The metaverse is a virtual world that is still in development, but it has the potential to change the way we work.
The metaverse—it’s not a sci-fi concept anymore! People are now working in virtual offices in the metaverse. It is a cloud-based, immersive social environment in which 3D avatars interact with one another. You could be on a beach in Thailand and still be able to attend that important meeting with your colleagues in the metaverse—work can take place wherever you are located. This freedom opens up many possibilities for businesses, as employees can now work from anywhere without sacrificing productivity.
Let’s take a look at the changes the metaverse is bringing to the workplace:
Work in a virtual workspace
Traditionally, employees work at their desks or collaborate with colleagues in a physical office. With the help of virtual reality (VR) headsets and software, employees who are part of a hybrid workforce (working partly at the physical workplace and partly remotely) will be able to meet and collaborate in virtual spaces across distances. In a metaverse, employees can be transported into a digital space where they can explore their workspace through core technologies, like VR, augmented reality (AR) and extended reality (XR). Together with motion capture and spatial audio technology, we will be blurring the line between the real and virtual realms.
Global professional services company Accenture is one of the first major multinationals to adopt virtual workplaces. The Nth Floor by Accenture, based on Microsoft’s Mesh application, allows users to display “shared experiences” from various devices, like VR headsets, smartphones and laptops. The firm utilizes the Nth floor for training sessions, presentations and even socializing.
In a year-end post on his blog, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates wrote, “Within the next two or three years, I predict most virtual meetings will move from 2D camera image grids…to the metaverse, a 3D space with digital avatars.” In the metaverse, people will have avatars that look like them and can interact with others in real-time. The technology is comparable to video games, such as Fortnite and Roblox, in which millions of users are interacting and playing with each other in their massive metaverses.
Immersive training sessions and remote recruitment
Besides facilitating the pandemic-driven remote or hybrid work style, the metaverse will also be used to train employees and help them pick up new skills as well as for remote hiring and onboarding.
According to PwC 2021 survey, VR can assist business executives in upskilling their staff more quickly, despite shrinking training budgets and limited face-to-face training opportunities due to the pandemic. By reducing the need for travel and in-person interactions, VR can help businesses save money on training costs while still providing job training sessions for employees. Some of the skill areas that can be taught or practiced with VR include the handling of emergencies or risky tasks (such as handling a fire accident) and soft skills (such as resolving a customer’s complaint).
On recruitment, we are no strangers to doing remote job interviews on Zoom or Microsoft Teams anymore, thanks to the pandemic. Although that serves the purpose of a job interview, talking to a screen still feels impersonal, less engaging and exhausting. With the metaverse and VR technology, we can improve the recruiting experience. For instance, employers can test a candidate’s skills in a virtual working environment and conduct VR simulations or tours for candidates to explore the virtual office. This could also help candidates understand the work environment and the team better.
Make way for new opportunities
What if you could have a job that didn’t exist just a few years ago? Sounds like something out of a science fiction novel, but it’s a reality in today’s ever-changing landscape of work. The metaverse is bringing an opportunity for change and growth in work.
According to the Bankless Times, Google’s search interest in metaverse jobs has risen by 938 percent over the last six months. As more businesses are interested in exploring virtual reality technology, there will be a growing need for metaverse specialists, such as research scientists, storytellers safety managers, and even event planners to create and manage virtual spaces.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg—with the metaverse still in its infancy, there’s no telling what brand-new jobs will be created in the years to come.
It’s clear that the metaverse is going to have a big impact on the future of the workspace. With its immersive and interactive features, it has the potential to completely change the way we work and collaborate. Whether you’re looking for a more efficient way to work or a more engaging way to learn, the metaverse is worth exploring.
Also read:
- What Are the Job Opportunities in the Metaverse?
- Why Is the Metaverse Important for Your Brand?
- Virtual Office in the Metaverse – the Accenture Nth Floor
Header image courtesy of Pexels
