Home / Meetings In The Metaverse | 2022 Guide
Corporate metaverses
Imagine meeting in the metaverse – teams developing the next big thing, holding product launch events, closing sales, supporting customers, and managing human resource needs. The next evolution in engaging experiences, the metaverse’s impact on business is broad and deep. It’s changing the way we do everything.
“The ways in which we work and play have changed forever, and the metaverse will significantly disrupt how people and brands interact and engage. Almost every CMO and HR leader we talk to is looking for ways to harness the power of the metaverse, and to drive new engagement paradigms with their customers, employees and partners. New use cases and opportunities are rapidly forming, and the possibilities are endless,” Yaron Lipshitz, Allseated CEO, said.
From operations, HR and innovation, to marketing, sales and customer support, the metaverse will drive every aspect of your business. Business in the metaverse means moving beyond the limitations of basic 2D video communication. A corporate metaverse means teams, partners and customers can connect, communicate and collaborate through intentionally designed experiences in fully customized, 3D digital workplaces.
This guide:
- Contrasts 2D and 3D meeting delivery
- Describes what meetings in the metaverse look like and how they run
- Highlights features for SMBs/SMEs and large enterprises
- Discusses who’s using the metaverse
Virtual reality business meetings: delivering meetings in 2D vs. 3D
2D
Two components missing in a world where remote work is the new normal are a sense of presence and the idea of belonging. Generally, it’s the intangibles that technology hasn’t serviced, and the tangibles have been, really, just slightly evolved.
Phones have existed for around 100 years. Then came 2D video combining basic communication and the ability to read each other’s social and visual cues. 2D video platforms such as Zoom and Skype, along with project management tools like Microsoft Teams, work OK for quick, basic communication, but they don’t support intentionally designed experiences. As a result, complaints about “Zoom Fatigue” abound because it’s a flat experience with no way for people to connect and interact naturally. There’s no way to spontaneously have a conversation or move from place-to-place as when meeting together in a physical space.
3D
Historically, in a sales environment, people have gone to a lot of trouble to physically be in front of someone with whom they want to do business. When you have a sense of presence with someone, you accelerate trust.
3D is about adding another dimension to how people come together and communicate virtually. A cornerstone of the metaverse, 3D provides a sense of belonging. Virtual reality technology has given
organizations the ability to scale that sense of presence, of belonging, because teams are in a shared environment where they can connect and collaborate as if they were physically meeting.
While digital workplaces aren’t completely replacing physically meeting together, the world has changed to a remote world, and there’s no going back. That said, remote interaction could be better. In 2D business meetings, team members can talk to each other, but there’s no meaningful experiences to help them connect. Doing business in the metaverse means now you have meetings in 3D digital workplaces specifically created for intentionally designed experiences. The 3D environment of the metaverse offers opportunities for unplanned conversations, where things happen organically. Teams and individuals experience real connection, a feeling of belonging and community as they engage and move around naturally in a virtual world that mirrors the physical world.
What do meetings in the metaverse look like?
Meetings held in the metaverse look like meetings you physically attend in-person. The big difference is the delivery method. You’re moving from being on-site in a traditional setting or communicating over 2D video (both with complex limitations) to delivery in a digital workplace, which offers more creative flexibility, allows freedom to move, fosters spontaneous conversation, and builds trust.
The advantages of the metaverse
In the metaverse:
- Connect with people in unique ways
- Engage naturally with people 1-on-1 or bring people together in groups
- Share information and media in real time.
- Move quickly from one space to another with self-guided navigation
- Access the metaverse from anywhere through a reliable Internet connection
Benefits of the metaverse for teams
As they would in physical spaces, internal teams can create together, and external teams can connect with leads and customers in the metaverse. Create unique, team-specific spaces that help:
- Facilitate organic, natural interaction
- Drive creativity
- Focus on achieving team/business unit goals in support of larger organizational goals
Creative freedom in the metaverse
An organization isn’t static, neither is its metaverse. As an organization’s needs change, so does its metaverse. 3D virtual reality meeting rooms are a great place to start. Imagine in one room, an HR team is holding a training session. In the next room, the marketing team is hosting a product launch event. In another room, the sales team is closing a sale. It’s easy to expand from a few meeting rooms to a comprehensive digital office environment including a boardroom, corporate events spaces, team rooms, and office spaces for individual team members. Enjoy creative freedom. Duplicate a physical corporate office space or create something totally new.
How do you run meetings in the metaverse?
Running meetings in the metaverse is different than running a meeting in a 2D space. In a linear 2D environment, people must consume content in one space and then consume content in the next space. There’s no freedom of movement, no choice, no real way to connect with each other.
Alternatively, the 3D environment of the metaverse gives options. Meetings are much more fluid and offer freedom of movement. Team members can go into different spaces and contribute to different conversations. Start in one place, then move to the next space that serves them best or where they can contribute the most. The metaverse allows them to move around at will and connect anywhere.
Content works the same way. Teams can share information and media in real time, providing content anywhere in the metaverse. Outside of meeting spaces, for example, it’s easy to offer content to watch or read in preparation for a meeting.
In a 2D virtual space, team members having a series of meetings must attend each meeting in its entirety. On the other hand, holding meetings in a corporate metaverse gives the flexibility to float between concurrent meetings, listen to what people are saying, contribute as necessary, and move to the next meeting. That way team members can cross-pollinate many different conversations with new ideas, enabling them to use their time wisely.
Metaverse features for SMBs and SMEs vs Enterprise
Why should SMBs set up a virtual office?
Small and Medium-Sized Businesses/Enterprises (SMBs/SMEs) have fewer assets. They must do more with less. They compete with large enterprises. SMBs’ competitive advantage over large enterprise lies in their speed. They’re much faster. To maintain competitive advantage, SMBs need to connect more effectively within in their organizations.
