Owens Corning Roofing is investing in the tools and training that make a difference in a contractors business. The new Owens Corning University (OCU) VR Training is designed to help contractors elevate their skills, boost retention and improve jobsite performance. The modules include training for shingle installation, ridge ventilation, flashing techniques, and deck inspections, all delivered in an immersive, hands-on simulation in a VR headset. Training is available in both English and Spanish and includes assessment features that integrate results directly with OCU, for certification and performance tracking.

“As the demands on today’s roofing crews continue to grow, we know that high-quality, practical training leads to fewer jobsite injuries, improved productivity, and higher retention of key employees,” stated Anthony Fontana, Digital Information Leader at Owens Corning. “Partnering with PIXO to bring tailored VR training to roofing professionals allows us to deliver consistent, lifelike, scalable learning that meets contractors where they are – on the jobsite or in the office.”

Since PIXO’s Reality Intelligence Platform, is fully integrated with Owens Corning’s LMS, Owens Corning University (OCU), this enables roofing businesses to easily assign training, track progress, and manage content across locations. The VR solution gives contractors powerful solutions to deploy immersive training, streamline onboarding, and reinforce advanced techniques without expensive, risky, time-consuming, less effective training methods.

“We’ve always believed the value of VR training helps people learn faster and retain more, driving safer, more productive jobsites,” said Sean Hurwitz, CEO of PIXO. “Expanding our work with Owens Corning into the roofing segment is another example of how VR training elevates both safety and performance across trades. It’s a real win for contractors who want measurable results from their training investment, at a time where reducing costs is a high priority.”

The Owens Corning roofing VR training program, available through OCConnect®, includes a VR headset, preloaded with training modules and ongoing updates as new courses are released. Owens Corning Roofing Platinum Preferred Contractors interested in implementing VR training can learn more here. Availability for Preferred Contractors is coming soon!

About PIXO
PIXO’s Extended Reality (XR) platform streamlines the management of an enterprise’s training program, making it worry-free for training directors. In one step, enterprises select, manage, deploy and track training content and users globally to thousands of devices with PIXO. With our vast offering of off-the-shelf VR Training Content, the ability to create custom content for your specific needs and integration of our platform to your LMS, PIXO makes it simple to run and scale your XR training program. Headquartered in Royal Oak, Michigan, the PIXO mission is to unlock human potential and improve lives through the power of emerging technology.

About Owens Corning
Owens Corning is a building products leader committed to building a sustainable future through material innovation. Our products provide durable, sustainable, energy-efficient solutions that leverage our unique capabilities and market-leading positions to help our customers win and grow. We are global in scope, human in scale with more than 25,000 employees in 31 countries dedicated to generating value for our customers and shareholders and making a difference in the communities where we work and live. Founded in 1938 and based in Toledo, Ohio, USA, Owens Corning posted 2024 sales of $11.0 billion. For more information, visit www.owenscorning.com.

PIXO VR Expands Immersive Learning Offerings with Uptale’s Interactive 360° Virtual Training Experiences Now Available on the PIXO Platform

[Royal Oak, MI] – PIXO VR, a leading immersive training platform, is excited to announce that Uptale, a pioneer in interactive 360° virtual training experiences, is now available through the PIXO platform. This integration enables organizations to access and deploy Uptale’s powerful 360° virtual training experiences seamlessly through PIXO’s distribution and analytics platform.

Uptale specializes in creating interactive 360° virtual training experiences that highlight training objectives in a realistic, immersive environment. Using cutting-edge capture technology, Uptale enables organizations to digitize real-world workspaces, workflows, and scenarios, offering trainees a lifelike experience that enhances learning retention. The Uptale platform supports no-code content creation, allowing users to quickly develop customized training modules using simple 360° video and mixed-reality tools. 

“The partnership highlights PIXO’s commitment to scaling immersive training by reducing the need for organizations to work with multiple solutions,” said Sean Hurwitz, CEO and Founder of PIXO VR. “By integrating another great partner like Uptale, we’ve eliminated more barriers to adoption, making it easier for enterprises to develop and publish high-impact immersive training experiences, seamlessly, from one single access portal.”

