You might probably see this as a “gimmick”, a top tier bank announcing its interest in an alleged “technology for the near future”. But consider this, collaboration in virtual worlds, the various #metaverse, even with the limited technology competency, is a promising use case.
Collaborations in the form of events, trainings, meetings is being considered as one of the key use cases for #metaverse beyond #digitalassets, #gaming, #immersive #commerce for banking and beyond. But there are many more use cases that have not even been conceived yet.
The experience today in these virtual worlds is lukewarm at best, specially with non – VR enabled devices like a laptop or mobile. The hardware technology and consumption through it is in its infancy, but it will progress like any other and with it the experience will evolve as well.
When you imagine the end state (or something close to it), it gives you hope. Hope for the tremendous impact it can have on connecting the world, reducing (maybe not eliminating) the carbon footprint (travelling etc.) without compromising on the personal experience). Creators of many science fiction movies have definitely stretched the envelope of imagination in this direction.
I believe either the world will move to virtual reality or we #augment the real world with virtual elements(#augmentedreality). In any case the digital worlds that we experience today will evolve, and metaverse is a promising path to evolution.
There is much to be said about “following your customer” and improving the customer journey. But what sort of users are in these virtual worlds ?
Most likely you will not find the traditional banking customers, the customer segment here is very niche, gamers who play and earn, corporations with some interest in unregulated currencies, #crypto (exchanges, networks etc.) or other #decentralized concepts.
#metaverse (all kinds) are being seen as a new interaction channel with new segments of customers and also the existing customers who most likely will move (eventually at some point…, don’t ask me to take out my crystal ball please) .
The hardware to support these interactions is improving as well, with Meta leading the way (Oculus VR). As the hardware improves, so will the level of consumption of information, and these virtual worlds have a lot of information.
Interestingly banks are also looking at using the virtual worlds as a place to incorporate and develop talent. This is something right out of #edtech‘s GTM page.
Internal collaborations in #metaverse is also an interesting use case, beats Microsoft teams and slack if you ask me.
CaixaBank is exploring the metaverse with Microsoft, other banks like JPMorgan Chase & Co. with their blockchain arm Onyx. has been a trailblazer for the banks. Countries like #japan is building laws around these technologies.
A promise of a better multi-dimensional interaction that metaverse offers even in its current form, is quite disruptive. I believe as the technology improves and genuine uses cases to improve the customer journey are invented, #metaverse will present a strong step in the evolution of consumption of information.
At the end of the day, this is what it really is about, “consumption of information”, it was the internet with web1, web2 and now the decentralized #web3 or #web5 depends who you ask. Then with mobiles it became better and now the virtual and augmented reality approach is set to take another step in the evolution.
You can’t help but think about all the science fiction books and movies and their interpretation of the future, where the real world is just a “plug” and all the “living” is done in the virtual world.
“Mind” can be easily deceived into believing things that are not real, but I believe our vulnerabilities makes us who we are.