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Customer service, virtually
When is a website not a website? When it’s a virtual world. Already, the 6 million citizens of Second Life
already know the benefits of having an alter ego in the form of an avatar in a
virtual world. The site, which is largely used as a social networking site is beginning to develop more and more
into a business tool. Having already created its first millionaire last year (a
Japanese woman who bought and sold land in the virtual world’s currency – the
Linden – that can be converted into real US dollars), major names such as
Adidas and Oxfam have built up a parallel business in this online universe.Raising
money in this virtual world is not the only benefit to be had by business, a
new use has been developed by Sun Systems who have taken the virtual world to a
new level – that of the virtual office with the help of its MPK20 business tool. As well as having eight building locations in
the real world, they have now added a ninth – in the virtual world called
Wonderland – where colleagues can view online presentations or hold meetings. Any
problems commuting or catching a flight to make it to an important presentation
could soon be a thing of the past. Perhaps next, interacting in this way could be
how more companies of the future deal with their customers online – an
unnerving thought that this could be seen as adding a more ‘personal touch’ to
interacting with consumers online.See how other businesses are using the virtual world for their business
And not only businesses - The Swedish government has an virtual embassy in second life!