With this collaboration, PIXO’s customers will benefit from:

• Seamless Access to Uptale’s VR Training Experiences – Organizations can easily develop and deploy interactive 360° virtual experiences via the PIXO platform.
• Enterprise-Grade Content Distribution & Analytics – Uptale’s content is now fully integrated into PIXO’s robust distribution system, enabling secure access and insightful performance tracking, which can embed directly into your LMS.
• Cross-Platform Capability– Deploy your 360° experiences on all screens: PC, smartphone, tablet, and VR headset.

“Uptale is thrilled to be a part of the PIXO platform and help expand the reach of immersive learning experiences,” said Dwayne Iserief, Co-founder & CMO at Uptale. “This partnership ensures that businesses can easily integrate interactive VR training into their learning strategies and scale across teams with ease.”

By making Uptale available through PIXO’s platform, organizations now have a powerful solution to create and deliver engaging, interactive 360° video that enhances learning outcomes and drives operational efficiency.

About PIXO VR
PIXO’s Extended Reality (XR) platform streamlines the management of an enterprise’s training program, making it worry-free for training directors and others. Enterprises select, manage, deploy, and track training content and users, globally to thousands of devices with PIXO. With our vast offering of off-the-shelf VR Training Content, the ability to create custom content for your specific needs and integration of our platform to your LMS, PIXO makes it simple to run and scale your XR training program. Headquartered in Royal Oak, Michigan, the PIXO mission is to unlock human potential and improve lives through the power of emerging technology.

About Uptale
Uptale is an industry leader in immersive learning technology, offering a cloud-based platform that enables organizations to create, distribute, and track interactive training experiences in 360° VR/AR. With over 200 enterprise clients, 100 EDU organizations globally, and a team of 50 professionals, Uptale is dedicated to revolutionizing the way companies train their workforce, making learning more engaging, effective, and scalable.

Media Contact:
Christopher Cousineau
Senior Marketing Operations Specialist
PIXO VR
chris.cousineau@pixovr.com
586-690-5217

PIXO VR Selected by J. J. Keller as Platform to Launch Cutting-Edge VR Training Program

[Royal Oak, MI] – PIXO VR, a leader in immersive virtual reality (VR) training solutions, was selected by J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., a renowned provider of safety and regulatory compliance solutions, as its platform for an innovative VR training program designed to enhance workplace safety and compliance training.

The new VR training program integrates PIXO’s advanced immersive technology with J. J. Keller’s extensive industry expertise, and cutting edge online platform, providing businesses with an engaging and effective training solution. PIXO’s training solution embeds directly into the J. J. Keller learning platform, allowing J. J. Keller’s customers to seamlessly incorporate VR into their existing training programs. Customers with a VR headset are able to consume the training within the platform in a more interactive way. By leveraging immersive experiences, employees can practice critical safety procedures safely and in realistic environments, improving knowledge retention and reducing workplace incidents.

“We are excited to work with J. J. Keller in bringing this state-of-the-art VR training to organizations nationwide,” said Sean Hurwitz, CEO & Founder at PIXO VR. “This partnership highlights our commitment to delivering high-impact training solutions that prioritize safety, efficiency, and compliance, with the industry leader.”

The VR training program offers 16 training modules across key training sectors, including workplace safety & health, transportation, and human resources. These immersive modules cover essential topics such as walk-around and in-vehicle pre-trip inspection, hazard recognition, and confined space entry. With the ability to deploy VR training across multiple locations through the PIXO platform, companies can ensure standardized, high-quality training that enhances both learning engagement and workplace safety. They are also ensured ease of access, streamlined implementation, and data reporting

“We are continuously enhancing our highly rated training content by adopting new formats and modalities to improve efficiency and provide the best solutions for our customers,” said Tom Ditzler, Director of Innovation at J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. “Virtual Reality (VR) is an excellent addition to our training methods. We believe VR is most effective when integrated into the existing J. J. Keller training portfolio and product offerings. By partnering with PIXO, we have incorporated their platform into our Learning Management System (LMS), allowing our clients to access all their training needs through a single solution. This integrated solution would not be possible without PIXO.”

