The natural habitat of large chillers from Trane is a data centre or factory building. Presenting such a product physically in a meeting room or on an exhibition stand is simply impossible, due to its sheer size. So instead of bringing the machine to the prospect, we bring the prospect to the machine - on a virtual rooftop.
The VR app is multi-user, allowing the Trane salesperson to present the installation to several visitors simultaneously. The experience blends VR with co-location and passthrough AR, allowing prospects and the salesperson to remain connected - able to see and interact with each other, ask questions and share the experience. The salesperson guides them around the machine and highlights the features and benefits.
To showcase the uninterruptible power supply feature, day turns into night on the rooftop, a power cut is simulated, and the Trane unit reacts appropriately, which the visitors can observe on the control panel.
Interactions, such as removing a cover or zooming in on the display, increase the level of immersion and make the 3D model come to live. Superimposing air or coolant flows visualizes features that are impossible to demonstrate on a real machine.
Throughout the presentation, the salesperson sees on-screen captions to make sure the correct message is given. The message was also heard by global management: the app received a prestigious internal award.
To facilitate the use of VR at exhibitions and events, we put together a ready-to-go VR case. It holds five or six VR headsets along with all the necessary peripherals. A multimedia laptop enables the multi-user setup and bystanders can see what's going on in the virtual world on a connected screen.
Local Trane country offices have been renting or purchasing these VR cases for use at trade fairs all across Europe.
