How will the metaverse change office design?

How will the metaverse change office design – tl;dr

• The metaverse is like a supercharged Internet. A digital realm that coexists with our real world. It’s a virtual space made intuitive and immersive by VR, AR, and other advanced technologies. Tech that blends the digital and physical planes into one reality. Leading thinkers expect the metaverse to slowly change the face of work, affording more personable and immediate connections via video conference and more authentic remote collaboration through 3D holographic capabilities and the like.

• 58% of businesses have implemented some form of the metaverse in their organization. Yet, only 1 in 5 tech employees say metaverse technologies are available in their work. And nearly half of employees under 40 expect to do a fair share of their work in the metaverse within the next few years.

• Though the potential is awesome, the challenges of fully remote working in the metaverse are equally significant. Insufficient work-life boundaries, loneliness, and time management struggle top the list. Furthermore, the lack of private workspaces in the home makes the prospect of full-time virtual working in a metaverse workspace undesirable for many. Thus, the office should be equipped with excellent work and meeting spaces like Hushoffice pods. Spaces that facilitate the social functions of work, giving work the human element that makes it enjoyable and productive.

Only 1 in 5 tech employees say metaverse tech is available at their job.

But, according to Microsoft’s 2022 Work Trends Index, about 50% of employees under 40 expect to do a fair share of their work in the metaverse within the next few years. In fact, today, 58% of businesses have piloted a metaverse at work. All to say the metaverse is inevitable.

What is the metaverse?

Imagine a world where reality blurs with the virtual, where the boundaries between physical and digital existence become indistinguishable. A metaverse — the concept that has ignited imagination among tech enthusiasts, futurists, creatives, and the sort. At its core, it is a collective virtual space, a realm where the physical and digital merge into an enveloping and interconnected universe

– says Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

The metaverse is a more immersive version of the Internet. It’s a digital place parallel to the physical world — a shared virtual space that is interactive and hyper-realistic. This 3-D-enabled space uses VR, AR, and other advanced tech to enable more lifelike personal and business experiences online.

The metaverse means different things to different people.

Some believe it’s a digital playground for friends. Others think it has the potential to be a commercial space for companies and customers. Others, a remote workspace that progresses the way we collaborate, making hybrid working sing.

According to McKinsey’s in-depth research, the metaverse will be marked by three features.

These are a sense of immersion, real-time interactivity, and user agency. To drive the metaverse, they say, will be platforms and devices that work together seamlessly, interaction among thousands of people simultaneously, and a multitude of use cases including the workplace.

The metaverse is facilitated by a mix of modern technologies.

Virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, 5G, blockchain, digital currencies, and artificial intelligence are included within it. Tools that simplify fluid navigation across the physical and digital planes are driving the metaverse’s creation.

The metaverse isn’t about escaping reality.

It’s about “embracing and augmenting reality.” Experts say the metaverse’s content experiences will make work and life more fulfilling, fostering a greater connection to loved ones and allowing for more productivity at work. In fact, some argue the metaverse is all about community.

In a 2022 PwC survey, 66% of companies were actively engaged in the metaverse.

In addition, 82% said they expected metaverse plans to be part of their business activities within three years.

So how can metaverse be implemented in the office and at work?

“…employers are using the metaverse to improve onboarding and training… collaborating and interacting in new ways. While business leaders aren’t sure of what lies ahead, they recognize that the metaverse has the potential to change — and improve — the way business and work is done,” says SHRM.

Gartner predicts that 25% of people will spend at least one hour per day in the metaverse by 2026. Their team sees the metaverse allowing companies to provide better engagement, collaboration, and connection to employees through the immersive workspaces of virtual offices. What else?

Indeed, the metaverse holds immense potential for transforming the workplace.

According to PwC’s 2022 US Metaverse Survey, anticipated applications for the metaverse at work range from customer support to talent recruitment. Of course, much of the technology involved is still in the early stages — only time will tell how the metaverse will change our ways.

42% of PwC’s metaverse survey respondents want to use the metaverse to provide onboarding and training. 36%, to interact with colleagues. 35%, to engage with customer-facing staff. 29%, to offer try-before-you-buy experiences and 28%, to provide exclusive products and services. Interestingly, 25% said they would like to use the metaverse to sell digital versions of current merchandise. The likely uses are many

– says Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

An important caveat: “real life” is the essential temper in a metaverse world.

