Pixels to Reality: A Maturity Spectrum of Immersion

The metaverse has emerged as the next frontier of digital transformation. Immersive applications bridge the gap between physical and digital operations. It paves the way for innovation and a greater degree of user engagement. However, organizations struggle with developing strategies to reach their optimal potential. Metaverse initiatives are still in their infancy and lack structured metrics and frameworks to measure and benchmark maturity of an immersive application. There is a need for a framework that can evaluate immersive applications, identify areas for improvement, and align these with the strategic goals of the organization. This paper presents a structured framework, based on six key factors that influence immersion quality, and offers a four-stage maturity model for each of these factors. Using this framework, we evaluate a couple of immersive applications in this paper. This preliminary research aims to provide a foundation for future research, helping organizations maximize their presence in the metaverse and maintain a competitive edge in the years to come.