The J. J. Keller VR training program is now available for businesses seeking to elevate their safety and compliance training. To learn more, visit: https://demo.jjkellertraining.com/training-options/virtual-reality-training.

About PIXO VR
PIXO’s Extended Reality (XR) platform streamlines the management of an enterprise’s training program, making it worry-free for training directors. In one step, enterprises select, manage, deploy, and track training content and users globally to thousands of devices with PIXO. With our vast offering of off-the-shelf VR Training Content, the ability to create custom content for your specific needs and integration of our platform to your LMS, PIXO makes it simple to run and scale your XR training program. Headquartered in Royal Oak, Michigan, the PIXO mission is to unlock human potential and improve lives through the power of emerging technology. Visit https://pixovr.com/.

About J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. is a leading provider of regulatory, safety, and compliance solutions, serving businesses across North America. Employers rely on J. J. Keller’s expert insights to safeguard workers and reduce risk. As a family-owned company since 1953, J. J. Keller is a most trusted name in safety and compliance. www.jjkeller.com

Media Contact:
Christopher Cousineau
Senior Marketing Operations Specialist
PIXO VR
chris.cousineau@pixovr.com
586-690-5217

• Has it been easy?
• Has it been fast?
• Has it grown the way we thought?
• Have many F500 really scaled yet?

Unfortunately, the answer to all of those questions is a resounding “NO”! That’s the bad news.  The good news, however, is that even though it took time, it looks like the opportunity is upon us.  “Us”, meaning the ones that stuck with it and stayed on task, and of course, didn’t run out of money.  I never thought not raising significant capital would have been a blessing in disguise but only having raised a smaller first round, it’s helped us methodically solve problems and build solutions for easier adoption, AND focus on cash-flow (staying alive).

Last week PIXO exhibited at Devlearn, where large learning platforms (LMS’s, etc), content development tools, among others, displayed their products and solutions.  Spending time this week thinking about the conference, the following is true:

• The best way for a large enterprise to deploy, track and consume VR training and learning, HAS to be through their current learning platform. A LMS and/or large enterprise does not want to go to several different platforms to leverage VR.  They are looking for one comprehensive platform for all, including e-learning and VR. They are not separate, they belong together.
• The cost of VR content development has to be closer to the cost of e-learning.
• VR has to be part of the learning journey and curriculum.  Not just blended learning, but actually part of the lesson / learning objective, a blended curriculum.
• LMS’s are riding the same philosophy as most new technologies coming into the market, and “crossing the chasm”in a similar way.  There are early adopters and innovators that are now heading to the early majority, but most will sit back and wait for others to prove it.  We are focused on the companies that want to lead and not follow.
• Training platforms and companies will sell VR better than VR companies will.  Why? Because we are not training companies, they develop the curriculum and learning journeys, where they can implement VR at the right time.

We are finally here.  We now have a robust ecosystem of solutions that can be offered to an LMS, or similar, through one touch point, to enable them to offer a better and combined way to train and to learn.

We are finally here.  The data has proven VR to be more engaging, life-like, less risky and less expensive, leading to less employee turnover, fewer accidents and higher profit margins.

We are finally here!

Continue the conversation with Sean on LinkedIn 

“We listen to our customers and we know that better trained employees lead to less accidents, less waste and higher levels of learning and employee retention,” stated Derek Fowler, Marketing & Contractor Training Manager at Owens Corning. “We sought out PIXO to bring this innovative turn-key solution to thousands of insulation contractors. With our product knowledge and PIXO’s Reality Intelligence Platform, it’s a winning combination.”

