A method comprises a computer-implemented virtual reality (VR) system connecting VR devices in a collaborative VR session. The VR devices are associated with participants in a collaborative activity to perform an ordered procedure directed to a real-world assembly. The VR system receives session inputs from VR devices associated with the participants. The session inputs correspond to actions of the participants to modify a virtual object included in a VR expression of the VR session. The virtual object corresponds to the real-world assembly. In response to the session inputs, the VR system performs a transaction directed to the virtual object, which produces modifications of the real-world assembly corresponding to the modifications of the virtual object. A collaborative VR system can comprise a VR server and VR devices configured to perform the method. A computer program product can instruct processors of a VR system to perform the method.