By Nina Mercer
Industry events and conferences are absolutely crucial for business growth and career networking, as Forbes clearly explains. Unfortunately, many such events can feel old-fashioned; Besides collecting merchandise and a few major events, many attendees may leave without the feeling of excitement that good events bring. Fortunately, the accessibility and affordability of modern gamification technology makes boredom at industry events a thing of the past.
From experiencing real-time excitement through VR, event organizing and engagement through gamification, to the unparalleled serenity of Metaverse meetings, the modern professional event can become something you can truly enjoy through the use of virtual reality experiences. Of course, a balance must be found between work and pleasure. However, the nature of gamification means that visitors can achieve results while feeling like it’s just a game.
A window on reality
Gaming virtual reality experiences tend to focus on one of two areas: socialization or ‘extreme’ sports. The primary purpose of these experiences is to be able to experience the highs and lows of navigating an exciting experience, without any risk. They offer a small window into another world. There is something else we can enjoy from these experiences, and that is helping to develop team knowledge about the dangerous roles that help support the industry.
Most U.S. tertiary industries are nothing without the supply chains that support them. Whether it’s building offices and services that support growth, or simply providing the resources, including food, that keep the nation moving, there is a lot of debt owed to workers in often dangerous industries. These jobs are often the most dangerous in the country. A study published by Springer has already shown that VR-related safety training is effective. Those same experiences can be brought to the corporate event and help provide deep learning experiences that also function as team-building exercises.
Introducing gamification
Through these shared VR experiences, you can start introducing gamification to the corporate event. As a study published on Science Direct shows, gamification has been found to be an effective tool for increasing engagement and also improving outcomes in a number of different areas; work, education and play. How could this be reflected at a corporate event?
Many corporate events rely on participant engagement through tools such as Sli.do and Teams. Failure to receive these commitments could lead to flat events that fall short of the strategic objectives set at the outset. Introducing gamification can be done by something as simple as offering merchandise for participation points. Everyone loves to pick up accessories, toys and trinkets presented at events; Add value to it and it will help further engage participants.
Moving to virtual?
Virtual communication is the hallmark of modern business. As Forbes notes, virtual communications has the potential to raise the ceiling for all businesses and usher in better collaboration norms. However, it does need to be refined. There are many issues that prevent effective digital communication, from poor visual engagement to connectivity issues. Addressing this head-on is key, and there may be a way out for events – and that’s through the Metaverse.
Corporate events within the virtual reality space have been a thing since Second Life came out in the mid-2000s. However, the latest developments from Meta and their partners have led to a new push towards business interactivity within the digital medium. This is first and foremost an inclusive measure. Virtual events allow for a greater number of participants and create a sense of solidarity among all attendees. In addition, it broadens the scope of what digital communication can be, how events can take place, and encourages imaginative action within that. It’s fun to be in game-like environments; the environment encourages gamification in every interaction; and the quality of technology and communications is paramount, eliminating many of the endemic problems associated with such platforms.
Moving forward with a virtual reality and gamification powered event will set the tone for the organizer and future industry events. As technological change continues to ripple through every sector and area of work, so does the need for widespread change within every part of that industry. This also includes events, the most important networking opportunity for companies looking to grow or even strengthen their base. However, it is important to get it right. Committing to forward-looking and virtual reality events halfway could lead to confusion and negative performance for the company; damaging reputation and potential damage to these crucial industrial networking opportunities. However, a fully-fledged and committed plan will place a company or its network firmly at the forefront of the discussion.
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