing and rural locations can be a barrier to information exchange. Virtual training can improve information access by providing documentation on real-world contexts regardless of location. 

Local Union 669 is the largest union in the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry in North America. With over 14,000 members, the union faces challenges in providing consistent training across its widespread membership, and has innovated by using digital twins to enhance workforce training for apprentices. This particularly benefits apprentices who are outside a hundred-mile radius of established training centers. 

Matterport is used to create engaging online courses that allow apprentices to explore 3D models of equipment, access spec sheets, and complete courses remotely. By incorporating hands-on projects and Matterport 3D digital twins in classroom courses, the union has observed increased engagement and interest among apprentices. All this while reducing the requirement to travel long distances to access training. 

Matterport's features, such as Tags, facilitate a detailed study of equipment, linking directly to manuals and videos. The union aims to provide flexibility to instructors in implementing Matterport in their classrooms and sees it as a practical, immersive alternative to traditional teaching methods. Approximately 5,000 journeymen and apprentices across 80 locations have benefited from Matterport's 3D digital twins, offering a real-world context for confident and job-ready training.

4. Improve the efficiency of employee onboarding 

In construction and facilities management, onboarding often involves shadowing experienced supervisors on active job sites—a process that’s time-consuming, difficult to scale, and potentially risky for new hires.

Granite Construction tackled this challenge by building an AR-based training program with Matterport and Treedis. The company digitized its asphalt plants and aggregate facilities, then used Treedis’ no-code Flows to create interactive learning modules directly inside each 3D model. These modules walked engineers through every stage of plant operations—from startup and shutdown sequences to maintenance safety checks—complete with embedded videos, SOPs, and knowledge quizzes.

Because the entire experience was accessible remotely, Granite could train new engineers before they ever set foot on site. This approach reduced the need for in-person onboarding sessions, improved knowledge retention, and allowed the company to scale training to more than 300 employees annually without disrupting production.

For facility managers, Granite’s success highlights how AR training can deliver both consistency and efficiency at scale: one accurate digital twin becomes a repeatable, trackable onboarding environment for every new hire.

How to build an AR training program

The right AR training program can help you take the employee learning experience to new heights, regardless of industry or role. You can’t launch AR training overnight, but with the following steps, you can quickly build an AR training program that can deliver long-term success for your team and your organization.

Start with a pilot program

Before rolling out a company-wide AR training program, start small with a pilot program. Determine the scope of the program and what’s feasible for your budget, IT support, and team. Try to narrow the scope to a critical but manageable task that doesn’t require as much nuance or support as others.

When you’re using digital twins to deliver AR training, run through this short pre-production checklist to ensure you build a smooth user experience.

• Plan the user flow. Outline how learners will move through the environment and what actions or decisions they’ll take.

• Capture extra media. Record short videos, images, or audio clips to embed as visual cues or step-by-step demonstrations.

• Map or tag anchor points. Establish clear navigation paths within the model so users can orient themselves easily.

• Tag critical objects. Label equipment, controls, or safety areas that will feature in your training modules.

• Test navigation early. Walk through the digital twin from a learner’s perspective to confirm the flow is intuitive and the tags are accurate.

Finally, select a small, diverse group of employees for the pilot. These people should understand your workflows and be able to provide constructive feedback. Their input will help refine both your AR design and your rollout plan before you scale to the entire organization.

Choose the right software

With your scope and starting workflow(s) identified, it’s time to find the right AR software. Shop around and look for an option that fits your budget and training needs, and preferably one with experience in your industry.

Keep in mind that many AR platforms specialize in certain industries, while others are more general. General platforms are sometimes cheaper, but an industry-specific platform will likely have support that understands your industry and be able to make better recommendations for your corporate training efforts.

One key feature to look for is a no-code “flow” or branching-style editor. These let subject-matter experts assemble step-by-step SOPs and alternate scenarios without any software development knowledge. That way, you can pack dozens of role-specific workflows into a single digital twin “showcase,” making it far easier to scale training across sites and job types.

Include real-world surroundings

Augmented reality training lives and dies by how realistic and relatable it is for users. Including real-world surroundings in your AR training can help trainees relate to the material better, and result in training that’s representative of the task itself.

If your AR training isn’t simply on-screen prompts and info that displays over a real place, use scans to capture real-world environments and make the experience as accurate and lifelike as possible. This is especially useful if your team’s distributed or partially remote, as real-world objects and surroundings in your AR training and ensure everyone gets the same, uniform and realistic experience.

For example, Matterport Digital Twins allow you to quickly capture and create lifelike recreations of any existing space. From there, you can share the digital twin with employees and offer on-site training without the travel.

Choose the best equipment

The right equipment is as important as the right software. After all, what good is your training program if the AR display or captures aren’t usable?

To narrow down your search, consider the following:

• Do you need head-mounted AR equipment, like a lens, or will hand-held AR via mobile devices suffice?

• What kind of voice and communication functionality do you need?

• What software compatibility concerns are there?

• How many AR devices will you need to purchase and support?

• Is this AR device the best for your use case?

At the end of the day, the best equipment is the one that works best for your use case and organization.

Fine-tune your training content

Like any other training methodology, you’ll have to refine your AR training over time. Collect in-depth feedback from your team and see how they feel about the AR training. Is it intuitive? Helpful? Are there points of frustration you can smooth out?

As you gather feedback, continue to monitor your own company metrics as well. Is onboarding quicker? Has productivity improved? Are there fewer safety incidents?

Work with your stakeholders and set core metrics of success for your AR training program, and fine-tune your approach and training content as needed.

Going beyond AR training with Matterport

AR training is just one way Matterport helps organizations modernize how they develop, train, and support their teams. A single digital twin can become a long-term knowledge hub you can use for onboarding, safety reviews, maintenance documentation, and even remote collaboration between field and office teams.

Through its integration with Treedis, Matterport makes it simple to expand those capabilities across the entire employee lifecycle. Teams can create interactive SOPs, capture live IoT data, or embed role-specific instructions directly into the 3D environment without writing a single line of code. The result is a continuously improving, fully accessible training system that scales with your workforce and your facilities.

Case in point: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines uses Matterport digital twins to train crew and maintenance teams across its global fleet without the cost or downtime of in-person sessions. The airline captured over 100 aircraft interiors in 3D, allowing staff to familiarize themselves with cabin layouts, emergency equipment, and maintenance procedures before ever stepping onboard.

The result: faster onboarding, more consistent training, and measurable efficiency gains. KLM reported that its crews were able to reduce familiarization time by 30%, with nearly 900,000 internal training views helping employees practice safety and operational protocols remotely.

For facility and operations leaders, KLM’s approach demonstrates how immersive digital twins can extend far beyond onboarding. Use them to standardize training, improve compliance, and keep distributed teams aligned through a shared, always-accessible environment.

Ready to see how AR training and digital twins can transform your own facilities? Get a demo of Matterport and explore how you can scale training, improve safety, and streamline operations all from a single, immersive 3D platform.