What are the needs of companies for "immersive" technologies?

We can now share the preliminary results from the analysis phase conducted by the Bulgarian-Romanian Chamber of Commerce as part of the Metaverse Academy project, specifically WP2: Industry Needs Analysis, focusing on business stakeholders in Bulgaria. The study was conducted simultaneously in 10 countries.
The 34 interviews held with 24 Bulgarian companies from various sectors provide a detailed insight into stakeholders working with immersive technologies and digital innovations. Our analysis reveals key trends in technology adoption, training methodologies, and the future of the digital ecosystem in Bulgaria.
The Bulgarian business community demonstrates moderate awareness and engagement with immersive technologies, including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Extended Reality (XR), and the emerging Metaverse concept. Our research shows that not many businesses have practical experience implementing these tools. However, representatives from various sectors shared the following:
- Education and Training: VR and AR are valuable for simulating complex scenarios in sectors such as healthcare, engineering, and vehicle manufacturing, providing a safe training environment.
- Business Applications: Companies use VR and AR to enhance remote team collaboration, host virtual meetings, improve customer experiences, and present interactive product demonstrations.
- Entertainment and Gaming: These sectors lead in adopting virtual reality, offering immersive and interactive experiences.
- Architecture: AR and XR improve architects’ workflows, ultimately optimizing the process.
- Tourism: AR and XR technologies allow Bulgarian hotels to offer potential clients a virtual preview of their stay, enabling them to choose suitable rooms, business spaces, or restaurants. Additionally, virtual tours of the region make trip planning more exciting.