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Enterprise Metaverse Applications (January 12, 2023)

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On Thursday, January 12, 2023, we hosted a Digital Think & Do Tank session together with Excubate, exploring the potential of the enterprise metaverse. This peer-to-peer roundtable brought together senior digital leaders, startups, investors, and technology providers to discuss enterprise metaverse applications, business models, and the challenges of implementation. Featuring insights from Eric Liu, CTO of Virspatial Technologies, the session examined the evolving tech stack, real-world use cases, and the readiness of organizations to adopt metaverse-driven digital transformation.

Key Insights

1. The Enterprise Metaverse: Promise & Challenges

  • The metaverse aims to unify disparate data sources and systems for virtual interaction, but business and security concerns may result in multiple, loosely connected metaverses rather than a single integrated one.
  • While still in its early stages, the enterprise metaverse is being applied in real-world projects such as digital twins of water treatment plants, airports, real estate properties, and infrastructure management.

2. Early Use Cases & Adoption

  • Security Systems: CCTV feeds can be repurposed into digital twins for asset and event monitoring, enabling real-time or forensic analysis.
  • Data Integration: Centralized platforms can integrate CAD files, BIM, GIS, and IoT data, with additional support from AI for automation and analysis.
  • 3D Visualization: Automated tools can convert CAD files into 3D models, offering enhanced data comprehension and decision-making.

3. Challenges & Considerations

  • Data Siloing: Cybersecurity and data control issues often hinder the integration of multiple systems.
  • Latency & Bandwidth: High-bandwidth data transfers in 3D environments push the limits of modern telecommunications. Adoption of 5G will mitigate these challenges.

Breakout Takeaways: The Future of Enterprise Metaverse

1. Building Sustainable Value

  • Data Utilization: Many companies generate vast amounts of data but struggle to derive value due to data silos and inconsistent formats.
  • Incremental Implementation: Companies should start with a small set of use cases that demonstrate clear ROI before expanding metaverse infrastructure.

2. ROI-Driven Development

  • Companies should deploy step-by-step applications with transparent ROI, gradually justifying larger investments in the metaverse.
  • Integrated data sets present opportunities for cross-analysis and new insights, making it increasingly unjustifiable to silo data.

3. Human-Centric Design

  • Large data sets can be overwhelming for human decision-makers. Enhanced visualization tools can improve training, productivity, and operational efficiency.
  • Iterative development is crucial. The metaverse of 2033 will likely differ from current expectations, so organizations should prioritize small-scale experimentation.

Breakout Takeaways: The Future of Work

1. Immersive & Distraction-Free Environments

  • AR/VR environments provide focused workspaces, eliminating common distractions seen in traditional remote work settings.
  • Enterprise metaverse solutions allow for deep engagement, particularly in training, onboarding, and complex simulations.

2. Reimagining Workflows

  • The metaverse should go beyond simply replicating physical offices in a digital space; it should enhance co-presence, collaboration, and operational assessment.
  • Virtual environments enable deeper communication by incorporating body language and spatial interaction.

3. AR vs. VR in the Workplace

  • AR technology offers a more practical adoption path than VR due to its ease of use and ability to augment real-world interactions.
  • Future work environments will increasingly integrate physical, remote, and metaverse-based interactions to suit different collaboration needs.

Conclusion

The enterprise metaverse presents significant potential but must be approached with a focus on ROI, human experience, and scalable adoption. Organizations looking to integrate metaverse technologies should start small, build foundational infrastructure, and iteratively expand their use cases to maximize long-term value.