PIXO’s Reality Intelligence Platform, which fully integrates and operates with the enterprise Learning Management System (LMS), allows organizations to manage, track, and deploy training to headsets in any location for easy adoption of VR training in the field. The flexibility of the PIXO Platform has allowed Owens Corning to offer this valuable training solution to their thousands of contactors through the LMS, Lightspeed. 

“We know that by training in VR, employees learn 4X as fast, reducing significant training costs,  and increasing knowledge and skill retention by 80%, leading to a safer, more productive workforce.” said Sean Hurwitz, CEO of PIXO. “Bringing people home to their families safely every night has always been the mission of PIXO, and that’s why we developed the training platform. Partnering with companies like Owens Corning to seamlessly scale these solutions to their markets is another example of how we’re accomplishing that mission.”

The VR training solution will be available for purchase in late September and includes a Pico Neo 3 VR headset, a VR training library of 9 modules, and access to PIXO’s Reality Intelligence Platform used to manage trainee assignments and track results. Learn more at www.owenscorning.com/virtualreality and purchase your VR training solution at www.ocvr.pixovr.com.

About PIXO VR

An industry leader for Extended Reality training solutions, PIXO is a pioneer in learning innovation, with service excellence and performance results to help companies—and their customers—win at work. PIXO’s dedication to innovative XR training that’s even easier to deploy, use and manage has resulted in our Reality Intelligence (RI) platform. RI offers global and large-scale training organizations the opportunity to add value to training offerings by giving users the ability to manage their portfolio of VR programs with unmatched flexibility, customization and ease.  PIXO is turning Virtual Reality into A Winning Reality.

On 20 August 2024, 42 frontline workers, supervisors, and managers from Ilitch Sports and Entertainment met at the Tiger Club at Comerica Park in Detroit to participate in the  ASPIRE (Action – Study – Prepare – Inspire – Rise – Be Exceptional), a training initiative jointly developed by the Innovation Institute for Fan Experience (IIFX) in partnership with Intel Corporation, Dell Technologies, and PIXO VR.

“ASPIRE  uses PIXO VR’s Reality Intelligence virtual reality platform to deliver industry-relevant soft skills training to the multi-generational sports and entertainment industry frontline staff, supervisors, and managers,” said Dr. Lou Marciani, the Director and Co-Founder of IIFX.  “ASPIRE helps workers access effective immersive training to enhance their professional skills.” 

Virtual reality training delivers a fully immersive and interactive learning experience that helps sports and entertainment venues recruit, build, and retain a multi-generational workforce.

“The IIFX purpose aligns well with PIXO’s, so we are excited to partner with them,” says Sean Hurwitz, CEO and Founder of PIXO VR, a Detroit-based business with a rapidly growing stable of national and international clients, including Ford Motor Company.

“Our goal is to empower employees to do their jobs well, as it reduces turnover, risk, and costs. That is why we built our Reality Intelligence Platform. Training in a realistic, interactive virtual environment quickly gives workers the experience and confidence to tackle those situations in the real world,” said Hurwitz.

“Training programs have historically been delivered in person, via a call or in a digital format. However, the training industry is changing rapidly, and we must adapt to new possibilities,” says Johnny Jackson, the Director of Security Training, Compliance, and Investigation with Ilitch Sports and Entertainment. 

“The new virtual reality training program offers an opportunity to create content that can challenge staff and train them based on real life scenarios. It’s an exciting new way of training staff, engaging new or veteran staff, and improving their overall performance,” Jackson continued.

“We are continuing the ASPIRE journey with our innovative PIXO VR partner. We always enjoy working with Ilitch Sports and Entertainment’s outstanding visionary leaders and colleagues,” said Dr. Marciani. 

The 2024 ASPIRE journey continues in September and October with two professional sports and entertainment venues in Las Vegas and New Orleans.

To get involved in the IIFX ASPIRE skilling initiative, contact IIFX, at marciani@iifx.org or info@iifx.org.

