Improving project handovers through digital knowledge transfer

How can digital knowledge transfer make international project handovers more efficient? LION Protects is exploring this through a pilot with Edumersive, using 360-degree environments to support training, knowledge retention and remote support for fire training projects.

Around the world, LION Protects designs and delivers live fire training centres and fire training props for fire services and training organisations. For Jan-Willem van den Heuvel, Fire & Rescue Trainer Consultant at LION Protects, a project is only truly complete when the customer can use the installation safely and independently.

“For us, a project isn’t finished when the fire training prop is delivered. It’s finished when our customer knows how to use it safely and with confidence.”

As the person responsible for project handovers and customer knowledge transfer, he knows how challenging that final stage can be, particularly on international projects. To make the process more efficient and flexible, LION Protects started a pilot with Edumersive together with Blue Orange Wave.

Learning inside the fire training prop

Using 360-degree imagery, users can virtually walk through a fire training prop while interactive markers provide guidance exactly where it is needed. Safety instructions, operating procedures, maintenance tasks and project-specific information are all integrated into the virtual environment.

A dedicated training module is created for each fire training prop, allowing instructors to prepare before practical training begins.
“You’re not looking at a manual. You’re actually walking through the fire training prop, which makes it much easier to understand how everything works.”

Making international project handovers more flexible

Traditionally, consultants travelled to customers after every project handover to train local instructors. Coordinating these visits often took considerable time.

With Edumersive, part of the knowledge transfer can now take place much earlier, either as preparation for practical training or, in some cases, entirely remotely.
“A good example was ASA Australia. Using Edumersive, local instructors were able to prepare remotely, which meant we didn’t need to send a consultant to the site.”

According to Van den Heuvel, this provides greater flexibility and helps complete projects more efficiently.

More than training

During the pilot, the company also discovered opportunities beyond training.
“We’re now looking at how the platform can support our service engineers as well. Instead of explaining over the phone which valve or component you’re referring to, they can virtually walk through the installation and immediately understand the situation.”

The platform also helps standardise knowledge across the organisation.
“Different instructors often explain things in slightly different ways. With Edumersive, everyone receives the same information, helping us retain knowledge within the organisation.”

Developing together

Like every pilot, this one also provided valuable feedback. Creating high-quality 360-degree content takes time and experience, while managing the learning environment requires dedicated attention. According to Van den Heuvel, this is where the collaboration with Blue Orange Wave has made a real difference.

“Whenever we run into something, people are quick to think along with us. We see our feedback being acted upon, and the platform continues to evolve.”

Looking ahead

Although the pilot is still in its early stages and hard data is not yet available, the first experiences are encouraging.

“We feel we’ve only discovered a small part of what Edumersive can do. The more experience you gain with the platform, the more possibilities you discover.”

For LION Protects, Edumersive is about more than digital training. Together with Blue Orange Wave, the company is exploring how one platform can support project handovers, training, service and long-term knowledge retention.