Beyond its appearance in Neal Stephenson’s , the “metaverse” was a largely obscure term. Snow Crash Most people aware of the metaverse pre-2021 had either participated in virtual worlds like Second Life or played extended-reality online games like Roblox, Minecraft, or Fortnite. But then Facebook changed its name to “Meta” in late 2021, reflecting owner Mark Zuckerberg’s dream to “build the Metaverse.” Describing the Zuckerberg predicted it'd be the next iteration of the Internet, and committed Facebook’s (now Meta) future to create it. me taverse as “a shared virtual world where [anyone] can socialize, work, play, and create,” With one of the world’s biggest tech giants betting the farm on the metaverse, interest in the concept has skyrocketed. More importantly, businesses are looking for opportunities to tap into the metaverse and harness this technology for bigger profits. In this article, we’ll explore the meaning of the metaverse and consider opportunities for businesses to leverage this new technology. What is the Metaverse? At its most basic definition, the metaverse is a collection of immersive, three-dimensional (3D) worlds that facilitate virtual interaction between individuals. In a metaverse, people can perform real-world activities—learning, creating, socializing, shopping—in cyberspace. The metaverse runs on , , , , and . augmented reality (AR) virtual reality (VR) extended reality (XR) artificial intelligence spatial computing technologies Individuals rely on devices, such as smartphones, laptops, IoT devices, and VR/AR products like Google’s Oculus VR headsets or Microsoft’s HoloLens to access the metaverse and interact with it. Blockchain technology is also crucial to the metaverse. With , anyone can create unique digital assets, such as avatar skins and accessories, that can be used in a virtual universe. Cryptocurrencies power the metaverse economy and allow users to pay for products or access certain services. non-fungible tokens (NFTs) Futurists imagine the metaverse as a giant virtual world, where websites become gateways to virtual spaces. However, what exists currently is the : a group of independent virtual worlds with different users, access mechanisms, and monetization systems. "proto-verse" Realizing the metaverse dream will transform the Internet into a massive, interoperable virtual realm. Users can seamlessly switch between digital worlds, using their assets on different platforms. For example, an avatar skin bought in Fortnite would be usable on Decentraland. Is the Metaverse Here? Contrary to public expectation, the metaverse is far from becoming a full-fledged reality. Even Facebook has said it doesn’t expect the technology required to power the metaverse to arrive until the next 10-15 years. However, we have some examples to show what a metaverse future may look like: : Roblox is a gaming platform that allows users to create and play across virtual worlds. Creators can monetize their games by selling in-game assets to users through Robux, the platform’s virtual currency. This virtual currency can be converted to real money on the Roblox Developer Exchange (DevEx). Roblox : Fortnite started life as a free-to-play multiplayer shooting game, quickly gaining popularity for its realistic gameplay. But it’s slowly transforming into a bigger virtual world, with rapper Travis Scott holding a virtual concert on the platform in April 2020. Fortnite : Facebook released Horizons Works, a virtual workspace, to compete with Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Using headsets from Facebook-owned Oculus VR, employees can interact, collaborate, and brainstorm without needing to meet physically. Facebook Horizon and Microsoft Mesh Microsoft launched a competing product, Mesh, signaling the company’s interest in metaverse technology. Like Facebook’s Horizons, Microsoft Mesh can create “digital twins” of physical workspaces, enabling virtual interactions between coworkers. : Decentraland is a 3D virtual world where anyone can build digital structures, such as theme parks or art galleries, and charge visitors a fee. It runs on the Ethereum blockchain and allows users to buy digital assets as NFTs using its native token ($MANA). Decentraland and The Sandbox The Sandbox is another gaming metaverse running on the Ethereum blockchain. Like Decentraland, Sandbox users can create and sell unique digital assets as NFTs. Purchases are made using the ecosystem’s native currency ($SAND). : Second Life is one of the oldest and most popular 3D virtual worlds. Launched by Linden Labs in 2003, Second Life lets individuals—represented by avatars—can carry out real-life activities in an immersive virtual world. Users can create, shop, socialize, and do much more in Second Life’s virtual spaces. Second Life Why the Metaverse Matters for Businesses While the metaverse is still in its infancy, dismissing it would be economic suicide for any business. Beyond tech giants like Microsoft and Facebook, other large brands have been making forays into the metaverse. For instance, fashion heavyweight Gucci recently, while JP Morgan recently . launched a virtual gallery opened a building in Decentraland As an immersive virtual-reality world, the metaverse has a lot of business potential. Here are some benefits of the metaverse for business that every entrepreneur should consider: Profits From Virtual Products The virtual economy is . Sales of digital assets on virtual platforms like Decentraland, Fortnite, Roblox, and the Sandbox run into millions of dollars—representing a viable business opportunity. Brands can create virtual lookalikes of real-life products to metaverse residents and unlock new streams of revenue. booming The list of companies already selling things in the metaverse is long. Earlier this year, Ralph Lauren launched a collection of wearables and has already. sold over 100,000 pieces Other luxury fashion houses, such as and , have also started creating virtual clothing lines. Gucci Dolce & Gabbana Even sports apparel makers are getting in on the game. American sportswear giant Nike acquired RTKFT, a company noted for creating virtual products and has that’ll allow it to exclusively sell Nike-themed wearables, like Air Jordan sneakers, in the metaverse. filed patents Smaller