Now is the time for businesses to make themselves more accessible and inclusive with immersive tech

This article is brought to you by Retail Technology Review: Now is the time for businesses to make themselves more accessible and inclusive with immersive tech.

The lockdown has truly shed a light on how isolation, loneliness and exclusion can affect us so there is no better time than the present to incorporate immersive marketing tools into business strategies to provide a more inclusive and accessible service.

With 360 and Virtual Reality video technology, products and experiences become accessible from anywhere in the world, creating new opportunities to generate profit on a wider scale and also providing security in unprecedented times.

A key programme which champions innovation, the wAVE project, has announced that its next fully-funded, digital Immersive Tech Session will take place on 8 June. Led by award-winning video production company Soundview Media, this dynamic session will showcase how businesses in any industry can utilise VR and 360 video to best effect.

This free session will take place via Zoom on Monday 8th of June and is part of a series of cost-free ‘Immersive Tech Introductions’ for businesses of all sizes, types and sectors. These opportunities have been opened up via the Coastal Communities funding gained by the new wAVE project, led by Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Cornwall Museums Partnership and Falmouth University.

Soundview Media are experts in high quality video production and Managing Director, Gareth Allen, and Director of Post Production, Chris Dewar, will share their expertise on why it is vital businesses get involved with this evolving trend. Each business taking part in the session will receive information on how they can capitalise on the opportunity and how it can benefit their business both during the pandemic and after.

During the UK lockdown, Soundview Media has been working hard to create free virtual access to multiple VR experiences, allowing people to enjoy beautiful Cornish locations from their home. Alongside this, the company has been working closely with the wAVE project to improve headset health and safety measures in response to the current public health crisis. 

Gareth Allen, Managing Director of Soundview Media, said: “Businesses of all types and sectors are given a truly unique opportunity thanks to wAVE and despite the current situation there are tools out there to help you thrive now and in the future. As we go through these colossal changes in how we do business it is vital that we act with the ability to adapt and what better way to do this than to bring the business to the customer, no need for physical visits.”

Gareth continued: “The use of VR and 360 video can open up doors you never even knew existed regardless of what sector you are in. Whether it’s bringing an inaccessible destination alive or recreating an experience, with this state-of-the-art technology you can ‘transport’ your customers right to the heart of your story regardless of restrictions. We are really looking forward to bringing our insights and knowledge to the businesses taking part in this free Zoom workshop.”

Amy Shakespeare, wAVE Community Project Manager at Cornwall Museums Partnership, said: “The longer the lockdown lasts the pressures on our brilliant businesses are intensifying by the minute and we are pleased to be able to offer such an excellent learning opportunity with no strings attached for attendees. This is the sixth session of our Immersive Tech Introductions and throughout 2020 we will be covering different areas of the emerging immersive tech industry, all now run digitally so there is no geographical limit for attendees. This is part of the innovative wAVE project, which we are proud to be leading alongside Falmouth University on behalf of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP.”