Next Evolution of eCommerce Through Metaverse Trends

The Metaverse is a playground where people can come together and interact in a completely new way through virtual reality. Some of the world's biggest brands are already experimenting with Metaverse commerce, and it is only a matter of time before this trend goes mainstream.

Here is everything you should know about this upcoming technology and how it will shape the future of eCommerce.

Mark Zuckerberg has famously said that the future of communication will be more like gaming. The Metaverse is exactly that playground, a playground where people can come together and interact in a completely new way through virtual reality.

In the Metaverse, people can use avatars to interact with each other in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).

The digital transformation of businesses across the globe has been incredibly rapid, and the pandemic has only expedited this process. Many companies are now looking to adopt or expand their presence in the Metaverse in order to stay ahead of the curve.

In particular, eCommerce businesses are well-positioned to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the Metaverse. The Metaverse offers a new way for them to interact with their customers and provide an immersive shopping experience.

Some of the world's biggest brands are already experimenting with Metaverse commerce, and it is only a matter of time before this trend goes mainstream.

Here is everything you should know about this upcoming technology and how it will shape the future of eCommerce.

What is Metaverse?

Metaverse is a term for the virtual reality (VR) world that will be created through the convergence of various technologies. The word was first coined by Neal Stephenson in his novel Snow Crash, and has been popularized by the likes of William Gibson and other science fiction authors.

The Metaverse is a 3D virtual world populated by avatars, which are digital representations of people. This world is connected to the internet, and people are able to interact with each other and with digital objects in it. 

There are numerous virtual worlds, such as Second Life and PlayStation Home, where people can create avatars and interact with each other.

Online And Offline Commerce

Today, the online and offline worlds are converging, as shown by the popularity of Pokémon Go and other augmented reality (AR) apps and games.

There is no doubt that the Metaverse will have a huge impact on commerce. With this technology, businesses will be able to create virtual stores and provide an immersive shopping experience for their customers.

To create more cohesive shopping experiences and better understand their customers, businesses will need a presence in both the physical and virtual worlds.

How Can Businesses Make Money in The Metaverse?

There are many ways for businesses to make money in the Metaverse. One way is by selling products and services to users. Businesses can set up virtual stores where users can buy goods and services.

Another way is by selling advertising space to businesses. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as placing ads on virtual billboards or integrating into the environment itself.

There are also opportunities for businesses to generate revenue by creating experiences for users. Businesses can create virtual amusement parks or other entertainment venues.

What Are the Benefits of The Metaverse for Businesses?

The Metaverse offers many benefits for businesses:

1. Increased Customer Engagement

The Metaverse provides a new way for businesses to engage with their customers. With this technology, businesses can create immersive experiences that will engage customers on a whole new level.

2. greater Customer Insights

The Metaverse also offers businesses greater insight into their customers. This is because businesses will be able to track the behavior of users in the virtual world. That will allow them to use the data to better understand the customer's needs and wants.

3. Improved Customer Service

Another benefit is improved customer service. Thanks to Metaverse, businesses will be able to provide more personalized and efficient customer service.

4. Better Branding Opportunities

The Metaverse will have a huge impact on brands. With this technology, brands will be able to create virtual stores and provide an immersive shopping experience for their customers.

5. GAMIFICATION

Gamification is the use of game elements in non-game contexts. The Metaverse will provide a perfect platform for gamification. This will become an integral part of motivating the users.

6. Augmented Reality

Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that overlays digital information in the real world. With this technology, businesses will be able to create virtual products and experiences that are layered on top of the real world.

Traditionally, some products and services have been very hard to sell online. However, with the Metaverse, businesses will be able to create experiences that will make it easier to sell them all online.

Some of the products and services that will be easier to sell in the Metaverse include clothes, shoes, jewellery, furniture, and cars. Not only can people see whether a couch fits their room or not, but they can also enjoy the benefits of the best virtual receptionist services, without even leaving their homes!

