Enter the
Manufacturing Metaverse
Explore limitless possibilities and
learn through unique challenges
What is defining the Metaverse?
Metaverse is a persistent 3D immersive space real-word places, objects, processes, and humans.
combining the physical and digital world to create a The metaverse will usher in a paradigm shift in the
new dimension of interaction for an open enterprise way consumers, suppliers, partners and employees
driven by user communities and creators. interact to create, buy, sell, spend, learn and
collaborate. The new metaverse-led business
At the intersection of IoT, AI, blockchain and mixed models will be built on a boundaryless value creator
reality, the metaverse enables virtual simulations of economy controlled by user communities.
3D Simulation | n Inter
3D Modelling l twi ac
tiv
VR | AR | MR | XR | BCI
gita it
i
D
Networking
AI
CV | NLP | ML | IOT | SDN |
Defining B5G/6G
DL | RL the
Metaverse
Bl
ck
tin
o
ch pu
m
Smart Contracts | ain s co Cloud | Edge |
NFT | De-Fi i to u
U biq u End Computing
The metaverse will have immersive 3D environments Ubiquitous computing platforms in the metaverse
compatible with non-intrusive wearable tech such will run on decentralized hardware infrastructure
as virtual goggles/lenses, haptic gloves and body and internet hosting tools. Cloud-native services and
skins/suites, and electromyography (EMG) edge computing devices will allow these
wristbands and bracelets. Industries can leverage infrastructures and tools to stream data in real time
these immersive environments for effective and build 3D models and content at scale.
collaboration and deliver user-friendly experiences.
Most applications are likely to use ‘mixed reality’, Digital twins, built using 3D simulation and 3D
where data is overlaid onto the real world, enabling modelling techniques, will offer high-fidelity ultra-
users to experience real-life-like collaboration. To realistic user experience and will facilitate remote
support real-time applications and make them on-site training and maintenance of machines and
accessible to wide user bases and geographies, the equipment. The metaverse will also utilize
metaverse will be built on high-speed low-latency blockchain, primarily to ensure security and regulate
networks. Technologies such as IoT, SDN, 5G/6G will functioning of the economic system. Software and
enable data sensing and transmission for hardware elements will include indigenous facets of
near-photorealistic synchronised interactions security to protect integrity of the content developed
between objects and avatars in the metaverse. by users and interactions between them. This will aid
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in the formation of a global white-box penetration AI is perhaps the biggest driving force of the
testing and validation system to protect against the metaverse. AI will power cognitive automation
breach of confidentiality. From an economic system platforms critical in delivering a seamless
standpoint, blockchain will enable creation of smart socio-cultural experience, just like in the physical
contracts and crypto currencies and tokenization of world. AI will also enable interoperating between
assets. NFTs that can track the transfer, ownership various metaverse platforms across the following
and properties of a unique digital asset will create standards:
user-driven monetization opportunities and enable
the metaverse to become mainstream in the
creator economy.
Interoperability Standards
Model standard to reproduce Identity standard to assign
properties, geometry, assets, and unique credentials, which can be
even behavior of real-world used across virtual world
environments boundaries, to users
Protocol standard to enable Currency standard to define the
interactivity and transactional value of virtual objects and
contract between a virtual world user creations, thus enabling their
and the metaverse servers trade and exchange
Locator standard to help find places
and landmarks across virtual worlds
The art of possible in manufacturing
The metaverse will indeed provide new opportunities and avenues to unlock greater efficiencies across the
manufacturing value chain. Numerous possibilities spanning the product customer lifecycle — from design
to supply chain to production to customer experience — will urge the manufacturing industry to embrace
the metaverse.
Possibilities Across Manufacturing Value Chain
Design ingenuity Agile supply chains Production excellence Personalized customer x
• Collaborative real-time • Remote audits of • Higher yield with accurate • Hyper-engaged B2B
design and testing offshore suppliers production plans and B2C buying
experience
• High-quality • Improved visibility • Ergonomically safe
photo-realistic design across product build, production, • Simulation-based
rendering distribution, and sell assembly lines real-time field service
phases
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Exploring User (Avatar) Journeys Across the Automotive Lifecycle
In this hypothetical yet plausible scenario, we see how a car manufacturer leverages the metaverse to streamline
and optimize processes across the automotive value chain.
