Foreword: what the metaverse means for businesses
At GlobalData, we define a theme as any issue that keeps a business leader awake at night. Companies are impacted by multiple themes that frequently conflict with one another. What is needed is an effective methodology that reflects, understands, and reconciles these conflicts.
Our thematic research ecosystem is a single, integrated global research platform that provides an easy-to-use framework for tracking all themes across all companies in all sectors. Viewing the world’s data by themes makes it easier to make critical decisions. Companies that invest in the right themes become success stories. Those that miss the essential themes in their industry end up as failures.
The metaverse is a virtual world where users share experiences and interact in real-time within simulated scenarios. It is still largely conceptual but could transform how people work, shop, communicate, and consume content.
The metaverse brings together a range of next-generation technologies from cloud computing to artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, cryptocurrencies, cybersecurity, the Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and digital twins. It will make digital media experiences more immersive, inclusive, and accessible than today, but it will raise social concerns ranging from data privacy to other forms of online harm.
The hype around the metaverse primarily focuses on consumer use cases. Gaming and social media companies are at the vanguard of metaverse development, but enterprises will lead the way in the next three years. This shift will be driven by the future of work and digital transformation initiatives ongoing across sectors ranging from retail to healthcare and financial services.