About IIFX

Founded in August 2020, the Innovation Institute for Fan Experience (IIFX) is building the leading and most trusted authority on the ‘FAN JOURNEY’ for the sports & entertainment industry.  IIFX provides training, industry content creation, FAN JOURNEY best practices, consultancy, and business and education services to domestic and international sports & entertainment organizations.

About PIXO VR

An industry leader for Extended Reality training solutions, PIXO is a pioneer in learning innovation, with service excellence and performance results to help companies—and their customers—win at work. PIXO’s dedication to innovative XR training that’s even easier to deploy, use and manage has resulted in our Reality Intelligence (RI) platform. RI offers global and large-scale training organizations the opportunity to add value to training offerings by giving users the ability to manage their portfolio of VR programs with unmatched flexibility, customization and ease.  PIXO is turning Virtual Reality into A Winning Reality.

Tip #1: VR is a Strategic Addition to Blended Training Curriculums and Not a Complete Replacement for Current Training

The experts agree that while virtual reality training increases participation and engagement by replicating real life situations in a way that is safe and cost effective, VR will not completely replace other traditional learning methods. Instead, learning experts suggest incorporating it into existing curriculums for a blended learning approach that appeals to different types of learners and provides an opportunity for multiple reinforcement moments. This blended curriculum can be implemented by having different stations for the trainee, e-learning, classroom, and VR.

Tom from J. J. Keller and Associates explains that VR is an excellent addition to traditional training. “We think VR is a great augmentation to the other formats of training and we invested in it early to continue to bring innovative solutions to our customers,” he says. VR provides experiential learning and helps demonstrate knowledge gained through other methods, complementing classroom and online training.

Justin from LION Protects echoes this sentiment, noting that VR feels like a natural progression in training tools. “It’s another tool for the arsenal. It is absolutely something that I see the market shifting towards,” he says. For instance, their VR-based fire extinguisher training provides hands-on experience, crucial for building muscle memory in real-life scenarios.

Tip #2: Make VR Integration Easy for Your Customers and Lifelike for the Trainees

The practical application of a blended learning approach also makes VR an effective training tool. VR allows for hands-on practice in a controlled environment, where learners can apply what they’ve learned in traditional settings. This can bridge the gap between theory and practice, making the learning process more effective. “What we wanted to do is come up with an actual extinguisher prop that would allow people to train exactly how they would do it in real life” he explains. The traditional VR controllers are built into the fire extinguisher, which has a similar size and weight to a traditional fire extinguisher. This method ensures trainees use the same motions and actions they would in real emergencies, making the training more effective and realistic. It is expensive and dangerous to create real fire training in the office, but with VR, you are able to train in a simulated, safe virtual environment and there are no real-life consequences if you make a mistake. 

Tom stresses the importance of seamless integration, avoiding the pitfall of making VR a separate, isolated tool. “I don’t want VR to be the shiny thing that’s off to the side. We wanted VR to be integrated into our existing training platform with other online training. ” he says. “By partnering with PIXO VR, J. J. Keller ensured that VR training is part of our single, cohesive Learning Management System (LMS). PIXO’s platform has the capability to embed directly into our LMS, so when our customers login to deploy training, everything they need is there. This is very important because it allows users to access all training materials, including VR, in one place, simplifying the user experience and centralizing learning data.”

Tip #3: Plan Ahead to Overcome Challenges Implementing VR Training

Both Tom and Justin acknowledge the challenges of integrating VR into training programs. One of the main challenges they are actively working to overcome is making sure VR training provides a good learner and customer experience.  

Tom highlights the need to address learners’ potential anxiety and unfamiliarity with VR equipment. To overcome this, they include a VR readiness tutorial that acclimate users to a VR environment before the actual training begins. “We’ve built unique hand controller walk-throughs that help the learner get into that experience and understand what controls you’re going to use, to interact with this specific training. For example, what motions or controls do use in order to open the truck door, or select specific parts on the truck. This way they are familiar with the controllers so when they actually perform the training they can focus on the learning aspect, and not on how to use VR”  J. J. Keller also considered how to handle  the cost of implementing VR training for their customers. They addressed this challenge by granting their LMS subscription customers the ability to use credits on VR without an additional charge. The only investment the customer needs to make is to purchase a VR headset. 

