In 2024, Human Resources (HR) departments are leveraging the power of the Metaverse in innovative ways to enhance talent acquisition and management. By integrating Metaverse technologies into their processes, HR teams are transforming how they onboard new employees, acquire talent, engage with their workforce, develop human resources, and more. This digital evolution is reshaping the HR landscape, offering exciting opportunities for businesses to streamline operations, foster employee growth, and create immersive experiences that drive success.
What are the metaverse and HR opportunities in the organization?
In 2021, Microsoft revealed its intention to integrate its virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) platform Mesh with Teams, hinting at the possibility of creating immersive environments within the messaging app in the future. Similarly, Meta introduced Horizon Workrooms, enabling users to conduct meetings using Oculus headsets, marking a significant advancement for HR in the metaverse.
A study conducted by PwC in 2022 revealed that employees trained in VR exhibited a fourfold increase in confidence, a 3.75 times higher retention rate, and completed training four times faster compared to traditional methods. This underscores the potential efficacy of immersive training in enhancing learning outcomes.
The metaverse concept within HR involves the integration of VR, AR, and immersive tech into HR operations, envisioning a digital realm where people can interact, work, and collaborate virtually.
There are indications that both employees and employers are open to embracing the metaverse.
According to a survey conducted by ExpressVPN, which included 1,500 employees and 1,500 employers in the US, nearly 3 out of 5 employees and 4 out of 5 employers express interest in immersive workforce experiences. Additionally, 66% of employers and 46% of employees share excitement about the metaverse.
Several major companies are actively investing in and exploring the potential of immersive HR experiences, provided by the metaverse. For instance, Accenture purchased 60,000 Oculus VR training headsets in 2021, Fidelity Investments hosted a metaverse event in 2022, and KPMG established an innovation center in virtual reality, allowing its partners to directly experience the metaverse.
Here are 5 key ways to revolutionize the HR landscape with the metaverse and unlock new possibilities for business growth and success:
1. Onboarding of Remote Workers
In the age of hybrid and remote work arrangements, the recruitment and onboarding journey for candidates and new hires often involve extensive email exchanges and video calls. This can sometimes result in a less intimate experience, leading candidates or new employees to feel disconnected from the company right from the start of their tenure.
As a solution, the Metaverse offers HR a means to enhance communication with potential and new hires, especially in remote setups. HR departments can establish virtual office environments to foster a more interactive and ‘in-person’ ambiance during recruitment and onboarding phases, thereby crafting a more personalized experience for individuals joining the organization.
2. Recruiting
HR in the metaverse stands poised to transform the recruitment process fundamentally, utilizing immersive technologies to elevate candidate experiences and enhance hiring outcomes. With virtual and augmented reality, candidates can engage in interactive job previews, gaining deeper insights into roles and assessing their suitability with enhanced clarity.
Virtual reality facilitates virtual interviews and assessments, fostering a more inclusive and thorough recruitment process that identifies top candidates effectively.
Through metaverse integration, organizations can create enduring and positive initial impressions, fostering connectivity and mitigating potential isolation among remote employees. These innovative strategies harmonize HR with the metaverse, revolutionizing talent attraction and selection paradigms.
3. Virtual Career Fairs
Organize virtual career expos in immersive settings that surpass geographical limits, providing a central hub for potential candidates to engage with your company, gaining key insights into your ethos and principles.
These virtual career expos draw a diverse pool of candidates globally, broadening your talent reservoir substantially. This scalability empowers you to choose the best-suited candidate for each position from a vast spectrum of educational and professional backgrounds.
4. Fun Activities Together
The immersive essence of the metaverse allows teams to engage in collective activities within your company’s virtual realm. This transforms experiences such as treasure hunts, follow-the-leader games, or similar activities into captivating and transporting adventures.
As teams immerse themselves in these shared activities, bonds are forged more swiftly and effortlessly. By embracing the metaverse for group engagements, participants experience a sense of shared presence and accomplishment. Moreover, this approach offers substantial cost savings compared to traditional travel or physical event hosting.
5. Virtual Training and Simulations
An effective strategy for HR to leverage the Metaverse is by integrating virtual training programs and simulations to enhance behavioral training. Utilizing the immersive capabilities of the Metaverse, HR can craft interactive scenarios that replicate real-world work situations, providing employees with hands-on training opportunities.
Virtual simulations within the Metaverse enable employees to practice essential skills such as communication, negotiation, critical thinking, and decision-making in a risk-free environment. Additionally, Metaverse-based classes allow for participation in lectures, discussions, and collaboration with trainers and peers regardless of geographical distances.
To enhance the learning experience, these sessions can incorporate 3D models, simulations, and gamification elements, making training more practical and engaging. This approach not only caters to tech-savvy generations but also revolutionizes skill development for employees, transforming traditional training methodologies.
A final word
The integration of Metaverse technologies into HR practices is revolutionizing talent acquisition and management in 2024. With platforms like ibentos’ Metaverse offering innovative solutions, HR teams can enhance onboarding experiences, foster employee engagement and development, and create immersive processes. If you want to leverage the power of the Metaverse for your HR needs, explore ibentos metaverse platform today and embark on a journey of digital transformation.