Elior UK, leading contract caterer, is rolling out brand-new mixed reality (MR) headsets to enhance training for its teams serving healthcare and retirement living sectors. HoloLens 2, Microsoft’s MR technology, entails wearable glasses with multiple sensors, advanced optics, and holographic processing that meld seamlessly with its environment. The holograms can be used to display information, blend with the real world, or even simulate a virtual world.
As the first contract caterer to embrace this technology in the UK, Elior UK will be using the MR headsets to facilitate training programmes around texture-modified foods in healthcare and retirement living. HoloLens 2 technology will provide trainers with more flexibility by ensuring training can be held anywhere at any time, saving the business valuable downtime, and reducing travel time, expenses costs and carbon footprint for trainers and trainees.
HoloLens 2 glasses are fully wireless and respond to hand gestures, meaning there is no restriction of movement and no need for hand-held controllers, making the technology perfect for a kitchen environment. Multiple people can connect to a training session while still being able to interact with one another.
The technology can also be used as an integrated business tool. HoloLens 2 can be used to conduct scoping visits at client sites with only one person needed to travel to the location. The technology’s integration with Microsoft operating ensures multiple people can join the platform via Teams and witness the scope in real time.
Since its pilot sessions, HoloLens 2 has been a huge success for Elior, with high levels of engagement from team members and positive feedback. Elior is embarking on a companywide rollout of HoloLens 2 across all six catering brands during 2024.
Laura Tighe, managing director health, care & retirement living, Elior UK, said: “The integration of cutting-edge HoloLens 2 technology is transformative in the way we train our catering professionals. It allows us to be laser focused in our delivery, and provide training to our teams from anywhere, at short notice.
“There is no room for error when it comes to texture-modified foods. HoloLens lets us be even more specific and ensures our catering professionals have clarity of textures and consistencies through the lens so our residents can be well nourished and enjoy their meals.
Picture depicts the use of the new Mixed Reality (MR) headsets