Will Your Next Meeting Happen in the Metaverse? Here’s What You Need to Know About Virtual Workspaces

The pandemic accelerated our virtual world of work. For many, in-person gatherings turned into video call-only meetings overnight. Tools and platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Workplace from Facebook became mission-critical to collaborating with teammates and getting work done.

Now, some companies like Meta (née Facebook) and Microsoft plan to create the platforms and tools for organizations to operate in a virtual workspace—for employees to go beyond two-dimensional Zoom calls and interact with colleagues in three-dimensions via an avatar in a virtual environment.

A virtual workspace is an online environment where employees communicate, collaborate, and/or work. Many are already familiar with two-dimensional virtual workspaces thanks to remote work. If not, think platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

While three-dimensional virtual workspaces are less common, some companies are aiming to make them the next wave of how we work. What’s the difference? Instead of seeing coworkers on a video-call grid, employees in a three-dimensional workspace would join them (with an avatar) in a virtual office.