Justin identified hardware challenges LION faced, such as the need for portable and user-friendly systems. LION Protects initially chose a complex, tethered headset solution but switched to a more compact and usable stand alone headset with PIXO’s support. “Make sure that your customers’ user experience is top of mind going into it,” he advises. Justin encourages champions to stay engaged and make updates or changes when it’s the right thing to do to drive success. “The system we originally set up was not user intuitive, and was not in line with what our customers wanted. We listened to our customers, took a step back, and with the support of PIXO we were able to switch to something that was more compact and usable.”

Tip #4: Listen to the Learners but also Track the Data

Justin emphasizes the importance of active listening to understand customers’ needs. “I am very customer centric when it comes to recommending solutions, I do a lot of active listening, ask questions, and once I learn how the customer trains, it helps me best figure out what VR solution would work best for them”  By understanding their current training methods, frequency, and goals, trainers can tailor VR solutions to meet specific requirements.

Tom advises organizations to use VR where it fits best. “It has to be this holistic training strategy designed to meet your goals and considering the difference between theory training and actual application training,” he explains. Tom reinforced  the importance of embedding the PIXO platform into their LMS. “When a trainee completes the PIXO VR training, all of the data from the session goes back to the J. J. Keller LMS so we can see it all in one place.” The data captured from VR training can be used to improve future versions of the training and also to better understand where learners are struggling to grasp the learning objectives. These insights benefit the training company, their customers and the employees engaged in training.

In the LION fire extinguisher training, you are able to change the difficulty and class of fire, and then the trainee is graded on their performance with all data captured in the PIXO platform so that LION’s customers have access to their training data and LION can use the data to improve their training. LION Protects is also using a survey based feedback system with their trainees that is then used to shape the future of the product.

Tip #5: Keep an Eye on the Future of XR

Both experts are optimistic about the future of VR. Tom sees potential in using VR for additional use cases. “We think VR has some great applications in all aspects of learning. Not only with hard skills, but also with soft skills or interpersonal communication types of training  We want to continue to chase the efficacy and use VR to its highest potential,” he says.

Justin notes the rapid evolution of VR technology and increasing market adoption. “I’m very optimistic about VR. We are seeing the technology and marketing adoption increase at rapid speeds.”  Justin quoted a recent survey they conducted where over 50% of their customers indicated they are currently using or plan to integrate VR into their training programs, signaling growth for VR in enterprise training and a significant opportunity for LION’s training program.

In summary, integrating VR into training programs involves understanding its role as an augmentation tool, ensuring seamless integration, addressing hardware and user experience challenges, and tailoring solutions to meet specific training needs. As technology advances, VR is poised to become an integral part of an effective training strategy . Both J. J. Keller and LION Protects recommend finding a trusted VR partner to expedite and simplify the implementation and launch of a VR training program.

July 9, 2024, Jackson, Mississippi – On July 31st, 2024, 88 frontline associates, supervisors, managers, and customer experience staff at Highmark Stadium participated in the ASPIRE (Action – Study – Prepare – Inspire – Rise – Be Exceptional), a training initiative jointly developed by the Innovation Institute for Fan Experience (IIFX) in partnership with Intel Corporation, Dell Technologies, and PIXO VR.

“ASPIRE delivers industry-relevant soft skills training to the multi-generational sports and entertainment industry frontline staff, supervisors, and managers using virtual reality technology,” said Dr. Lou Marciani, the Director and Co-Founder of IIFX.  

The IIFX ASPIRE program uses NextGen virtual reality technology and training software from PIXO to enable workers to access effective immersive and interactive training to enhance their professional skills. The average training time in Buffalo for the skills course was 15 minutes.

This NextGen experience can help sports and entertainment venues recruit, build, and retain an effective multi-generational workforce.

