Metaverse integration challenges: An in-depth ISM and MICMAC analysis

Abstract

Though metaverse is gaining popularity as a highly interactive, immersive, and collaborative 3D virtual environment having the potential to enhance consumer experience in multiple spheres of life, its adoption significantly depends on resolving the consumer perceived adoption barriers. Through a thorough examination of the extensive literature on metaverse and with the assistance of domain experts from academia and industry, this study identifies nine key adoption barriers and presented a five-layered interpretive structure representing the causal relationship between these barriers using Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and Matrice d'Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliquée à un Classement (MICMAC) as methodological approaches. While telepresence, privacy and security, culture, unfamiliarity with metaverse technology, regulations ambiguity, payment method, ethical considerations, perceived cost, and lack of immersive platforms are identified as key barriers; culture and unfamiliarity with metaverse technology are identified as the most influential adoption barriers for metaverse. Metaverse design must take into account these barriers for acceptance of this platform.