Will the metaverse replace offices? Not by a longshot

According to a survey by workplace platform Envoy, only 12% of employees would choose a hybrid work model, as Covid-19 has opened the world's eyes to the benefits of remote and flexible work.

Technology hasn't been able to keep up with this change of attitude, so we can agree that video conferencing software sucks and a Zoom call doesn't really cut it as an office party replacement. Businesses and employees are excited about the possibilities of the metaverse and web3.

The metaverse promises to solve hybrid workplace obstacles, but is it really the silver bullet solution?

So why are companies so excited about the metaverse?

The metaverse would allow workers to be 100% remote, while still allowing for social interaction. For employers, this means a limitless talent pool, as workers from Michigan to Mozambique can interact together in a virtual, hyper realistic world. This means that employees can work from anywhere they want.

A metaverse workplace could help level the playing field between the employees who are managers and those who are not, for example if they are a single parent, disabled, or just can't.

Health and safety are included in the equation. A recent survey shows that more office workers are worried about exposure to Covid than remote workers. White coworkers lose less sleep than employees of color.

Anyone can come in, whether they're positive or negative, because of a metaverse office.

We get to the actual offices. Think of a metaverse office where real estate is cheaper, and you can design it at the top of a skyscraper or inside the belly of a whale, without the hefty price tag.

The desk space in the metaverse is infinite. Depending on your needs, size up or down. It is the ultimate space of your choice. Virtual meeting rooms or communal lounge areas will be configured for the type of work people are doing.

The new frontier of metaverse real estate is already being staked out by companies like The Sandbox and VCCP.

Employees want flexibility, freedom and the ability to socialize and easily collaborate, and the metaverse could offer it all.

The metaverse won’t replace the physical office any time soon

This is all theoretical at this point. We won't be able to measure the opportunities or understand the potential downsides until we have long-term business use cases. How long can people wear a headset? Is there a negative impact on physical and/or mental health when you spend 9/6 in The Matrix?

We've seen some interesting innovation in metaverse gaming, but adoption is still low and whether this could translate to the world of work is still unknown.

When will we get a chance to chat about the virtual water cooler?

While the Big Five are planting their flag in the metaverse, not everyone is convinced we are as close to a true metaverse as we think. According to Envoy's CEO and founder, Larry Gadea:

Yes, anything’s possible so it could eventually replace reality. Now, is this happening anytime soon? No. Is this going to happen all at once? Absolutely not. For the metaverse — it has to be believable, or it won’t work. In-person interactions are so fundamental to who we are. It’ll take generations for us, along with the metaverse, to develop and evolve. And right now the technology just isn’t there yet.

Envoy was founded to make the workplace better for both employers and employees. It became more urgent than ever to create workplace products that would help bring people back to the office safely as the world was locked down.

The company launched Envoy Protect and Envoy Desks, apps that give employees an overview of who is working in the office and when so they can sync work schedules and maximize time in the office, reserve work desks and, most importantly, certify their health status.

In January, Envoy raised $111m in a Series C funding round, which will be put towards building out its product offering further to help make hybrid workplaces even more flexible, thoughtful, and a better experience for employees. The metaverse isn't a major focus for Envoy yet, but they are keeping a close eye on it.

Bringing people together IRL

Even when we have the technology for a metaverse, offices will still be important.

The world never does everything at once and it’s not going to, no matter what the benefits are. So there will always need to be a bridge between that world and the physical world.

Socializing will always be a key reason why the metaverse won't replace an office anytime soon. It's hard to have memorable moments that you remember. That person spilled a drink on another person. How to recreate human interactions in a virtual environment is a challenge. There are conversations in a virtual hallway. A real-life meeting where people can have multiple conversations with each other.

Having candid moments with colleagues is proven to increase creativity, productivity and problem-solving. If you can actually drink the water, you can have a water cooler moment in the metaverse.

I think we will get some cool new technologies in the future office. Video conferencing is even better. We will have meeting rooms that are more inclusive of remote people.

But at the end of the day, people being together is one of the most important things that can happen. And that’s one of the biggest things that was taken away from us with COVID.