More companies are now embracing the metaverse as more people have shifted their preference to online shopping. The latest company to announce its incursion into the digital world is Worldline.
Introducing the Worldline Metaverse Shopping Hub
The French company revealed that it’s capitalizing on the latest trend in shopping with the unveiling of the Worldline Metaverse Shopping Hub on Tuesday. This venture comes in collaboration with Spatial, which provides an e-commerce platform for merchants to display their products and engage with customers.
Benefits to Businesses and Customers
The metaverse hub will benefit businesses with its high graphical quality. This will let users better appreciate the items sold online and reduce the tendency of buyer’s remorse.
Additionally, it offers cross-compatibility with different devices. Aside from the usual mobile and desktop functionalities, the platform lets users shop around using their virtual reality (VR) glasses.
What’s more, the metaverse network of Worldline unlocks 150 secure payment systems for users. These include ways to settle transactions using digital wallets, mobile payment, debit/credit cards, and through “buy now, pay later” schemes. Payone, the company’s joint venture with the German Savings Bank Association, will be responsible for rolling out the metaverse solution in Germany and Austria by the coming quarter.
Furthermore, the metaverse lets merchants expand their presence to be able to reach out to more customers. This feature will also let them have a more personal interaction with their targeted buyers.
Worldline’s expansion in Spatial comes hot on the heels of its Metaverse Shopping Mall launched early this year in Decentraland.
Official Statements
“Understanding the transformative nature of gaming’s influence on the digital world, season two within Spatial will provide new customer engagement methods supportive of the digital environment’s pre-existing intuitive behaviors,” said Worldline in a press release. “For example, merchants can incentivize users to participate in virtual scavenger hunts, allowing them to collect digital eggs in exchange for community card NFT rewards.”
Worldline Metaverse expert Sasha Munger stated in a past interview with PYMNTS that the metaverse needs a convenient and safe payment method much like the ones in the real world. The new Metaverse Shopping Hub combines both traditional and innovative payment means tailored to individual user needs and/or preferences.
Bullish Outlook
Worldline’s research notes reflect an optimistic outlook on the integration of eCommerce into the metaverse. The company forecasts a $2.6 trillion growth in this emerging niche by the end of 2030.