Being prepared for the future is what differentiates achievers from the rest of the breed. While advanced technologies such as Metaverse and Web 3.0 are in their nascent stage in their development, they are gradually proving to be unavoidable for businesses oriented towards providing premium experiences to their customers, if not left behind in the race for tech adaptation. They clearly need platforms that can give them an initial start. XR Central, is a technology studio focused on solving problem statements using AR/VR/XR technologies across industry verticals. Analytics Insight has engaged in an exclusive interview with Shrey Mishra, Founder, of XR Central.

Kindly brief us about the company, its specialization, and the services that your company offers.

XRC is an XR (AR, VR, MR & WebGL) based interactive tech studio based out of Gurgaon and is founded and led by experienced industry experts Anshul Agarwal and Shrey Mishra. XRC has been delivering a wide range of interactive and immersive XR solutions that have helped brands elevate customer experiences and brand recall. We specialize in metaverse creation for a diverse array of industries, as well as creating interactive design content using immersive technologies such as virtual and augmented reality (MR, VR, and AR).

We're currently developing our flagship product, a powerful, game-engine-based metaverse builder called MetaQube.  We provide B2B services and a forthcoming B2C product is in the final stages of development. We've worked with partners like Infosys, HCL, etc. to bring experience centers and immersive experiences to life, and are currently working with a diverse portfolio – from e-sport fan zones to building complex 3D models for training purposes in specialized fields. Most of these experiences are run on MetaQube, which will be our B2C product. MetaQube will be a no-code world builder, where you can build a digital environment for your friends and family or at scale for thousands of people in a matter of minutes.

2. With what mission and objectives, the company was set up? In short, tell us about your journey since the inception of the company.

We have been in the space of Gaming since 2014 with our brand Gaming Central, which is India's one of the largest gaming communities with close to 11+ million followers. We wanted to dabble with game development and in the year 2015, we started developing a few 3D-based games, as we were already creating activations for gaming brands across India. In 2017, we took a pivot to XR and started creating enterprise-grade solutions using XR technology. In December 2020 we started conceptualizing our Metaverse Product, MetaQube. XR Central with its Metaverse platform – MetaQube – is taking over the online space with its innovative technology & solutions, heating the tech industry with its actions across the globe.

 3. Tell us how your company is contributing to the IoT/AI/Big Data Analytics/Robotics/Self-Driving Vehicles/Cloud Computing industry of the nation and how the company is benefiting the clients.

We want to unleash the full scope of XR and apply it to a variety of fields. In our B2B work, we've emphasized adaptive problem-solving resulting in beautifully immersive experiences that users can also find useful and meaningful. With our B2C product, MetaQube, we want to give the tools to a community of developers and energize Indian creators and coders to make the metaverse their own. The platform will be no-code, which means everyone, from a beginner to an expert, will be able to find something new in it. XRC is one of the very few organizations in India to start the transformation for clients and has a focus on web-based approaches to applications of AR and VR. The scope of Web 3.0 and XR applications means that there is potential to view and collect huge amounts of data which will ultimately feed big data analytics.

4. Kindly mention some of the major challenges the company has faced till now.

A major challenge we have faced so far is the reluctance of industry stakeholders to trust new technology. But we are seeing a new wave of leaders approaching upcoming tech, who are making long-term investments in XR and metaverse technologies.

 5. What is your biggest USP that differentiates the company from competitors?

We are currently acting as metaverse partners for the IPL team Lucknow Supergiants and building a virtual world for fans of the sport and the team. We are also the metaverse partners for this year's edition of India's largest and best-known art fair, the India Art Fair. We already work with top IT, Aviation, and event companies in India. There are not many XR companies that are working in specialized industries as well as entertainment, and we are proud to have a multifaceted client base.

We offer all sectors a guiding path through metaverse development and allow them to dip their toes in the world of XR through quality AR, VR, and MR solutions, which can then lead to full-fledged metaverses for teachers, engineers, basketball enthusiasts, and even dog-lovers. All this is to say our work isn't limited to any one sector.

6. How is IoT/Big Data/AI/Robotics evolving today in the industry as a whole? What are the most important trends that you see emerging across the globe?

Data processing and streamlining decision-making are two crucial aspects of machine learning and AI. Through adaptive algorithms, we can map out the consequences of actions and reactions and predict the future more effectively. IoT, or the Internet of Things, is a series of connections that link appliances to the internet.

If you combine these three, you have a major implication in the form of digital twin technology, where you can get a snapshot of salient data points of even the most complex machinery in the world and see how different elements connect.

7. How is Machine Learning (ML) shaping the IT/Big Data/Robotics industry today? How is it changing the role of CIOs and Leaders?

With the intervention of machine learning, a lot of processes can go from manual to automatic. This means that there is less effort needed to perform and structure those processes. Things can move much faster and be implemented more efficiently. In short, machine learning solves problems at scale.

For industry leaders and CIOs, the challenge lies in embracing new technology to push forward in their field. For a lot of leaders, this is a difficult thing to do as they are distrustful of new technologies and find the RoI low. But we are seeing a rapid increase in mobile-first and virtual users, across verticals, from engineering to education. If leaders adopt technologies that will become prominent five years into the future, they can anticipate and guide user behavior and become renowned pioneers. Skillful leaders need to provide value to their employees and stakeholders, and one of the best ways of doing that is to adopt new technology.