Zoom is one thing, but augmented reality in the office is quite another. One of the results of the global pandemic was the increase of virtual work. Many employees are now working from home. And many of these remote workers want to keep it that way. To be fair, companies are now seeing the benefit of having a remote workforce, though there are exceptions. Using Zoom or Teams or other online communication tools has really improved, but we can hardly say that this kind of office communication is optimal. So skip ahead to the future.
The metaverse is “the next big thing,” according to technology futurists.
“Companies can now embrace “work” in a variety of ways to build belonging and foster a culture of connection, community, creativity, and productivity. In fact, those who want the most innovative, diverse, and exceptional talent must know how to collaborate and leverage technology for a multitude of arrangements and employee realities at any given time.”
Val Vacante, Fortune
According to Vikram Vahuja of the Forbes Business Council, “The metaverse is pitched as an alternate virtual or mixed world that augments our own where avatars take the place of physical bodies. Virtual reality allows us to create unique simulations of the real world and enhance it by overlaying virtual objects. Themes of what the Metaverse is and what it could be are still emerging. It is not limited to a single meta world but many virtual worlds that have the potential to transform social interactions.”
How does this work in the workplace?
Vahuja explains that in “a dispersed, distributed and remote world, virtual tools and avatars can help create bespoke experiences to improve the employee lifecycle and strengthen communities. They can also take onboarding to a whole new level. The metaverse has the potential to allow recruiters to conduct meaningful observations and assessments throughout a candidate’s journey.”
The benefits of having a workforce connecting through metaverse environments involve the hiring process, onboarding, and collaboration. It aims to benefit candidates, hiring managers, employees and leadership.
For example, “Companies like Capgemini and Hirect recently conducted successful job fairs in the meta-world. Attendees were able to create their avatars, don VR headsets and join the event via their web browsers. The biggest advantage of virtual hiring is that it allows recruiters to interview and evaluate candidates in real time. Technology allows you to present company portfolios in virtual lobbies and through holographic presentations.”
It seems like science fiction now, but real-time testing is already upon us. How long will it take before most employers use metaverse technology to conduct much of their business? Years to be certain, but don’t be surprised if you are asked to participate in this state-of-the-art process during your next interview.
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