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The metaverse is ushering in a whole new batch of tech platforms that take software as a service to a new level — metaverse as a service (MaaS). MaaS platforms are giving CTOs a new set of tech to learn about and potentially integrate into their company’s current tech stack. The metaverse is currently showing significant promise when it comes to virtual meetings, which are applicable to virtually all businesses. However, newer metaverse technologies are also targeting other business areas like HR and organizational learning, R&D, and more. CTOs, depending on the industry, must evaluate their business’s potential to benefit from metaverse technology. First movers and early adopters of this technology are already benefiting from increased efficiency and novel insights into metaverse functionality. As time goes on, these companies will find themselves with a larger and larger advantage over the competition.
CTOs are currently using a metaverse tech stack in different capacities, depending on the company’s size and current needs. Many companies, regardless of the industry they work in, are moving towards having meetings in the metaverse. Other companies are looking at the metaverse as the ideal medium for employee onboarding, training, and organizational learning. Finally, some engineering, manufacturing, and even creative companies use the metaverse to aid in the research and development of designs and prototypes.
The advent of the metaverse came with fortuitous timing. As the COVID pandemic physically separated co-workers, video calling brought them back together. However, many remote workers became frustrated with the difficulties of video calling, lack of eye contact, mono-directional audio, connection issues, and constant refrains of “you’re muted.” Metaverse meetings, however, can eliminate many of the difficulties that have caused video conferencing fatigue among employees.
Microsoft Mesh is one of the market's most advanced metaverse meeting software. This platform allows members to immerse themselves in augmented and virtual reality meetings where professionals from across the globe can meet to collaborate. Mesh uses “Holoportation'' technology, allowing individuals to appear as they are and as if they were in a different physical space. As a result, CTOs would be able to increase engagement among their employees as well as eliminate some costs associated with travel.
Meta Horizons is Meta’s attempt at a similar metaverse meetings technology. Unlike Microsoft, Meta Horizons allows users to meet in an entirely virtual environment. These horizon workrooms use avatars in an environment that appears like an actual conference room. Meta Horizons also use spatial audio, and the avatars even have realistic facial expressions. Additionally, Meta Horizons allows users to project their computer screen into the metaverse so there’s no need to switch between looking at the physical computer and the metaverse meeting.
Gather.town is a low-fi digital workspace reminiscent of early top-view Nintendo video games. This workspace is meant to provide a digital office framework to unite distributed teams. Users’ avatars can approach other users to start a conversation with them, meet in the break room, or even sit at food trucks while eating lunch to break bread together. When a user approaches another user, a video call automatically initiates. The main goal of gather.town is to increase team cohesion among team members who are geographically separated.
Many HR departments are looking to the metaverse to help train new employees as well as to help general organizational learning. CTOs as well as CHROs may be interested in implementing metaverse technology in their businesses to ensure a homogenous training experience for distributed teams. Most recently, Accenture purchased 60,000 VR headsets to begin training employees and new hires. Accenture believes in the power of experiences to bring people together, making their vote of confidence in the metaverse all the more meaningful.
Currently, many of the metaverse programs used by companies like Accenture are proprietary. Any application of training in the metaverse would have to be proprietary since the different SOPs and training materials for each company are vastly different. However, many CTOs and CHROs may want to begin using metaverse meeting software like Microsoft Mesh or Meta Horizons for meetings with distributed teams. These two technologies are perfect for building rapport, conducting seminars, and having conversations that are best done in person.
Research and development for manufacturing and engineering companies is also finding a home in the metaverse. Processes like prototyping, ideation, and design have historically been costly. However, the metaverse not only provides a place for distributed teams to meet with each other, but it can also help them render prototypes and initial designs. This reduces travel costs, as well as engineering and production costs that are often associated with these processes.
Omniverse is an Nvidia platform developed specifically for these kinds of R&D scenarios. Recently, Omniverse added Blender to its platform, which is an open-source 3D animation tool with Universal Scene Depiction support. Pixar created USD technology to develop 3D images for their movies, but several industries have since adopted this new technology for R&D purposes. The actual Omniverse platform allows users from around the world in fields from engineering to art to collaborate on the design and engineering-related projects. This technology has the potential to drastically reduce the geographical barriers that have limited projects and businesses from advancing.
The metaverse holds a world of technological opportunity that CTOs and the rest of the C-suite leadership ought to examine. The metaverse is currently very new, and both businesses and individuals have an excellent opportunity to help form its future. The first step to developing and working in the metaverse is receiving a formal education in the topic, like the Wharton School’s Business in the Metaverse Economy course. The course covers case studies from finance, retail, advertising, entertainment, and other sectors to help students understand the potential in the metaverse. Participants will learn about the current state of the metaverse, active builders, and the economic and technological factors that will drive future development. For more information or to enroll in the metaverse program, visit our information page.
This article is for marketing purposes only and does not intend to represent the opinions of the program.
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