Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) have become increasingly popular in recent years, and it's no surprise that many businesses are looking to leverage these technologies to create immersive experiences for their customers.
The global virtual reality market size is expected to reach $20.9 billion in 2025, up from just $3.7 billion in 2016, so it’s understandable why companies might look to incorporate VR as part of their products or marketing strategy. However, developing VR content requires specialized skills and expertise that many businesses don't have in-house. That's where virtual reality outsourcing comes in.
Outsourcing VR development to a reliable partner can help businesses create high-quality, engaging VR experiences without the need for extensive investment in resources and in-house personnel.
That said, finding the right VR/AR companies for your project can be hard, which is why we’ve created a step-by-step guide to outsourcing VR for your business, small or large.
Table of Contents
- Identify Your VR Needs and Goals
- Conduct Thorough Research to Find Potential VR Outsourcing Partners
- Define Project Scope and Budget
- Ensure Quality Control and Testing Procedures are in Place
- Manage the Project Timeline and Milestones
- Review and Evaluate the Final VR Product Before Launch
- Maintain Ongoing Communication for Future Projects
- In a Nutshell: Outsourcing VR & Future Trends
- FAQs
Identify Your VR Needs and Goals
Before outsourcing virtual reality, it's crucial to have a clear understanding of your VR needs and goals. This involves defining the purpose of the VR project. You can:
- Incorporate VR into your product;
- Improve marketing campaigns and UX;
- Enhance collaboration and data visualization;
- Use it for prototyping, and so on.
Beyond the brass tacks, you’ll need to identify your target audience and determine the desired outcomes.
For instance, if you're a furniture company, you may want to create a VR experience that allows customers to visualize how a piece of furniture would look in their home. In this case, your goal is to increase customer engagement and sales.
It's also important to identify the VR technology, platform, and features required for your project. For example, you may require 360-degree video, interactive features, or multi-platform compatibility.
By defining your VR needs and goals, you can communicate effectively with the VR outsourcing partner and ensure that they understand your requirements and can deliver the desired results. A clear understanding of your VR needs and goals also helps you evaluate the project's success.
Conduct Thorough Research to Find Potential VR Outsourcing Partners
Once you are aware of your VR goals, conducting thorough research is a critical step in finding the right VR outsourcing partner for your business.
It's important to look for companies that specialize in VR development and have a proven track record of delivering high-quality VR projects. A good outsourcing partner should also have experience in your industry or niche so they can provide valuable insights and recommendations specific to your business needs.
To ensure that you find the right partner, it's essential to check online reviews, portfolios, and credentials. This will help you gain a better understanding of their capabilities, expertise, and past performance. Directories and B2B marketplaces like DesignRush provide completely streamline this process and provide you with all the options.
Define Project Scope and Budget
Once you’ve gone over potential outsourcing service providers for your VR needs, it’s time to define the project scope and budget, which is crucial in outsourcing VR. Communicate budget, timeline, and milestones to avoid misunderstandings later.
By doing this, you can manage expectations, prioritize certain features, and identify areas for cost savings. In turn, your project will be set up for success.
Ensure Quality Control and Testing Procedures are in Place
Quality control and testing procedures are essential to ensure that the VR product or service meets your standards and requirements. Ask beforehand whether your potential outsourcing partner has robust quality control and testing processes in place. This will help you avoid any issues with the final product and ensure that it meets your expectations.
Manage the Project Timeline and Milestones
Much like QA, managing the project timeline and milestones is critical to ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget. Although the scope of the project may expand during development, ensure that the VR outsourcing partner provides regular updates on the project's progress and that they meet the agreed-upon milestones.
Review and Evaluate the Final VR Product Before Launch
Before launching your desired VR solution, it's crucial to review and evaluate it thoroughly. Testing the product on different platforms and devices helps ensure that it works correctly and that it is accessible to a wide audience.
By conducting a thorough review and evaluation process, you can identify any issues before the product is launched, preventing negative feedback or reputational damage.
Maintain Ongoing Communication for Future Projects
Maintaining ongoing communication with the VR outsourcing partner is essential for future projects. After all, the B2B industry is built on ongoing working relationships with outsourcers. If you have an outsourcing partner you can trust, regardless of the industry, you’re set up for long-term success.
In a Nutshell: Outsourcing VR & Future Trends
The VR landscape is evolving with more immersive and accessible experiences. Advancements in hardware and software are making VR more practical and cost-effective. UX/UI design in VR environments is also expected to grow, leveraging techniques such as spatial audio, haptic feedback, and intuitive gesture controls.
As for future trends, social VR platforms offer opportunities for collaboration, communication, and socialization in immersive digital spaces. The convergence of AI, and VR/AR, holds promise for new applications and experiences. As VR continues to mature, we can expect increasingly seamless, engaging, and impactful virtual experiences across diverse domains.
All in all, knowing how to outsource VR and AR can help businesses create high-quality, innovative projects and allocate their resources properly while remaining ahead of the curve.
FAQs
What companies are developing virtual reality?
Several companies are developing virtual reality technology, including giants such as Facebook (Oculus), Sony (PlayStation VR), and HTC (Vive). Other notable players in the VR industry include Samsung (Gear VR), Google (Daydream), and Microsoft (Windows Mixed Reality). There are also many smaller companies and startups that are focused solely on VR development.
How are companies using virtual reality?
Companies are using virtual reality for a variety of purposes, including product design and prototyping, employee training, marketing and advertising, and customer engagement. VR is also being used in industries such as healthcare, education, and entertainment to provide data visualization or immersive experiences that were previously not possible.
How large is the virtual reality industry?
The global virtual reality market size is expected to reach $20.9 billion in 2025, up from just $3.7 billion in 2016. The growth of VR can be attributed to advancements in VR technology, increased adoption of VR by businesses and consumers, and a growing demand for immersive experiences.
