Facebook’s Virtual Reality company, Oculus has just announced two new updates that are set to change the way you do business.

If you think that virtual reality (VR) isn’t relevant for what you do or sell – you’re wrong. There are very, very few businesses that can’t be enhanced by VR, and it’s not as far away as you might expect.

For those who haven’t yet experienced it, VR is computer-generated simulation of a fully 3D world that can be experienced via a VR headset. The world you view and how you interact with it (looking left/right/up/down, walking, taking, moving, etc) is virtually indistinguishable from reality. Take a look at this demo video by Samsung if you haven’t seen VR in action before.

Why Should You Care:

Until recently, VR seemed like futuristic tech best suited to gaming – but Oculus’ new updates showed us just how valuable it could become for businesses.

Not only will it make using your computer an immersive experience, it may help you grow your business. Just think – your customers no longer have to leave their chairs to interact your products, or meet you ‘in person’.

Real estate agents can give full VR house tours; online shoppers can stroll through virtual aisles; travel agents can send you on demo trips; schools can take pupils through virtual galleries or museums; professionals can conduct at-home therapy sessions; social networks can connect people like never before…the possibilities are endless.

And that’s not to mention the brand new businesses that will no doubt be surfacing as a result of VR.

VR technology is already available (Playstation, Google, Facebook, Samsung, HTC and others already have headsets on the market) and isn’t all that expensive (averaging between USD$99 – $800 depending on the headset you want).

VR cafes (replacing the old internet cafes) are also becoming a ‘thing’, so people don’t even have to own their own headsets to experience it.

The bottom line is that VR is something you should be thinking about. It may be just the thing you need to make your company global, connect you with more customers and give your existing clients a more immersive experience.

As Mark Zuckerberg said at the Oculus conference, VR is going to improve the way we work, play, and interact with one another, and it’s not far off from becoming mainstream. If you’re interested in seeing just how far VR can go, watch his inspiring introductory lecture:

Tags: business, facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, Oculus, Oculus Rift, technology, virtual reality, VR