Page 35 - Beverage Master_AprMay2022
P. 35
Craft Distillery
central hub of e-commerce and consumer activities. Because such integration of businesses’ opera-
As such, brands in the liquor industry will be forced tions with the Metaverse will allow them to provide
to rethink how its integration into their operations, each individual customer with a one-of-a-kind din-
marketing, and sales will reshape the future of ing experience, this will inherently create greater
their business, those of their competitors, and even competition between brands. Much like we saw
their consumer markets. Furthermore, brands and with the rise of omnichannel sales during the pan-
businesses must possess the capability to remain demic, those brands and businesses which are able
agile as they integrate more deeply within the to capitalize on such value earlier on will be far
Metaverse, and take notice of how this integration better positioned to outperform their competitors.
might spur shifts throughout the liquor industry. Likewise, as the technological capabilities of the
Metaverse continue to evolve, the businesses that
Unique VR Dining Experiences are better able to remain agile to those evolutions
and pivots will likely be the ones who see the most
Within the Metaverse, customers won’t be success from their integration with the Metaverse.
confined by geographical distance or other phys-
ical limitations in exploring the dining or drink Adapting to a Hybrid World Amidst
options available to them. Rather, upon entering Growing Competition
the Metaverse, they will have the availability and
opportunity to talk with chefs, foodies, and bev- Whenever a new technology or trend emerges
erage makers all around the world in the palms that impacts our business, it brings with it new
of their hands. This will inevitably create a deeper sources of competition. This is simply the nature
integration of and connection to other cultures, as of business. Liquor and beverage industry brands
customers will be able to connect and chat with seeking to integrate with the Metaverse will need
anyone anywhere in the world at practically any to take note of how this hybrid digital space could
time, and open the door for businesses to provide affect their initiatives and create new competitive
them with truly unique dining experiences. advantages both for them and their competitors.
For instance, imagine logging into the Metaverse For example, dining experiences in the Metaverse
and browsing a list of restaurants you wouldn’t nor- will likely become a blend of futuristic physical
mally be available to visit in person. Upon selecting features of restaurants and high-tech interactive
a restaurant, you and your party can enter that technology. Knowing this, one method businesses
restaurant’s virtual space within the Metaverse could use to stand out from the competition is by
and begin browsing menus for the dishes or drinks making customers part of this immersive and inter-
you’d like to have. Once your orders are selected active dining experience. Perhaps a craft brewery
and placed, the restaurant’s e-commerce sales sys- or small distillery might offer customers a VR-led
tem will automatically register the items ordered tour of their facilities to learn more about their
and be able to virtually send them to you and the business, its history, and its available products.
others in your party, even without any of you being Maybe a gastropub offers new customers a coupon
physically present. Additionally, this method of for a certain percentage off of their first purchase
sales could be utilized for those guests who may in the Metaverse, or offer them a redeemable code
not want to show up in person, but still want to try that customers can use to virtually send food or
food or drinks they otherwise wouldn’t be able to. drinks to others. Because our appearance in the
Metaverse will be one not of our physical selves,
This blend of convenience and experience, fueled but instead a VR-generated avatar, another possi-
by the AR/VR technology the Metaverse is founded bility might be for businesses like these to offer a
upon, will grant brands the ability to offer custom- free side dish or drink to customers whose avatars
ers a truly personalized, customizable experience. are sporting their brand’s logo on a piece of their
Through integrating their sales platforms into the avatar’s clothing. These are just a handful of exam-
Metaverse, businesses can not only reach a far ples of how businesses in the liquor and beverage
larger range of customers directly, but also indirect- industry could remain agile in adapting to growing
ly by allowing their customers to send meals and and emerging consumer trends after integrating
drinks to family or friends who cannot be physically with the Metaverse.
present with them.
BM040522 Main Pages.indd 33 3/25/22 1:25 PM

