While the term “metaverse” was coined 30 years ago, it is still being defined, and its potential to unleash the next wave of technological disruption seems increasingly clear, with real-life benefits already emerging for early adopters. Technologists, marketers and experience designers from the corporate world are among those exploring the potential and current use cases. 

If 2022 was the year of building capability, with several service providers offering their clients a buffet table filled with “free lunch” metaverse experiments, then 2023 will be a year to convert these expectations into fulfillment. So what are the likely fast routes to value in a market already worth $50 billion?

This HFS roundtable will be an eclectic mix of technology leaders and marketing and experience designers and will address how the metaverse is impacting customer and employee strategy in areas such as:  

• Non fungible tokens (NFTs) – from digital fashion items to metaverse real estate.
• Private and public metaverses (such as Decentraland, Roblox and Minecraft). As well as related events eg Metaverse Fashion Week.
• Augmented Reality (AR) supplemented guidance, inspiring and interacting with real-world consumers to engage and transact. Virtual Reality (VR) -immersion and how it drives conversation.
• Digital twins: Supporting data analytics, product and customer journey development, and experience design. 
• Employee experience (EX) applications such as training, hybrid working, and remote collaboration.