Accenture Technology Vision 2022: “Metaverse Continuum” redefining how the world works, operates and interacts 

Accenture launches dedicated Metaverse Continuum business group as physical and virtual realities converge to reshape human experiences

A new report from Accenture (NYSE: ACN) reveals that the “Metaverse  Continuum,” a spectrum of digitally enhanced worlds, realities and business models, is redefining how the  world works, operates and interacts. According to the Accenture Technology Vision 2022, “Meet Me in the  Metaverse: The Continuum of Technology and Experience Reshaping Business,” businesses are racing  toward a future that is very different from the one they were designed to operate in — as technologies, such as extended reality, blockchain, digital twins and edge computing, are converging to reshape human  experiences.  

To help organizations take advantage of this opportunity, Accenture is launching the Accenture  Metaverse Continuum business group. The new group will be led by Paul Daugherty, group chief  executive – Technology and chief technology officer at Accenture and David Droga, CEO and creative  chairman of Accenture Interactive. 

“The next generation of the internet is unfolding and will drive a new wave of digital transformation far  greater than what we’ve seen to date, transforming the way we all live and work,” said Daugherty. “Our  vision of the metaverse as a continuum challenges prevailing, narrower views and highlights why  organizations must act today, or find themselves operating in worlds designed by, and for, someone  else.” 

As part of the report, Accenture surveyed more than 4,600 business and technology leaders across 23  industries in 35 countries. At this early stage, 71% of executives believe the metaverse will have a  positive impact on their organization and 42% believe it will be breakthrough or transformational.  

“We are recognized as an early leader in metaverse-related capabilities, with 600 patent filings and more  than a decade of experience,” added Droga. “Our new business group combines these capabilities with  the creative strengths of Accenture Interactive, with teams of innovators and creators introducing new  applications in the decentralized environment of the metaverse.”  

Accenture also operates its own metaverse, the Nth floor, where the company’s people participate in new  hire orientation and immersive learning or meet and socialize as teams. This fiscal year, the company  expects 150,000 or more new hires will work in the metaverse on their first day. 

Daugherty added, “As the line between people’s physical and digital lives further blurs, organizations have the opportunity and obligation now to build a responsible metaverse — addressing issues like trust,  sustainability, personal safety, privacy, responsible access and use, diversity and more. The actions and  choices they make today will set the stage for the future.” 

The Technology Vision 2022 report identifies four key trends that companies will need to address: 

• WebMe: Putting the Me in Metaverse – Enterprise strategies are built for the internet of today, a  digital world where platforms often lack interoperability and data portability. Metaverse and Web3  are poised to reshape the internet; rather than it being a disparate collection of sites and apps,  looking ahead, the metaverse will lead to a persistent 3D environment in which moving from one  “place” to another will be as simple as walking from one room to another. 95% of executives believe  that future digital platforms need to offer unified experiences, enabling interoperability of customers’  data across different platforms and spaces. 

• Programmable World: Our Planet, Personalized – As emerging technologies such as 5G,  ambient computing, augmented reality and smart materials advance, digital environments will be  increasingly woven into the fabric of our physical world. These environments will reshape not just how people engage with worlds, but also redefine everything built in it, how people sense and  interact and the control they have over it. Tellingly, 92% of executives agree that leading  organizations will push the boundaries of the virtual world to make it more real, increasing the need  for persistence and seamless navigation between the digital and physical worlds. 

• The Unreal: Making Synthetic, Authentic – Businesses and environments are increasingly  supported by AI-generated data that convincingly reflects the physical world. More than ever before,  AI is top-of-mind for businesses, as companies and consumers alike shift away from considering  what is real versus fake, to what is authentic—not just in terms of a company’s content and  algorithms but its entire brand. With the unreal world about to become reality, now is the time for  leaders to ready their businesses. Already, 96% of executives report that their organizations are  committed to authenticating the origin of their data and genuine use of AI. 

• Computing the Impossible: New Machines, New Possibilities – The emergence of a new class  of machines is empowering organizations across industries to stretch the boundaries of what  computers can solve. Tools like quantum computing and biology-inspired computing are allowing  businesses to solve problems that may be too expensive, inefficient, or flat out impossible for  traditional computing. As “grand challenges” become trivial operations, how enterprises compete,  provide value and partner will radically change; nearly all (94%) executives agreed that long-term  success will depend on leveraging next generation computing to solve seemingly intractable  challenges. 

Forward-looking companies are simultaneously navigating the uncertainty of today’s markets while  beginning to compete in the Metaverse Continuum. For example, working with Microsoft and Accenture, Mars is embracing digital twins, which is one of the foundational elements of the metaverse, to reduce  waste, increase speed and capacity, and empower its associates to make real-time decisions across its  supply chain. Mars is now extending this concept to product development with digital simulations factoring  in variability, such as climate and disruptions, and maintaining greater visibility from the point of origin to  place of consumption. 

For 22 years, Accenture has taken a systematic look across the enterprise landscape to identify evolving  technology trends with highest possibilities to disrupt businesses and industries. For more information on  this year’s report, visit www.accenture.com/technologyvision or follow the conversation on Twitter with  #TechVision.