What is cloud simulation?
Cloud computing is a technology that is consolidating as one of the great levers to promote innovation and consolidate digitization in organizations. Aware of this, at Tecnatom we have opted for this solution to host our combined cycle training simulator. We tell you about our experience, and how we have been able to benefit from the cloud simulation at the worst moment of the sixth wave of the pandemic.
Benefits of a simulator in the cloud
The most outstanding aspect of a simulator in the cloud is the accessibility from any location, thus providing great flexibility for users (trainer and trainees), facilitating delocalized training of staff while maintaining learning, based on learn-by-doing, dynamic and collaborative.
In the case of a training simulator such as this one, access to training sessions is streamlined, and it allows easy adaptation to the number of trainees at the last moment: that is, it facilitates, in a way, the coexistence with the situation of uncertainty caused by the pandemic, where it is impossible to predict whether a trainee will be confined or not at the moment of giving a course. In addition, by integrating teams from different locations, a cloud simulator is a tool that encourages team building and promotes group learning.
Last but not least, the use of a cloud simulator means a very significant reduction in travel and personnel mobilization costs. It also has an impact on equipment and HW costs, since the same simulator can be used by different organizations in a delocalized way and without the need to transport a physical simulator to all sites, thus optimizing its operation and use, without sacrificing performance compared to a full-scope simulator.
Challenges
Beyond the technological challenge involved in migrating a simulator (initially conceived as an on-premise solution) to a cloud environment, the delivery of remote training involves a change of philosophy, not only for the instructor, which must be supported by our tools.
A non-face-to-face training can make it difficult for the trainer to follow the course or to evaluate it, and having accessible and detailed records of the sessions, tools to generate reports efficiently, as well as enabling new mechanisms or functionalities to facilitate the supervision of the maneuvers, quality and effectiveness of the training with multiple students, can mitigate some of these difficulties. In addition, cloud simulation opens up opportunities for hybrid training scenarios, combining face-to-face and remote training and combining different technical profiles or different expertise.
As always, changes bring challenges, and these in turn, opportunities to continue to improve our solutions and adapt to ensure the highest quality and utilization of our simulator-based courses, this time, in the cloud.