While SMBs, generally, don’t struggle with silos, as they work more through 2D virtual environments, siloing will become a problem. Setting up a corporate metaverse (such as a comprehensive digital office environment) will help SMBs maintain their strengths and prevent the silo pitfalls larger organizations experience.
Why should large enterprise organizations set up a virtual office?
For large enterprise organizations, with so many tools and resources at their disposal, it’s easy for them to become siloed. 2D platforms, which are popular now, do nothing to solve the problem of silos. In fact, 2D platforms reinforce silos as they come together through a lack of connectivity between departments.
In 2D scenarios, there’s no ability to be in a meeting with the marketing team and look down the hall and see the sales team or walk past the sales team office and hear a conversation. There’s no possibility of an open door for a team member, manager, director or a CEO. You can’t do any of those things spontaneously in a 2D environment. On the other hand, 3D environments (such as metaverse-based digital office setups) do a great job of breaking down silos, enabling and encouraging spontaneous conversation. Departments will connect and share more effectively, reducing duplication of work and ensuring alignment with overarching business requirements.
Who’s using the metaverse for meetings?
Key metaverse users include executive and director-level leaders and their teams:
Operations
For operations teams, drivers include supporting business requirements and maintaining operational efficiency. Sample use cases include:
- Individual, Team, Business Unit Meetings
- Operations Education/Training Sessions
Human Resources
For human resource teams, it’s about keeping the team members happy and engaged wherever they work to maintain a thriving workplace. Drivers include promoting a healthy culture, satisfying and retaining employees and attracting top talent. Sample use cases:
- Recruiting/Job Fairs
- Interviews
- Onboarding
- Benefits Management
- Social and Cultural Events
- Individual, Team, Business Unit, All-hands Meetings
- HR Education/Training Sessions
Innovation
For innovation (R&D teams), it’s about empowering new ways of thinking, creating new methods for generating unique ideas, encouraging spontaneous interactions to enhance creativity, and streamlining business processes. Drivers include turning great ideas into effective solutions. Sample use cases include:
- Product Ideation
- Product Design
- Product Testing/Demos
- Individual, Team, Business Unit Meetings
- R&D Education/Training Sessions
Marketing
For marketing teams, it’s about overcoming current technology limitations, empowering the team with the digital tools to grow the brand. Drivers include, positioning the brand, growing the pipeline, and driving revenue. Sample use cases include:
- Leads and Segment Events
- Product Launch Events
- Fan/Customer Experience Events
- Partnership Exercises
- Individual, Team, Business Unit Meetings
- Marketing Education/Training Sessions
Sales
For sales teams, it’s about accelerating sales in a digital-first environment, giving teams the tools to connect with and convert leads. Drivers include optimizing the team, profitability, retaining clients, and driving revenue. Sample use cases include:
- Guided, Intentionally Designed Sales Experiences
- Lead Qualifying Educational Events
- Fan/Customer Experience Events
- Product/Service Enhancement Demos
- Client Appreciation Events
- Individual, Team, Business Unit Meetings
- Sales Education/Training Sessions
Customer Service
For customer service teams, it’s about ensuring customers get the most out of the products they purchase. Drivers include maintaining customer satisfaction after the sale. Sample use cases include:
- Platform Support
- Customer Training
- Customer Feedback
- Individual, Team, Business Unit Meetings
- Customer Support Education/Training Sessions
Welcome to meetings in the metaverse with Meetaverse
Yes, there’s talk about Facebook and Microsoft metaverses and, according to Bill Gates in a 2021 VRScout article, “Most work meetings will happen in the metaverse in 3 years.”
However, your organization doesn’t need to wait. Your corporate metaverse is available now. Allseated has been on the cutting edge of virtual technology for years, pioneering the use of immersive virtual environments to plan, sell, and execute events virtually. Since the pandemic, Allseated has powered virtual and hybrid events for some of the world’s leading corporations. Now, Allseated is using its award-winning technology to allow companies to build and use corporate metaverses today.
Welcome to Meetaverse, your corporate metaverse solution. Embrace the next evolution in engaging experiences. Provide a natural extension of your brand experience online. Meet, communicate and collaborate in fully customizable digital workplaces. Imagine in one room, your HR team is facilitating group trainings. In another room, your marketing team is hosting a product launch event. Next door, your sales team is doing a group product demo. Hold office meetings with leads, clients, partners, and internal teams. Build your own spaces or choose from a library of pre-built spaces to suit your needs. Provide your own fully customized, intentionally designed experiences that bring people together.
Your metaverse is waiting. Meetaverse™ offers:
- Fully customizable design, branding, and content delivery options
- Flexible, 1-on-1, and group engagement
- Easy, self-guided navigation
- Session recording
Start your corporate metaverse today with Meetaverse. Schedule a Demo.
FAQs:
What is a digital office space?
A digital office space is a 3D virtual environment you create to connect, share information and collaborate as you would in a physical office space. In MeetaverseTM, Design spaces to mimic an existing physical space or create something totally new.
How do I keep employees engaged in virtual meetings?
In the 3D environment of MeetaverseTM, experiences happen organically, encouraging real connection, feelings of belonging and community as you engage and move around naturally in a virtual world that mirrors the physical world.
How do I create my own avatar?
Just answer a few design questions, and MeetaverseTM creates your avatar for you.
What do I need for a virtual meeting?
All you need is a reliable Internet connection, your MeetaverseTM meeting space and your imagination.
Who is using Meetaverse™ for meetings?
Sample metaverse use cases include an organization’s executive and director-level leaders and their teams across operations, human resources, innovation, marketing, sales. and customer support.
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