PwC Canada’s new Digital Experience Centre is part crime scene investigation training, part virtual reality arcade, and part playground.
It seems like every office is experimenting with some sort of Labs space these days. But at PwC, the consulting agency is building on its global experience. There are a network of 35 similar spaces around the world, including in Tokyo, New York, and London.
This 8,000 square-foot space will see PwC work alongside its clients, using outside-the-box thinking to solve business problems. In the virtual reality room, journalists are demoing immersive experiences created for public sector clients. That includes applications in health, military, and social justice areas.
In the IoT space, this demo is set up to show how a radio link can help monitor autonomous cars navigating a busy highway. When this system detects problems with any one car, that feedback is sent to all cars to help them adapt.
Another room is showcasing how augmented reality can assist in a crime scene investigation. An imaginary police officer wears Microsoft Hololens and communicating with head office through Skype. He’s able to share evidence while keeping his hands free. He’s basically robocop.
Previously, PwC could only host its clients in its office space for 90 days of the year. With the new space, it expects to host between 150 and 180 client days per year. There can even be multiple clients using the space at the same time.
Digital disruption is affecting every business out there. PwC says this is part of its response to that trend. It’s not just a new floor bolted on to the office, but integrated with all of its client services.