A while ago, someone reviewing one of our reports said they “laughed out loud” at the idea that a virtual tour could improve learner recruitment or cut costs.
Honestly…? I get it.
The idea that a few thousand certified views of a virtual tour could lead to dozens of new learners with tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of funding uplift and improved accessibility outcomes… it does sound ambitious (clearly, to this person, maybe even preposterous). But as any serious entrepreneur or accountant will tell you, dismissing numbers without checking them properly can be a costly mistake.
Let’s take a closer look
One FE client (who let us tag their tour data and track referrals via GA4) saw hundreds of users each month click directly from the tour into course application pages. Not views – click-throughs.
Real.
Measurable.
Intent.
Other clients have seen measurable drops in open-day/ event no-shows. Reductions in SEND-related barriers. Better parent/ carer engagement. Tours in other sectors show clear click-throughs or page exits from the tour to booking or ‘further information’ pages.
These outcomes don’t come from the tour alone, but the tour is often the catalyst. A bridge. A confidence-builder.
Dismissing data because it doesn’t fit a pre-existing belief isn’t just short-sighted. It’s expensive!
Here’s some more evidence that might stifle a snigger or cause doubting Thomas’ to swallow hard and double-take.. This time from major event/ venue accessibility partners, ‘Different Breed’.
Different Breed, recently worked with a major UK venue (circa 50,000 capacity) to roll out a personalised, accessible fan guide for a major UK band. The result?
• Nearly 5,000 fewer customer support cases in just two weeks
• A 50% drop in accessibility-related queries
• 137,000 visitors, each with different needs, preferences and access expectations
• Direct saving of £4,500 in staff time during a two-week period across just three live events
• All of these statistics are from verified data.
Let’s break that down.
A typical support agent earns, say, £14/hour and handles around 12 queries per hour. Preventing just 12 support cases a week saves over £8,700 a year – per site. For a venue handling 1,000+ accessibility queries in a month, the savings and stress reduction compound fast.
Now imagine combining that with a virtual tour:
• Visitors see exactly what to expect
• Anxiety drops, questions reduce, expectations managed, confidence rises
• People with a need to familiarise themselves with a location in advance, feel reassured before even setting foot on campus or at a venue
• Staff spend less time answering “where is…” and more time supporting people who need it
We’ve seen similar behaviour patterns in education, healthcare, tourism and transport—but most of the benefit is invisible until you track it.
Ocean 3D doesn’t currently collect users health data, but our analytics show strong repeat viewership, long view times, high-engagement and direct clicks into enrolment or contact pathways. And we now have the option to integrate with tools like Different Breed’s access overlays and analytics platforms for stadium and venue clients.
If you’re serious about inclusion, recruitment, and operational savings, the maths is starting to speak for itself.
The only laughing you’ll be doing is on the way to the bank.