M E TA D ES I G N ME TAFACTO RY
Immersive, collaborative Efficient, safer production
virtual design garage via simulations
Enhanced Improved
immersive efficiency,
experiences quality
and safety
Metaverse
Outcomes
M E TAOWNERSHI P METAS E RVICE
Monetization of
digital assets
Personalized in-car Faster service
experience and NFTs resolution and NFT
service certificates
M ETAWORLD M E TA AU D IT
Virtual showrooms, Streamlined and
NFT-enabled vehicle blockchain enabled
add-ons and F&I procurement
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M ETAD ES I G N
Context: CDO needs to synchronize
with global teams — design,
testing and CAD agency, for timely
delivery of final designs.
Solutions:
• Create real-time photo-realistic design, rendering, simulation and virtual collaboration through design,
prototyping, testing and validation processes.
• Provide a decentralized design platform such as vehicle algorithm modeling wherein users participate and
design their cars (PIX Moving).
• Create Design for Manufacturing (DFM) products that will lead to improved product quality and service and
reduce customer churn and product return rate.
• Launch a smart skateboard chassis, providing co-creation avenues for users to design the entire body of the car.
Outcome: Create an immersive, collaborative virtual design garage for designers, vendors and customers to
co-create safe and production-optimized designs.
M ETA AU D I T
Context: For battery cells, CPO
must audit new suppliers based in
far east countries with limited
travel options.
Solutions:
• Conduct virtual audit in supplier’s metaverse plant eliminating the need to travel and provide
physical ratification.
• Run simulations of various supply chain scenarios enabling all stakeholders to gain visibility into lead times,
transit times, shipping delays and even real-time shipping costs
• Efficient and transparent purchasing by collaborating with vendor’s vendor for innovating, cost engineering and
effective cost negotiations.
• Warehouse simulation using digital twins to increase efficiency in logistics processes and supply chain
operations.
• Blockchain enabled procurement platform for tracking supplier performance, contract management
and payment evaluations.
Outcome: Streamlining procurement operations with increased transparency and real-time tracking of supply
chain materials enabled by blockchain.
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ME TAFACTORY
Context: Manufacturing Head
wants to ensure high quality, safe,
efficient processes from day one
Solutions:
• Conduct pre-production virtual simulation of end-to-end production cycle involving robots, digital twin(s) and
line workers allowing trials and experimentation of complex processes, maneuvers in real time, without pausing
the production process.
• Fulfill mass customization goals by effective changeover in product types while avoiding long down times and
learning curves in factories.
• Implement a real-time mold-free forming technology that can form sheet metal without special molds and
fixtures, reducing huge mold development and design costs.
Outcome: Build immersive virtual production plants capable of simulating actual production lines for designing
efficient and safer processes in real world.
M ETAOWN ER S H IP
Context: CEO wants to create a
super-luxurious customer
experience that would
exponentially increase brand
loyalty and vehicle adoption.
Solutions:
• Issue NFTs to owners for keepsake, future trading, to savor their EV experience and pass it on to friends and
future generations.
• Offer virtual rides along with crypto tokens to users which can be used for purchasing the real car and other
in-car services
• Take a family member along with you in the car enabled with extended reality (XR) ecosystem in the metaverse
• Empower new drivers to familiarise themselves with car’s features and systems reducing risk of accidents
in future
• Make virtual vehicle available on a racing metaverse platform to co-create and test functional and
safety features
• Transform backseats into a virtual concert house or a virtual ballpark using the windshield AR glazing, car’s
infotainment, surround sound and 5G systems
Outcome: Deliver a unique in-car driving and ownership experience to foster brand loyalty and enhance customer
lifetime value.
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ME TAWOR LD
Context: CMO needs to launch an
omni-channel multimedia
campaign to drive awareness and
sales of EV.
Solutions:
• Build a virtual showroom offering smart, real-life-like test drive solutions
• Leverage digital billboards in the metaverse to advertise and generate footfalls.
• Issue exclusive NFTs/crypto tokens for purchase of car accessories and customized digital car arts, designs,
icons, textures and paintworks
Outcome: Provide an enhanced immersive buying experience via virtual showrooms and NFT-enabled car
add-ons.
M ETAS ERVI CE
Context: Manufacturer wants to
reduce vehicle downtime (due to
repairs) thereby improving
customer satisfaction.
Solutions:
• Enable technicians to remotely access an EV’s digital twin in real time for technical diagnosis and repairs
thereby reducing customer wait times and improving overall customer experience.
• Enable customers to perform DIY repairs in their EVs through AR/VR capabilities.
• Provide a NFT service certificate that tracks car’s maintenance history, serviced by authorized service
providers. This will serve as an additional source of credibility during resale with a positive impact on residual
value for sellers and providing reassurance for buyers.
