Raymond
A forklift? On Fast Company’s Most Innovative list?
Challenge
According to Deloitte, nearly 3.5 million manufacturing jobs will arise by 2025, but the growing skills gap could leave almost 60% of them unfilled. Forklifts touch everything we buy and own today, yet instruction methods have not evolved to truly engage the next generation workforce.
Solution
Raymond innovated the first VR instruction system that puts student operators on real lift trucks while learning in simulated environments. The Raymond Virtual Reality Simulator represents both the future for operator learning, and the innovative mindset at the heart of the company.
From Fast Company to SXSW!
To earn media and influencer attention for Raymond’s forward-focused mindset, we targeted Fast Company’s annual list of innovative companies. Working with the client team, we made a tight pitch and earned their spot. That led to our next breakthrough: demonstrating the Raymond Virtual Reality Simulator on the floor of the SXSW Trade Show, where it was a hit with important editors and influencers…including Forbes.com which covered the technology with an in-depth feature.
In one week, our paid efforts reached more than three times the people we typically reach in a month, with five times the total impressions. For comparison, Raymond achieved a 207% increase in reach and a 368% increase in impressions. We also gained a half dozen highly influential Twitter followers and contacts to continue the story at other technology and innovation summits.