“The IIFX purpose aligns with PIXO’s, so we are excited to partner with them,” says Sean Hurwitz, CEO and Founder of PIXO. “Our goal is to empower employees to do their jobs well, as it reduces turnover, risk, and costs. Training in a realistic, interactive virtual environment quickly gives workers the experience and confidence to tackle those situations in the real world.”

“VR training is a unique, fun and a fresh way of training our team members.  In a field where it is becoming more difficult to keep training interesting, VR is a great tool to create a more effective training model,” said Andy Major, Vice President of Operations & Guest Experience @Buffalo Bills, LLC.

“We are thrilled to continue the IIFX ASPIRE journey with PIXO VR and Highmark Stadium’s outstanding team of frontline associates, managers, and guest experience team,” said Dr. Marciani.

The ASPIRE journey continues in August and September 2024, with three additional professional sports and entertainment venues.

To get involved in the IIFX ASPIRE skilling initiative, contact IIFX, at marciani@iifx.org or info@iifx.org.

About IIFX

Founded in August 2020, the Innovation Institute for Fan Experience (IIFX) is building the leading and most trusted authority on the ‘FAN JOURNEY’ for the sports & entertainment industry.  IIFX provides training, industry content creation, FAN JOURNEY best practices, consultancy, and business and education services to domestic and international sports & entertainment organizations.

About PIXO VR

An industry leader for Extended Reality training solutions, PIXO is a pioneer in learning innovation, with service excellence and performance results to help companies—and their customers—win at work. PIXO’s dedication to innovative XR training that’s even easier to deploy, use and manage has resulted in our Reality Intelligence (RI) platform. RI offers global and large-scale training organizations the opportunity to add value to training offerings by giving users the ability to manage their portfolio of VR programs with unmatched flexibility, customization and ease.  PIXO is turning Virtual Reality into A Winning Reality.

July 9, 2024, Jackson, Mississippi – On 25 and 26 June 2024, frontline workers, supervisors, and managers at Mercedes Benz Stadium were the first to participate in the  ASPIRE (Action – Study – Prepare – Inspire – Rise – Be Exceptional), a training program jointly developed by the Innovation Institute for Fan Experience (IIFX) in partnership with Intel Corporation, Dell Technologies, PIXO VR, with the support of PICO XR and the National Minority Emerging and Innovative Technologies Consortium. 

“The ASPIRE initiative is designed to deliver industry-relevant skills training to the multi-generational sports and entertainment industry frontline staff, supervisors, and managers using virtual reality technology.  This joint initiative addresses a skills gap for the sports and entertainment workforce,” said Dr. Lou Marciani, the Director and Co-Founder of IIFX.  

ASPIRE provides workers with virtual reality training from PIXO that enables them to easily access effective immersive training to enhance their professional competencies and capabilities. The program provides sports and entertainment workers access to relevant, curated content through NextGen technology to help them grow their skills, increase their competency, and enhance their capabilities for current and future roles.  IIFX chose to partner with PIXO as they are focused on helping workers win at work, and their patented platform that can support this kind of scale. 

Virtual reality training delivers a fully immersive and interactive learning experience.  This training, in topics such as conflict resolution and other skills, can engage workers, and help sports and entertainment venues recruit and retain a multi-generational workforce by providing transferable, highly marketable skills.

As with many sectors, the sports and entertainment industry, which released millions of workers during the Covid-19 pandemic, is trying new ways to recruit, train, and retain a multi-generational workforce in the post-pandemic era.  

Workers should be confident that they have the skills they need to win in their work role. Critical to an inclusive post-pandemic job recovery is providing engaging training opportunities to develop essential skills to the people hardest hit by job losses, including lower income workers, women, and underserved and underrepresented groups. 

“The IIFX purpose aligns well with PIXO’s,” says Sean Hurwitz, CEO and Founder of PIXO. “Our goal is to partner with the best companies in their field, like IIFX in sports and entertainment, and together empower employees to win at their jobs. Virtual reality training increases employee confidence, leading to reduced turnover, risk, and costs. Training in a realistic, interactive virtual environment quickly gives workers the experience to tackle those situations in the real world, whether it’s CPR, driving a forklift, or handling conflict. We are excited to partner with IIFX to see how training in Virtual Reality will impact the sports & entertainment industry.”

