Global Cloud Solutions (GCS) and Enhance VR (EVR), member companies of the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator, have joined forces in creating a training platform for local manufacturers, leveraging cloud computing and virtual reality. Through collaboration, they launched a demo for their fire extinguisher training module at the Manufacturing Day, which took place in Elmira, New York, in early October.

This strategic collaboration took off in 2018. Focusing on integrating virtual reality to primary and secondary education, EVR was in the process of creating a web-based portal tool to pair up with their 3D graphics. Thanks to the co-working space within the incubator, they began to forge relationships and to bounce ideas off with fellow members GCS, who create custom Salesforce customer relationship management software solutions.

Through meetings, both companies unearthed new business opportunities. “We realized we need to focus more on workforce and development rather than purely K-12,” said Matt Gill, CEO and founder of EVR. Seeing manufacturers prioritize employee retention and hiring qualified candidates, both companies thought to combine their expertise and produce a cutting-edge solution.

The partnership made it possible to provide engaging and exciting content for trainees while enabling trainers to track progress thoroughly and quantitatively. “From the industry, we have been getting a lot of great feedback on the combination of the database and the connectivity of engaging content,” said Gill.

With the positive reception at the Manufacturing Day, their next goals are to expand the platform and identify more clients. “What made this collaboration so successful was the execution of ideas,” said Imran Battla, business solutions administrator at GCS. “We now have a runway to prove ourselves within the next eight or ten months. I am happy to work with EVR to see how we can present these solutions to people who find value in them.”

– Daiki Yoshioka