7. VIRTUAL Reality

The Metaverse will be the perfect platform to support VR development. Thanks to it, businesses will be able to create realistic and immersive experiences for their customers.

Brands such as Coca-Cola, Nike, and Adidas are already using VR to create experiences for their customers. For example, Coca-Cola created a VR experience that allowed people to explore the world of its iconic beverage. In the future, more brands are expected to follow suit.

8. Hyper-personalization

The Metaverse will allow businesses to create hyper-personalized experiences for their customers. With this technology, businesses will be able to personalize the virtual environment for each individual user. This will allow businesses to create a unique and customized experience for each customer.

Tailoring the business to the needs of an average customer is no longer enough. To stay competitive, businesses need to start catering to the needs of each individual customer. The Metaverse will provide the perfect platform for businesses to do this.

9. ENHANCED SOCIAL COMMERCE

Social Commerce is a platform where people share information and connect with others.

The Metaverse will further develop the concept of social commerce. Creating virtual experiences that are designed to sell products, and services will be one of the main business goals. This will become a powerful marketing tool as it will allow businesses to connect with their customers on a more personal level.

Some of the brands that are already using social commerce include Warby Parker, Sephora, and Birchbox. These brands have created virtual experiences that allow users to try on products, get makeup tips, and discover new products.

10. Increased Profitability

The Metaverse will allow businesses to increase their profitability. People are ready to pay significantly more money for goods and services that are delivered in the Metaverse.

A recent study showed that people are willing to pay up to 40% more for a product tested in 3D. This is because the Metaverse provides a more immersive and realistic experience that is closer to the real world.

11. NFTs

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are digital assets that can be bought, sold, or traded. NFTs will allow businesses to reach a global market and sell their products and services to a larger audience. The Metaverse will provide the perfect platform for businesses to sell NFTs. Some of the brands that are already using NFTs include Warby Parker, Sephora, and Birchbox. 

One instance of an NFT is a virtual fashion show that was held by Louis Vuitton. This event was held in the Metaverse and allowed users to purchase virtual clothes and accessories. In the future, more brands are expected to use NFTs to sell their products and services.

 

The Metaverse Today

Where is this technology currently at? The Metaverse is still in its early stages of development. However, there are already a few platforms that are being developed. Some of the most popular platforms include High Fidelity, Decentraland, and Somnium Space. These platforms are still in their early stages of development and are not yet available to the general public. They are expected to launch in the near future.

Many brands are welcoming the idea of Metaverse and are already preparing for its launch. For instance, Microsoft has recently announced its plans to develop a metaverse platform called Azure Spatial Anchors. Gucci and Roblox have also partnered up to create a metaverse platform called Fashion Island. Benetton, Adidas, and Louis Vuitton have also announced their plans to develop metaverse experiences.

Conclusion

The Metaverse is the next evolution of the internet. It is a virtual world that will allow businesses to create hyper-personalized experiences for their customers.

The Metaverse will also allow businesses to sell products and services to a global market to a larger audience. Even though it is still a new concept, the Metaverse is already being developed by some of the biggest brands in the world.


About Luzern eCommerce

Luzern offers a managed eCommerce platform that optimizes sales, margins and inventory across channels and geographies for leading brands across the globe. We have a proven track record of dramatically growing online revenues for brands and we are trusted by household names such as Philips, Fossil, JDE coffee, Panasonic, Petsafe, HTC and Nestle.

By using our deep expertise and technology, we extend your eCommerce capabilities to attract and convert buyers, boost margins and improve customers’ experience of your brand. Our technology enables us to excel at the execution-end of eCommerce, bringing you speed and agility across channels (Amazon & other marketplaces, D2C) and geographies. 

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Author's bio: Harold Ader is a digital marketing specialist and blogger from Manchester, writing exclusively for DigitalStrategyOne. In his spare time, you can find him in the garden or kitchen.

 

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