ANZ Worldline Payment Solutions brings Australian businesses to the Metaverse
ANZ Worldline Payment Solutions - a joint venture between ANZ and global payments leader Worldline - is hosting its first Australian customer in the Worldline showroom in Decentraland Metaverse.
Naked Life Beverages will have its products on display with advertising and promotions in Worldline’s showroom throughout September.
Decentraland Metaverse is a virtual world which offers, among other things, a marketplace for merchants to engage with consumers. Worldline currently leases a land plot for its showroom from Bitcoin Suisse.
The showroom launched in May and has featured Swiss electrical goods brand Solis and Swiss luxury hotel The Chedi. The showroom is currently booked by brands from around the world until February 2023.
Petr Ryska, CEO ANZ Worldline Payment Solutions, said the opportunity to participate in Worldline’s showroom was a first for Australian businesses.
“We’re thrilled to be able to support Naked Life Beverages with its Metaverse strategy. Visitors to Decentraland Metaverse who drop by our showroom will see Naked Life Beverages up in lights and be able to engage - through avatars - with our chat bots and interactive billboards to learn more,” he said.
“It’s a unique opportunity for us to help our customers transition and gain exposure to life in the Metaverse as they look to evolve their ecommerce strategies”, he said.
David Andrew, CEO Naked Life Beverages, said the Metaverse was a natural progression for Naked Life Beverages and its digital-first marketing strategy.
“Innovation is our number one driver of competitive advantage across our ‘better-for-you drinks’ portfolio and how we work with partners. Entering the Metaverse is the next step for us”, he said.
“While at the moment Decentraland is an emerging market with around 300,000 visitors a month, we know our customers – many of whom are gen z – are already active visitors to the Metaverse and we believe it will only get more popular in the future”, he said.
Mr Ryska said ANZ Worldline Payment Solutions' investment in the Metaverse is a response to demand from its customers who want the ability to advertise, and ultimately trade in the Metaverse.
“As the technology becomes more accessible and mainstream, the Metaverse will become another way of buying, selling, and marketing to consumers. We’ve had bricks and mortar, we’ve got online, and we’ll soon have the Metaverse. It’s important that businesses have an omni channel payments solution that allows them to transact across all these platforms”, he said.
Mr Ryska said Worldline’s presence in the Metaverse is a critical element of the group’s product development and investment in innovation.
"In 2021, Worldline spent the equivalent of AU$350 million globally in research and development, and this year ANZ Worldline Payment Solutions will be investing a further $22 million in our platform for Australia, including the development of our Metaverse offering”, he said.