AES 2025 Takeaways: XR Training and Digital Twinning Lead the Way
- Fizz Fizzonte
- Oct 3
- 4 min read
The 2025 Augmented Enterprise Summit (AES) left little doubt: extended reality (XR) is no longer an experiment—it’s an essential enterprise tool.
Walking the expo floor, the momentum was undeniable. At least half the exhibitors showcased immersive training environments for industries such as manufacturing, construction, and warehouse safety. These weren’t flashy demos—they were practical, scalable solutions proving their ability to deliver safer, faster, and more consistent training outcomes.
And the numbers back that up: the global immersive training market was valued at $16.4 billion in 2024, with forecasts projecting growth at a staggering 28.3% CAGR through 2030. Another estimate suggests it could reach $128 billion by 2032. In fact, 84% of organizations report they are using or considering XR, and more than a third have already deployed it for training. Large enterprises are leading the charge, with 22% actively using VR as a training delivery method, compared with about 7% across all organizations.
A Gap in the Market: QSR Training
One surprising gap at AES: quick service restaurants (QSRs).
QSR brands scale rapidly—sometimes opening dozens of new locations a year. With that growth comes a steep challenge: keeping training standardized across hundreds or even thousands of new employees, all while managing costs and ensuring quality.
This is no small problem. The QSR industry faces annual turnover rates exceeding 130%, with more than half of new employees leaving within the first 90 days (National Restaurant Association & labor studies). The cost of replacing just one hourly worker ranges from $3,000 to $6,000 when factoring in recruiting, onboarding, and training. These turnover dynamics eat directly into profit margins.
Some QSRs are already leaning into technology to address the issue—surveys show nearly 48% of quick service operators plan to add or upgrade training technologies in 2024. XR could be the most impactful leap forward: offering consistent, repeatable, and sustainable training in a “virtual kitchen” that eliminates waste, reduces ramp time, and builds confidence before an employee ever touches a real fryer, oven, or customer order.
The ROI potential is clear. Studies show that VR learners are 4x more focused than in e-learning, complete training 4x faster than classroom learners, and report a 275% increase in confidence to apply new skills (PwC VR training study). In industries with higher risk, immersive training has even been shown to reduce on-the-job injury rates by over 40%.
For QSRs, those numbers translate into reduced turnover costs, less food waste, and more consistent guest experiences at scale.
Digital Twinning: From Aerospace to Everyday Operations
Beyond training, AES 2025 highlighted another fast-growing technology: digital twinning.
Boeing showcased how augmented reality (AR) overlays can enhance real-world equipment—such as visualizing wiring on an aircraft panel in real time. Airbus, meanwhile, has used digital twin–enabled processes to improve maintenance efficiency by ~25%. Boeing reported training time reductions of up to 75% per employee using digital twin and XR methods.
This technology is expanding quickly. The global digital twin market reached $24.9 billion in 2024, with projections of $155.8 billion by 2030 at a 34% CAGR. Some estimates are even more aggressive, suggesting it could reach $259 billion by 2032. In manufacturing, nearly 29% of firms have already adopted digital twin strategies (Capgemini Research Institute).
For restaurants and retail, the potential is just as exciting. Digital twins of equipment or store layouts could guide predictive maintenance (reducing downtime), optimize supply chain flows, or provide real-time AR overlays for employees restocking inventory or checking quality standards. When paired with XR training, digital twinning can make everyday operations smarter, safer, and more efficient.
The Bigger Picture: XR for Every Business
The key takeaway from AES 2025 is this: enterprise adoption of XR is here, and it’s accelerating. Training and digital twinning are leading the way, but the applications extend across industries and into the daily workflows of businesses of all sizes.
At CustomerXR, we see tremendous opportunity not only in aerospace, manufacturing, and construction—but in sectors like quick service restaurants, retail, and hospitality. These industries face high churn, tight margins, and a pressing need for consistent customer experiences. XR offers a way to train smarter, scale faster, and deliver greater operational excellence.
We left AES 2025 inspired by the innovation on display—and we’ll be back in Atlanta next year with even more case studies and proof points. The future of XR isn’t limited to aerospace giants and industrial plants. It’s for every business ready to embrace immersive technology as a driver of growth, consistency, and competitive advantage.
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