The Challenge

How do you demo a 2,500-pound laboratory automation system that costs $300K+ to ship?

We transformed the STA Workcell Max from a massive piece of equipment requiring freight trucks and installation teams into a 515-gram Meta Quest 3 headset that fits in a backpack.

Diagnostica Stago faced 18-24 month sales cycles because their laboratory equipment demonstrations required expensive shipping, setup, and on-site training. Rural customers and busy lab managers often couldn't access critical product demos, creating barriers to purchase decisions.

How might we preserve the essential hands-on learning experience while eliminating all physical constraints?

Research and Discovery

Conducted interviews with Sales Representatives, Product Managers, and Lab Technicians to understand each of their unique pain points.

Lab Technicians:

• Want to understand how Stago increases their output efficiency

• Need tactile understanding of daily operations and workflow impact

• Concerned about learning curve and training requirements

Sales Representatives:

• Want an interactive demonstration that showcases equipment benefits

• Need portable solution for rural and remote customer visits

• Struggle with complex setup requirements and shipping logistics

Product Managers:

• Focus on differentiating features and competitive advantages

• Need measurable demo effectiveness and customer engagement data

• Want consistent messaging across all sales interactions

Key UX Solutions

Intuitive Navigation System

Problem: VR newcomers struggle with complex navigation
Solution: Fixed teleportation points with clear visual indicators

• Glowing floor circles show valid positions

• Directional arrows indicate optimal viewing angles

• Instant reset to prevent user disorientation

Contextual Learning

Problem: Information overload in technical demonstrations
Solution: Just-in-time information delivery

• Hotspots: Interactive points reveal detailed information on demand

• Progressive Practice: Simple to complex task progression

Error Prevention

Problem: Users fear making mistakes with expensive equipment
Solution: Safe practice environment with guided error scenarios

• Exception Simulation: Practice handling common issues without consequences

• Visual Feedback: Immediate confirmation of correct actions

• Guided Recovery: Step-by-step error resolution tutorials

Spatial UI Design

Problem: Traditional 2D interfaces feel unnatural in VR
Solution: 3D interface elements that respect spatial context

• Floating Panels: Information appears contextually near relevant equipment

• Hand Tracking: Natural gesture-based interactions

• Haptic Feedback: Physical confirmation of virtual actions