Outcome: Deliver a seamless after-sales experience for customers while significantly reducing service
resolution times.
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Measures to overcome challenges
and realize the metaverse dream
The major challenge in the metaverse adoption is that its technological building blocks viz. wearable devices,
connectivity and high-performance computing, are still in their infancy and a substantial advancement is still
needed in these areas to be able to mass produce these in a productive, cost-effective and an environment
friendly manner. The second concern is the cost versus perceived value of these innovations by the customers.
Other concerns revolve around data confidentiality of users, need for a legal framework and physical and mental
health of people.
WHERE WE ARE W H ER E W E N EED TO G ET TO
T EC H NOLOGY C ON S I D ER AT I ON S
• Electronics that can fully deliver a comprehensive virtual
• Limited user experience
• Intrusive hardware design and augmented experience
WEARABLE TECH • Limited availability and • Wireless compact devices (such as headsets, contact lenses)
premium pricing that are supported by high-end 3D sounds and graphics
• Easily accessible and available at modular price points
• Innovations in hybrid local and remote real-time rendering
• Low speed and latency issues
• Advancement in video compression, edge computing,
CONNECTIVITY • Symmetrical bandwidth issues
cross-layer visibility
• Network infrastructure issues
• Spectrum advocacy, network optimizations
• High costs, low efficiency • Decentralized hardware infrastructure and internet
HIGH- and node velocity hosting for HPC
PERFORMANCE • Risk to knowledge safety • Improving physics engines for simulation software
COMPUTING • Inefficient energy usage • AI-enabled methods to create sensible grids as well as
from idle servers optimize power consumption
P O L ICY A ND S OC I ETAL C ON S I D ER AT I ON S
• Unsafe personally identifiable
information (PII) and other
DATA • Incentive mechanism for better behaviors and positive interactions
sensitive data- voice, facial
• Trusted developer ecosystems in building algorithms, structures,
CONFIDENTIALITY features, video footage, vital
frameworks, regulations and policies.
signs, location, financial
records, etc.
• No legal framework against • Introduction of a legal framework and judicial system with
LEGAL criminal actions, harassment, emergence of avatar lawyers in digital realms to provide services
FRAMEWORK extremism, terrorism, financial such as company incorporation, and arbitration of criminal,
fraud, IP disputes financial, state security, and IP and digital land disputes.
• Harm to users’ physical and • Companies, governments to create regulations, set up mechanisms,
mental health due to warped and train users on the concept of ‘time and space perception’ to
HEALTH reality and addictive minimize harmful effects on their physical and mental health.
metaverse usage
While the metaverse will take shape over the years to come, it will be a transformational opportunity for
manufacturers who embrace it. With many large-scale metaverse platforms anticipated to become mainstream
soon, manufacturers will need to invest in these evolving technologies and adjust their business models across
the manufacturing value chain to improve the physical manufacturing world in a more scalable, sustainable and
safer way. Early adopters of the metaverse will get an opportunity to redefine customer experience and derive
outsized business benefits. In a world of identical products and services, they will be able to differentiate
themselves and command a premium in the marketplace.
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Author
Ankur Pawa
Business Head – iDEAS, Manufacturing Americas
Ankur provides leadership for the Digital business in Manufacturing globally and serves as a trusted partner to
executives on their digital transformation journey. He is an avid believer in the power of Digital and its profound
impact on business. He brings a deep understanding of IoT, Cloud, Design Thinking, and AI/ML in the
manufacturing context to help customers harness the full potential of Digital.
Co-authors
Harsha Anand Vinod Kadadi
Assistant Manager, Partner – Domain &
Manufacturing Insights Consulting, Automotive
Americas
Harsha has 6+ years of experience in manufacturing Vinod has a deep understanding of the Automotive
thought leadership research and writing. He has business and provides consulting and thought
authored articles, POVs on Industry 4.0, Cloud leadership to Automotive clients in their business
Strategy, Digital Manufacturing and CASE. and IT transformation initiatives. Having worked in
both Consulting and Corporate functions within
Automotive OEMs, he brings a unique perspective to
the challenges faced by clients leading to
empathetic solutions. He shares the belief that
Automotive industry is going to see more
transformation in the next 10 years than what it has
seen in the past 100 years.
Developed by Wipro Insights
Abhishek Gupta, Senior Manager, Manufacturing Insights
Abhilasha Ambodkar, Assistant Manager, Writing & Editorial, Wipro Insights
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