staff reporter. SUPPLIED

Shop virtually in Dubai Mall store metaverse soon

Want to shop at the Etisalat store in Dubai Mall but don't want to fight traffic to get there? Instead of navigating through traffic, you can now navigate the store in the metaverse, with the future of digital shopping nearing its arrival in Dubai. Abdul Mateen Mavad, Director, Infosys Technologies UAE, explains that launching a store and creating a product for a virtual environment is a massive step in terms of time and resources at the ongoing Gitex, which is the annual gathering of global technology giants and startups in Dubai. He says, "Irrespective of where a potential customer is, they will be able to access, navigate, book orders and avail integrated services. What would be available by going to a mall physically, will soon be available at home." He described the virtual store display as the new face for retailers looking to enter the digital market. "The initiative is to create a metaverse for Etisalat. We have taken a scenario of Dubai Mall Etisalat showroom and we have replicated that into our system. The design is the exact look alike of the Dubai Mall showroom. Once you tour the store you will see the products and services showcased and people can see the details of each product." The products can be viewed using virtual and augmented reality technologies. People can wear VR glasses to have an immersive experience. The second is touchscreen technology, which allows iPads or similar devices to be used instead of VR glasses. A host will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In the metaverse store, customers can interact with one another just like in real life. "The purpose of VR glasses and touchpads is to navigate. So that one feels they are moving inside the store. We have also integrated interactivity. Someone joining, let's say, from Abu Dhabi or Fujairah can interact with each other. So, the idea behind this is when you walk into the Dubai Mall you might bump into a friend or start talking to someone. So, in this way you can talk to the people who are inside the store. Then, there is a host available, to guide and give information to the potential clients," he adds. Mavad emphasizes the importance of "accessibility" in the new technology. "Once you place orders on the metaverse there is an option whereby a QR code would be sent via SMS. This QR code can be taken to any kiosk which will be built all across the UAE Etisalat stores. You can be sitting in Fujairah and placing the order. Then you go to Fujairah's Etisalat store and pick up your purchase. You don't have to go all the way to the Dubai Mall to collect it." According to one study, roughly 70% of customers who visited a virtual store made a purchase. Other payment methods, such as Etisalat wallet and Smile Points that can be reimbursed, would be integrated into the payment system in addition to credit cards. "It'll go live after eight to nine months once it's officially announced," he says of the expected commercial launch. Metaverse will be available on the Etisalat website soon. BKM/ Expat Media
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