Enhancing the Skills of Franchisees at Central and Eastern Europe’s Leading Convenience Store Chain with VR Gamified Training

Żabka, Central and Eastern Europe’s leading convenience store chain, has partnered with Connected Realities to develop “Planogram & Warehouse Ergonomics Masters – VR Gamified Training for Żabka Franchisees.” This initiative represents a groundbreaking approach to traditional training challenges in the retail industry. Using advanced VR technology, it creates a safe, engaging, and efficient training environment that significantly enhances learning experiences and operational performance. This project stands out by effectively combining game-based learning with VR simulations, tailored specifically for our client.

Short project description:

“Planogram & Warehouse Ergonomics Masters” is a VR application fully developed by Connected Realities that addresses the need for effective and engaging training for franchisees of Żabka (The Frog), tailored for large industry trade shows. Instead of traditional presentations, we create innovative, engaging training tools in the form of VR games. The VR application for Żabka develops skills in quick decision-making, attention to detail, and effective shelf and warehouse ergonomics management. We combine training with exciting gameplay, offering learning through gamification, which is an innovative and highly desirable approach to education. … and certainly, Żabka stood out and shone with their VR game at the industry trade show.

What need does the solution address?

Better product placement means less waste, faster order fulfillment, and greater work efficiency. Well-organized shelves translate into higher profits for franchisees. Virtual reality, combined with digital twin technology, effectively supports the acquisition of proper habits related to these principles.

The challenge:

Creating a convenient, mobile educational solution that can be quickly utilized in the bustling and noisy conditions of trade shows. Providing knowledge here and now, combined with the company’s long-term strategy of building an image as a modern employer that uses innovative technologies to support and increase franchisee profits.

Idea description:

The VR application for Żabka (The Frog) franchisees combines training elements with exciting gameplay. The player stands in front of a shelf and is tasked with placing randomly appearing products in the correct locations on the store and warehouse shelves. The arrangement of products is done according to the principles and best practices used in real stores. For example, in the warehouse, heavy products are placed on the lower shelves and light products on the upper shelves. From time to time, chaos appears among the products, which the player must avoid. This game trains the skills of quick decision-making, accuracy, and attention to detail in shelf arrangement. By incorporating elements of gamification, such as rewards and challenges, employees are more motivated to participate actively and retain the information better.

Implementation:

When a franchisee puts on the VR headset, they are transported into the virtual space of a store or warehouse. These spaces are designed in a style reminiscent of Żabka stores, combined with a gaming approach to the aesthetics of the 3D elements, and in accordance with real-world physics. To make the game more engaging, the user utilizes a specially designed fun gun, which dynamically captures products. The products are visually similar to real-world products. The training is accompanied by music, sound effects, and a scoring system. The game trains the skills of quick decision-making in shelf arrangement, accuracy, and attention to detail. The training scenarios included in the game are developed according to the principles of shelf management, planograms, and the logic of product placement on warehouse shelves. The game is programmed using a real-time engine, which allows for smooth and realistic interaction with the virtual environment. It is available on mobile VR headsets (without the need for cables or connection to a computer), allowing users to use it freely at any place and time. The game view from the VR headset can be streamed to any screen, allowing everyone to see what is happening in it.

Results:

VR game-based solutions inherently offer a more engaging and immersive experience compared to traditional training methods. By incorporating elements of gamification, such as rewards, levels, and challenges, employees are more motivated to participate actively and retain the information better. Current challenges require companies to have an individual and flexible approach to employee education to ensure effective and efficient training. An important factor is also the generational shift. Virtual reality is a modern tool that provides a safe and controlled environment where employees can practice skills, make decisions, and learn from their mistakes without any real-world consequences. This reduces risk and allows for unlimited repetition until the desired proficiency is achieved. The next step is to test our game-based solutions solutions for VR, which we will tailor to the specific needs of your company. Feel free to contact us.