businesses can benefit from this trend, too. For example, a glasses manufacturer might offer buyers a pair as an NFT, while encouraging them to buy the real thing. As long as a product can be represented in virtual reality, there’s going to be a market for it. Richer Customer Experiences The introduction of eCommerce changed the way people shopped for products. However, customers are quickly outgrowing staid online shopping sites. They want an experiential buying experience where they can , , and products before buying. feel see touch Companies can provide new ways for consumers to interact with products and services using augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies. Instead of staring at static images, buyers can products and see if they like the experience. If an individual feels good trying on virtual glasses, they’re more likely to buy the real product. use Some brands are already , where anyone can come in and interact with branded items. Such innovations will greatly accelerate the buyer’s journey, reduce acquisition costs, and increase overall revenues. launching virtual malls Global Reach Just as the Internet broke down geographical boundaries, the metaverse will do the same—but better. An ideal metaverse is a place where can enter and interact with a brand, regardless of their location. For brands, the metaverse facilitates the creation of universally accessible experiences for customers across the world. anyone Often, global companies will launch different campaigns in various countries to compensate for distance. However, the metaverse world would allow a brand to house its campaigns in one place, which users from different regions can access at any time. It’s a global expansion for a fraction of the cost! Better Employee Engagement and Collaboration Facebook’s demo of Horizons Workspaces has shown how virtual worlds can transform modern-day workplaces. In a post-COVID era, where remote work is becoming a norm, the metaverse can greatly enhance collaboration between employees. Instead of staring at a Zoom screen for hours, individuals can collaborate, brainstorm, and discuss in a shared, virtual workspace. The metaverse will create an interactive environment where everyone, irrespective of their location, can connect with each other and share ideas. For businesses, the use of metaverse in business communications can make collaboration, training employees, and organizing meetings easier. Improvements in Product Development Many products fail to attract meaningful use due to poor product-market fit. While this can be corrected through product testing, current methods are costly and require extensive effort. The metaverse can solve this problem for companies and ease product testing through the use of According to IBM, a is a complex, hyper-realistic virtual representation of a physical object. "digital twins." digital twin Thanks to improvements in VR and AR technology, it’s possible to simulate real-life experiences in the metaverse. This means companies can have individuals test products under development and give useful feedback. Several high-profile people, including NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, have the idea of VR-enabled product testing. And some companies, like Hyundai Motors, have made forays into the field already. backed Using Roblox, the South Korean carmaker created , a shared virtual space for people to try out its newest offerings. Visitors, represented by avatars, can test-drive new Hyundai models, robotic vehicles, and other transportation solutions. Hyundai Mobility Adventure Companies can also better understand how users interact with their products using VR-powered testing. By analyzing body language recordings obtained through VR simulations, businesses can gain deeper insights into customer behavior and apply the information to product development. The wealth of data that can be obtained about consumers is . For instance, a 2018 Stanford Review that VR headsets can collect over two million body language recordings within a 20-minute timeframe. staggering estimates Advertising Opportunities Every technology brings with it novel techniques for getting products in front of customers. The Internet brought targeted advertising, while outdoor displays brought interactive billboards, drones, etc. However, businesses need to avoid ruining the user experience with ads. As the public backlash against targeted advertising has shown, intrusive promotions can quickly sour consumer sentiment. Instead, companies must invest in creating richer experiences and encourage users to participate. An excellent example of customer-centric marketing in the metaverse is Coca-Cola's Friendship Day campaign. The beverage company a "Friendship Box" on OpenSea, which contained several NFTs. This included a themed bubble jacket that the owner could wear in Decentraland, a Friendship Card NFT featuring retro artwork, and a sound visualizer that played the sound of pouring a Coke. The winning bidder also received a real-life fridge stocked with Coca-Cola drinks. auctioned Coca-Cola’s metaverse marketing is different from the in-your-face promotion that irritates consumers and affects marketing performance. As more companies enter the metaverse, those that invest in user-focused marketing will come out tops. How Can Businesses Enter the Metaverse? It’s still early to know if the metaverse will become the latest technology revolution. Nonetheless, entrepreneurs can future-proof their businesses by preparing for a future where the lines between physical and virtual reality are indistinguishable. Businesses can start their metaverse journey by identifying target demographics and understanding their preferences. Given the flurry of corporate forays into the metaverse, it's possible to borrow ideas from other brands and create a unique experience for a brand's user base. Finally, as with every investment, understanding the risks of buying into the metaverse is important. There's no telling if the metaverse will take off or not, so caution is advised. Cover photo by on Julien Tromeur Unsplash First published at: https://businesstechguides.co/importance-of-metaverse-for-businesses?x-host=businesstechguides.co

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