The challenges of a metaverse work world are considerable. Blurred work-life boundaries, isolation, and time management difficulties top the list. The lack of private workspaces in the home makes the prospect of full-time virtual working in a metaverse future disagreeable for many employees.

It is plain to see that the office will be a vital complement to remote, digital working, should a metaverse work world take form. It physically delineates a divide between work and life. Its everyday social bustle takes the edge off monotonous computer work. In the best cases, it is functionally apt, perfected for focused work with an abundance of private workspaces such as pods. By these measures, the workplace will remain a complement to virtual working. More so, it will become a more cherished complement, the more virtual work gets

– adds Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

A remote work structure that leaves employees as strangers diminishes company culture.

Work friendships increase productivity. And belonging boosts commitment and engagement. Though tools such as VR video calls can promote both by making digital meetings feel more real, nothing beats the real thing. The natural, linear flow of life in real-time is meditative and necessary for people.

Read: Digital mindfulness is a matter of well-being

Hushoffice pods, a key connection point in a metaverse workplace.

There is no way around the human need for face-to-face socialization. But in a hybrid world, the office is an unpredictable landscape of come-and-go employees. Where can teammates connect or make calls? Environments of privacy, peacefulness, and stability are needed. We recommend pods. Every pod in our Hushoffice pods is fully featured, comfortably furnished, perfectly acoustic, with premium speech privacy, and offers the pleasant and reassuring freedom of a sovereign space

– says Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

Consider the basics: the hushPhone office call booth, the hushMeet 4-person meeting booth, and the hushAccess.L large conference cabin for 6. Hushoffice pods fulfill the need for real connection within metaverse world.

How will the metaverse change office design – summary

• The metaverse is like a supercharged Internet. A digital realm that coexists with our real world. It’s a virtual space made intuitive and immersive by VR, AR, and other advanced technologies. Tech that blends the digital and physical planes into one reality. Leading thinkers expect the metaverse to slowly change the face of work, affording more personable and immediate connections via video conference and more authentic remote collaboration through 3D holographic capabilities and the like.

• 58% of businesses have implemented some form of the metaverse in their organization. Yet, only 1 in 5 tech employees say metaverse technologies are available in their work. And nearly half of employees under 40 expect to do a fair share of their work in the metaverse within the next few years.

• Though the potential is awesome, the challenges of fully remote working in the metaverse are equally significant. Insufficient work-life boundaries, loneliness, and time management struggle top the list. Furthermore, the lack of private workspaces in the home makes the prospect of full-time virtual working in a metaverse workspace undesirable for many. Thus, the office should be equipped with excellent work and meeting spaces like Hushoffice pods. Spaces that facilitate the social functions of work, giving work the human element that makes it enjoyable and productive.

Metaverse and office design – frequently asked questions

How can metaverse be used in the workplace?

For immersive virtual meetings, letting employees collaborate in a shared and intuitive digital space. To enhance training through realistic simulations. To create more engaging online environments for brainstorming and problem-solving. Perhaps most excitingly, the metaverse can provide a platform for marketing, customer engagement, and product demonstrations, helping companies reach new people in creative ways.

Is the metaverse really the future of work?

The metaverse may revolutionize teamwork, training, and video meetings. But its adoption into everyday work faces challenges, from technological to cultural. So though it is predicted to generate up to $5 trillion by 2030, whether it becomes the dominant paradigm for all forms of work remains uncertain. Even so, 58% of businesses have piloted a metaverse at work. And about half of employees under 40 expect to do a portion of their work in the metaverse in the next few years.

Why is metaverse important for companies?

The metaverse offers a global platform for better collaboration, cost-effective training, and more innovative problem-solving. It enables businesses to engage with customers in novel ways. And to potentially gain an edge. It can reduce real estate costs and improve work-life balance. Companies that navigate its hurdles (privacy, security, seclusion, etc.) may harness the metaverse. They may improve operations, boost innovation, and engage with stakeholders in unforeseen ways.