Technology evolves at a rapidly changing rate. Many utilities are now taking a breath after upgrading legacy systems to digital solutions. However, the pause will not last long. The metaverse is emerging, and its impact also promises to be profound.
The metaverse is the emergence of applications that rely on new interfaces, Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality headsets, to provide users with access to information. The experience is more immersive than current interactions because it includes sensory, visual, and tactile experiences. The technology could alter energy company business processes in several ways.
Metaverse Changes How Work Gets Done
Field technicians often find it difficult to walk through testing and maintenance processes on complex equipment, like transformers and SCADA systems. A metaverse solution would depict the work virtually. As the process unfolded, technicians would have immediate access to help, like FAQs and How Tos, that simplify and speed up the process.
The metaverse could also enhance customer support. Utility personnel could simulate what the user sees and gain more insight into a problem, so troubleshooting improves.
However, these tools face hurdles as they work their way into the corporate mainstream. The technology is new, so energy companies lack the skills to deploy it. They would need help from AR/VR vendors and third parties.
Metaverse software has to be connected to legacy systems. The coding work requires that an abstraction layer be layered onto applications.
Technology advances change how energy companies run their business. Digital solutions, like cloud, mobile, and Internet of Things (IoT) streamlined business processes, offloaded mundane tasks, and improved customer interactions. The emerging metaverse has the same potential but is in an early stage of development, so energy companies need to cautiously embrace it. Â
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