Some of the biggest technology companies in the world have promised to take global connectivity to the next level with The Metaverse. The best way I’ve found to describe “The Metaverse” is
“A virtual world where a lot of people can meet to play, work, or get to know each other.”
But, hold on. Doesn’t something like this already exist? It’s called The Internet.
The Metaverse Development promises something new, something that brings the digital world into the real world and the real world into the digital world.
With LiDAR 3D scanners on phones, VR headsets becoming more popular, over 7 billion devices able to instantly render high-quality 3D experiences, and 5G delivering insane download and latency speeds, brands now have a unique chance to make their mark on The Metaverse. So, what are the benefits for consumers and brands that will make The Metaverse popular now and for a long time to come?
Best Ways for Brands to Grow and Change in the Metaverse
vStores:
Virtual Showrooms, or vStores, let customers take tours of any space or facility and interact with all kinds of objects, from a full catalogue of industrial machines to small tools or engineering processes. This can be used to see and interact with any retail product in 3D, including cars, clothes, jewellery, and even NFT digital assets.
Product sales training:
The Samsung Note 20 is a good example of how product demos and sales training are almost the same and can be made once and used over and over again in an organisation.
Advanced 3D data and analytics:
Before now, we could only collect data in two dimensions. By adding the Z-dimension, global consumer behaviour can be shown on “heat maps” in real time. Data’s future has arrived, and it’s in 3D.
Customizers and Configurators:
Like the Nike example, this live demo lets people set up their perfect G-Wagon. Try it!
Trying out new designs and colour combinations:
This proof-of-concept shows how people can make their own perfect show. Business intelligence tools can be directly linked to the information learned from this experience. Give it a try!
Gamified Commerce:
Balenciaga released its Fall 2021 collection as an online video game called Afterworld: The Age of Tomorrow. The brand comes to life in a fully 3D, interactive way in the dystopian game.
Social Gaming Product Partnership:
Step into the world of luxury fashion and experience a one-of-a-kind, interactive virtual exhibit based on Gucci Garden Archetypes, an immersive multimedia experience that explores and celebrates the Gucci brand.
Connect Data Directly to Business Intelligence Tools:
The global head of XR at Oracle shows how the web-based MetaVRse Engine connects instantly and smoothly to their Maxymiser business intelligence tool.
Increase conversion rates:
Shopify has been talking about the benefits of 3D for years and has built a large network of suppliers to help their merchants move into this new medium. In this CODE talk, Shopify’s head of XR talks about how XR can help retailers and brands now and in the future.
The creator economy is growing at an exponential rate:
Before they turn 21, the average American has spent more than 10,000 hours playing video games, which is three times more time than they’ve spent reading books. We need to use technology and marketing to make the world a better place. Any brand’s goal is to get people everywhere to use their creativity. People who want to live in rural areas again and use things like Starlink to stay in touch dream of making money in the Metaverse.
Virtual photoshoots:
75 percent of the “photography” you see in an IKEA catalog is computer-generated imagery (CGI). Pictures are not pictures. Most of the “photos” in IKEA catalogs have been replaced by CGI renderings, which show everything from the furniture to the beautiful light on the countertops and wood floors.
Better for the environment:
Fewer returns, less travel, and fewer prototypes and samples in the real world. This is good for your business and even better for the environment.
How will the Metaverse help consumers and brands in the future?
Real-Time Customer Service:
Imagine having both real and AI-driven customer service avatars answer your customers’ questions right away, in real time. This is the best way to help customers.
Build stronger emotional relationships. Shopping is a visceral experience that connects people to the brands they love. Most of the time, eCommerce is more about getting things done than about the experience. With The Metaverse, you can connect with your customers in ways that will last.
Interactive vs. Passive Content:
Only 3% of the content on the internet is “interactive,” which means that everything else is just something you watch (photos, videos, endless scrolling). Interactive content lets you look around and find out more about yourself. This is where the internet is going.
Restock the whole store with just one click – You don’t have to design a store in CAD, build a physical “demo” store, test it, and then build it out. Instead, you just click “publish,” and your whole virtual storefront is instantly re-configured. You will also get feedback on your new designs right away, so you can make changes right away.
Also Read This: How to Setup a Virtual Store in the Metaverse?
Why offer the same thing that everyone else does? With The Metaverse, you can think outside the box and sell things online that you never thought would be possible. You can make a virtual experience for any product you can think of.
Social eCommerce:
It’s fine to shop by yourself, but it’s magical to shop with friends. What do you do when your friends live in different parts of the world? Share any Metaverse experience with friends as avatars and feel the rush of finding new products together.
Brands that use XR and Metaverse technologies are seen as “innovative,” “forward-thinking,” and “cool” by the rest of the world. What does your brand mean to the people who buy it?
Let customers “try” a product before they buy it by giving them a 3D preview of it – 3D product views give customers a better idea of what your products look like. For example, you can try on makeup, glasses, and jewelry virtually, and you can see products in your home or office.
Show more information about the products being shown:
Why only show pictures of the outside of your products if the best part is what’s inside? Take people on a journey through your product, from the size of a galaxy to the size of a molecule. You can do anything in The Metaverse.
Visualize product catalogs – Photoshoots are so pre-pandemic! When you use virtual photoshoots, you save money, open up a lot of doors, and can retake any product shots right away without having to set up the whole photoshoot thing.
No write-offs for displays:
Physical displays cost real money and are hard to edit or change once they are made. Digital displays let you make as many changes as you want at any time with no waste.
Make things that can only be done virtually – Want to fly to the moon and back? Want to go scuba diving? Where do you think your product would really shine? You can build anything you want in the Metaverse, which is infinite.
Personalized service for a large number of people:
With AI and Avatars, you’ll be able to give personalized service from a one-to-many model that makes the customer feel like you’re talking to them one-on-one. This is the best customer service in the whole world.
Real-time analytics makes a big difference. You can get closer to the brand panacea of just-in-time, hyper-personalized retail experiences on a global scale with endless possibilities by using real-time analytics and combining them with holistic consumer insights from your entire omnichannel operations.
Selling with Virtual Reality:
The Oculus Quest 2 is a self-contained unit that costs an amazing $299. It has very good visual performance, spatial sound, and great hand tracking. The headset can work with compelling business applications for product demos or virtual showrooms. A Quest 2 headset can be sent to a client for less than the cost of a salesperson’s visit and used to show off a product in a much more interesting way than a typical video or slideshow.
Final Words:
The Metaverse Store Setup lets you use the power of exponential technologies to give your customers more value at a large scale. You are in charge of how this new way of communicating is used. As honest marketers, it’s up to you to make the future what you want it to be. Make a world you’ll be proud to tell your grandchildren you helped build. It’s up to you how you use this amazing new technology. I hope you use it to help people.