Worldline, a global leader in payment services is one of the first payments companies to enter the Metaverse with the launch of a dedicated virtual showroom.

The company aims to bridge the gap between the network of virtual worlds and the real world for e-Commerce enterprises and provide its merchants with the opportunities needed to benefit fully from the incredible potential the Metaverse has to offer.

The Worldline Metaverse showroom, which went live in March 2022, is a key component in Worldline’s strategy to build its presence in the Metaverse, which is seen as the next innovative social and commerce channel, and that will become more and more popular with the development of Web 3.0. The Worldline showroom is located in Decentraland in the Crypto Valley area. This very popular and central location will enable Worldline to involve and engage its network of merchants in Metaverse activities by providing a platform and creating genuine value and customer exposure for them.

The success of building the Metaverse depends on a robust and flexible payment ecosystem that allows users to seamlessly access payment means in the physical and virtual world. Following the launch of its showroom, Worldline will continue to invest and allocate significant resources to the development and distribution of additional Metaverse-related products specifically tailored to meet the needs of merchants wishing to enter and thrive within 3D virtual worlds. For example, Metaverse white label stores are being designed for merchants and will include direct payment connections to Worldline Acquiring and all payment options offered in Worldline’s payment means portfolio, allowing for the seamless and secure blending of the real and virtual payment environment.

The Worldline Metaverse showroom currently includes a number of key innovative features such as:

• A merchant of the month area, placed at the core of Worldline’s virtual land introducing a merchant with a new product.
• The product can then be purchased directly via the Worldline payment engine.
• A coffee space powered by PAYONE, Worldline’s Joint Venture with the German Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe (DSV) and leading brand in merchant services in Germany and Austria. This area will facilitate more social interaction and informal meetings between users, Worldline representatives and merchants.
• A virtual stage for events with a space to host virtual product presentations and share knowledge with Decentraland users.
• Supporting charity projects, beginning with support for Ukraine via a well-known charity organizations. Social responsibility is a core focus for Worldline, hence the importance of assisting those in need.

The Metaverse clearly offers a completely new perspective for merchants and their customers. The solution developed by Worldline and its crypto processing partner Bitcoin Suisse aims to facilitate the merchants’ immersion in a new and exciting space. For example, goods and services can only be purchased in the Metaverse with the Metaverse provider’s own cryptocurrency. The Worldline Metaverse showroom enables end consumers to purchase goods and services, with or without owning cryptocurrencies themselves. With that, the solution provides an easier and more streamlined shopping experience, to the benefit of both Worldline’s merchant base and their customers.

Sascha Muenger, Metaverse Expert at Worldline, says

“Technological innovation is an essential part of Worldline’s DNA. The Metaverse, and Web 3.0 overall, is without doubt the next step in the development of the Internet and it is vital for us to make sure we harness the opportunities this virtual world will bring. Our plans also involve facilitating access for our merchant base and customers and providing a secure and seamless payment process in the Metaverse.”

Strategic opportunities ahead – for Worldline and its merchant customers

The Internet, or web 2.0 as we know it today, is the main entry point for millions of people to access information and services, communicate and socialise, and sell goods. The Metaverse – associated with the development of web 3.0 – is expected to replicate the value proposition of the Internet itself, whilst crucially adding a three-dimensional, immersive layer.

The Metaverse will challenge and overcome various boundaries in e-Commerce scenarios. It will enable consumers to engage with virtual community shopping from any location worldwide whilst benefiting from embedded virtual checkout processes. This new virtual shopping experience has the potential to democratise access to goods and services based on an entirely new approach

As a key player in the payments sector, Worldline will leverage this new innovative commerce channel for its merchant base, helping to bridge the gap between the Metaverse and the real world, thereby showing the capabilities of the web 3.0 technology around 3D virtual worlds. Ultimately, Worldline aims to position itself as a provider of choice for Metaverse commerce and payment use cases.

Featured image credit: Freepik