With the recent advancements in technology, especially the proliferation of high-tech devices and apps, updating the way corporations operate is becoming more and more necessary.

Virtual reality (VR) is one of the most recent innovations to join the digital workplace, which is a key indicator of how VR tech is becoming more widely used. It is estimated that 500 million VR headsets will be sold by 2025. The market is also predicted to be worth $30 billion by 2020. As these figures show, VR is becoming increasingly popular and is changing the setup in which many workforces operate. Here are five ways it’s going to change how businesses operate:

It can help prevent sexual harassment

A 2018 Women in the Workplace report shows that 45% of women experience sexual harassment at work, especially those working in tech fields. VR can help combat this by giving an immersive experience of what it’s like to witness or be a victim of sexual harassment. Vantage Point founder Morgan Mercer said VR can help reshape the way sexual harassment is approached and recognized. “Immersive mediums are the next step which will create direct relationships and build empathy that transcends beyond any existing platform-based network,” he said.

It can eliminate unconscious bias

Since unconscious biases are deeply ingrained and unintentional, VR is one of the best ways to eliminate it as it gives the users first hand experience of what these unconscious biases are like. Through VR it allows a user to be an observer and see how bias plays out in various situations. It will also allow users to experience the biases themselves and, very much like sexual harassment cases, will help them to develop empathy and actively participate in getting rid of these biases.

It can make operations more efficient

Business 2 Community notes that companies are always looking to streamline their workflow and reduce the physical files and paper they have to contend with. VR can help employees access and store company information without necessarily printing off documents, as workers can easily access data and information with a simple swipe.

It is changing the freelance workforce

The demand for workers, especially freelancers, who are skilled in VR is on the rise. Quartz reports that VR expertise is currently the most sought-after skill amongst freelancers, despite the fact that VR development was not even part of last year’s most in-demand skills. This is a clear reflection of how quickly VR is becoming an important part of the workforce. The site notes that as the price for VR sets drop the need for VR specialists increases. This shift in expertise amongst freelancers also reflects a shift in how companies hire tech experts. Yoss explains how companies are looking to hire freelancers from the top 1% of tech talent. This is because they can draw from a much wider skillset than in-house employees allowing companies to hire specialists for specific projects, such as implementing VR technology in the workforce.

It can pave the way for low-cost training

Employers will be able to use VR to train their employees onsite. This will make training much more cost effective, as employees won’t need to travel to a specific location to learn new skills. They can watch and take part in seminars from the office or even outside locations such as their home. VR makes training cheaper and more flexible as employees can attend training sessions when they are available.

VR, along with AR, is becoming more and more popular across the globe. We reported on the Accenture study that showed how the public wanted to use VR and AR beyond gaming. 67% said they wanted to use it to learn new skills, which is why it will become an important part of the modern workforce.