What’s Shaping Work: Technology with purpose

Every year brings new technologies promising to transform the way we work. While some disappear as quickly as they arrive, others fundamentally reshape how organisations operate, collaborate, and engage with customers. The challenge isn’t adopting every new technology – it’s knowing which innovations deserve your attention and how they can solve genuine business problems.

One technology attracting growing attention is spatial computing, which brings together the physical and digital worlds through immersive extended reality (XR) technologies, such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR). Underpinned by advances in AI, these technologies are creating new opportunities for organisations to improve learning, collaboration, customer engagement, and workplace safety.

If you’re curious about how immersive technologies could support your organisation, my advice is simple:

Start with the problem

What challenge are you trying to solve? Whether your goal is improving safety, increasing engagement, streamlining collaboration, or creating more memorable customer experiences, having a clear objective will help determine whether immersive technology is the right solution.

Explore your options

Different platforms offer different capabilities, hardware requirements, and integration opportunities. Take the time to understand what best aligns with your business needs and budget.

Start small

Pilot a single use case, gather feedback, and learn what works before committing to a wider rollout. A phased approach reduces risk while helping build confidence and capability across your organisation.

Community perspective

Jacqui’s reflections on adopting emerging technologies with purpose closely align with Graham Walker’s work, helping organisations navigate technology transformation. In this guest perspective, Graham Walker, Practice Manager, Technology in Salt’s Sydney office, draws on his experience across spatial, cyber, data, and future technologies to share practical examples of how organisations are using immersive technologies to improve customer experiences, learning, collaboration, and business performance.

From possibility to practicality by Graham Walker

Immersive technologies are rapidly evolving and already transforming how businesses operate and, more importantly, engage with their customers.

Retail

The retail industry was an early adopter of XR technologies; Swedish homeware retailer IKEA has long enabled its customers to visualise furniture and home décor in their own spaces before purchasing, while leading global fashion brands from Dior and Prada to adidas and H&M have experimented with virtual try-on (VTO) using Snapchat Lenses and fashion tech start-up WANNA’s 3D and AR technologies.

As AI continues to make these experiences more intelligent, interactive, and context-aware, we can expect more retailers and brands to leverage these technologies to create richer and more personalised customer experiences.

Travel, tourism, and hospitality

Luxury hoteliers, such as Shangri-La, offer virtual tours that allow potential guests to experience the ambience and amenities of their hotels before even setting foot on the property. Similarly, initiatives like The Met 360° Project enable people around the world to ‘visit’ museums virtually, bringing cultural experiences to life through immersive storytelling.

Looking ahead, AR has the potential to further enrich travel by providing real-time information about local attractions, historical sites, and cultural landmarks.

Learning and development

XR is revolutionising workplace learning and development by enhancing knowledge retention and skill acquisition through personalised, engaging learning opportunities that significantly improve training effectiveness, boost employee confidence and performance, and reduce travel and physical resource costs.

Organisations at the forefront of immersive learning, like Capability Group, are using XR to train individuals in complex tasks, such as manual handling, equipment maintenance, and hazardous environment response, by simulating real-world scenarios in safe, controlled environments. Capability Group also use digital learning tools to create interactive training simulations, ensuring best-in-class customer and guest experiences.

As hybrid and remote working continue to evolve, immersive technologies are also creating new opportunities for teams to collaborate in shared virtual environments, regardless of their physical location.

Adopting technology with purpose

Like any emerging technology, immersive technologies require careful evaluation. Initial investment in software and hardware, implementation planning, and user adoption all need thoughtful consideration.

Most importantly, to deliver real value, technology should always solve a genuine business or customer challenge. Without a clear purpose, even the most exciting innovation risks becoming little more than a novelty. Organisations that take a considered approach, however, are already seeing measurable benefits – from stronger learning outcomes and improved customer experiences to greater operational efficiency and return on investment.

For more insights from Graham Walker, follow him on LinkedIn.