“We are thrilled to start the ASPIRE initiative with AMB Sports + Entertainment and Mercedes Benz Stadium’s outstanding team of frontline staff, supervisors, and managers.  We are pleased to be here with PIXO, who is empowering the training concept with virtual reality courses and PICO XR, who is generously providing their amazing virtual reality headsets”, said Dr. Marciani.  

The ASPIRE program will be delivered to four additional professional sports and entertainment venues in 2024, that host Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, National Basketball League, National Football League, and the Women’s National Basketball Association.    

To get involved in the IIFX ASPIRE skilling initiative, contact IIFX, at marciani@iifx.org or info@iifx.org.

About IIFX

Founded in August 2020, the Innovation Institute for Fan Experience (IIFX) is building the leading and most trusted authority on the ‘FAN JOURNEY’ for the sports & entertainment industry.  IIFX provides training, industry content creation, FAN JOURNEY best practices, consultancy, and business and education services to domestic and international sports & entertainment organizations. 

About PIXO VR

An industry leader for Extended Reality training solutions, PIXO is a pioneer in learning innovation, with service excellence and performance results to help companies—and their customers—win at work. PIXO’s dedication to innovative XR training that’s even easier to deploy, use and manage has resulted in our Reality Intelligence (RI) platform. RI offers global and large-scale training organizations the opportunity to add value to training offerings by giving users the ability to manage their portfolio of VR programs with unmatched flexibility, customization and ease.  PIXO is turning Virtual Reality into A Winning Reality.

Berkley, Michigan. – PIXO VR, the industry leader in XR training solutions, accelerates its growth and product strategy by focusing its outreach to Value Added Resellers by introducing Reality Intelligence. This transformative initiative is designed to help global and large-scale training organizations seeking to innovate, grow and scale their businesses, reinforcing PIXO’s commitment to pioneering learning innovation and delivering unparalleled service excellence. 

“Today marks a defining moment in the evolution of PIXO as we launch ‘A Winning Reality.’ This campaign embodies our promise to help our clients and their customers achieve success every single day,” stated Sean Hurwitz, Founder and CEO of PIXO. “We’ve always built technology to serve real people and solve real problems with real results. Now, with Reality Intelligence (RI), we provide an even greater ability to manage VR training with unmatched flexibility, customization, and ease.”

PIXO’s Reality Intelligence (RI) is a groundbreaking patented technology that allows organizations to integrate PIXO’s solutions and manage their VR training portfolios seamlessly. As the only XR training platform offering turnkey, white-label VR implementation solutions exclusively for Value Added Resellers, PIXO ensures that even the most complex training needs are met with efficiency and excellence.

“We know people come to work each day to win. They want to achieve their highest level possible,” added Hurwitz. “We’ve always seen our mission as empowering people to excel in their jobs and come home safely each night. This strategic initiative is more than just a new look and new tagline; it’s our commitment to continuous improvement in technology, service, and performance. We’re not just creating virtual reality experiences; we’re creating winning realities for businesses around the world.”

With over 15 years of experience, PIXO is used by some of the world’s largest companies, training thousands of people around the globe. PIXO VR invites organizations to explore how “A Winning Reality” can make a difference for their training needs. The newly revamped website, pixovr.com, offers detailed insights into the innovative solutions PIXO VR provides.

Visit pixovr.com to learn more about how PIXO VR can help your company achieve a winning reality.

About PIXO VR

PIXO VR is a leading provider of XR training solutions, dedicated to pushing the boundaries of learning innovation. With a focus on delivering real-world results and service excellence, PIXO VR’s technologies empower organizations to enhance their training capabilities and achieve unparalleled success.

Media Contact:

Jean Kaptur
COO
PIXO VR
586.873.5431
jean.kaptur@pixovr.com