What makes one training application cost more than another?
How the equipment behaves
A learner who identifies components needs different software from one who operates the machine, diagnoses a fault and sees the consequences of a wrong choice. Each additional behaviour needs to be defined, built and tested. A visually simple exercise can still contain complicated decisions.
The condition of the source material
Usable CAD, clear photographs and a current procedure help establish what to build. Missing parts, outdated drawings or a procedure that is still changing create more work. Existing 3D files may also need preparation before they run well in the training application.
Practice, assessment and reporting
Guided prompts, retries, scoring rules and instructor results are separate pieces of behaviour. An assessment needs clear conditions for correct, incorrect and incomplete actions. A dashboard or connection to a learning system adds work beyond the lesson itself.
The number of delivery targets
A PC VR headset, a standalone headset and a desktop app have different controls and performance requirements. An extra version needs its own development and testing. Start with the version your first group of learners will use. You can add other versions when you need them.
How Simvra scopes a training project
| Project type | Typical timing | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Focused training pilot | 2-5 weeks | One equipment package, one working procedure and one device. Extra scenarios, platforms and reporting integrations are scoped separately. |
| Full training program | 6-14 weeks | Quoted after reviewing the scenarios, equipment complexity, assessment depth and delivery targets. |
A focused pilot includes a working build, written findings and a proposal for the next stage. If your requirements and full scope are clear, we can quote the full program directly.
If you start a full program within 6 months of a training pilot, 50% of the pilot price is credited toward it because that groundwork carries into the full program. See project terms and ownership for the wider engagement.
Which costs should you check separately?
When comparing quotes, check which of these costs are included, which your team will supply and which sit outside the project:
- Hardware: headsets, computers, controllers, charging and any physical props.
- Your team’s time: procedure review, subject-expert answers, instructor review and learner trials.
- Site use: installation, training space, staff handover and any travel or onsite support.
- Online services: hosting, accounts, device management and reporting connections where needed.
- Later changes: revised procedures, equipment variants, extra languages and new devices.
A quote for a complete application does not automatically include hardware, curriculum development or ongoing operational support. Include the items you need in the project scope.
Compare quotes using the same exercise
Imagine a maintenance exercise in which the learner inspects a part and records a decision. One quote might cover guided inspection with feedback at the end. Another might also include several fault conditions, independent assessment, a trainer dashboard and a second device version. Those quotes cover different applications.
Give each supplier the same short brief: the equipment, learner actions, expected feedback, target device and required results. Ask them to describe what a learner can actually finish in the delivered version. Mark any difference before comparing the total.
Check handover rights too. The packaged application, project-specific content and reusable software can have different ownership terms. Ask which files and rights you receive, and what happens when you need another developer to make a change.
Choose a complete task for the first build
Pick a complete task with a clear beginning and end. Keep the equipment detail that supports the lesson, and leave decorative surroundings or a second platform for later if they do not affect that task.
Settle the procedure and review it with the content owner before polishing the scene. It is easier to correct a step in an early working exercise than after the surrounding interactions have been finished. Simvra remains responsible for implementing and testing the behaviour in scope. Your subject expert approves what the lesson teaches.
If you already have a training project, describe the part you want to improve. Extending a usable application may be a better starting point than rebuilding it. Whether an older version saves work depends on the files, usage rights and changes needed.
What to bring to a first conversation
You do not need a finished specification. Bring a short description of the task, who will use the training, the intended device and any equipment references you can share. Mention the budget range and deadline if you have them.
The project-planning guide can help with the brief. If you mainly need to explain equipment to a customer, our equipment-demonstration service has a separate scope and pricing approach.