The AR Cloud: Navigating Metaverse Augmentation Technologies for Enhanced Co-Creation of Value Within Services

In the rapidly evolving landscape of metaverse technologies, the potential for enhancing service interactions is immense. However, many of these technologies fall short in offering context-driven and customizable experiences. This paper proposes that AR Cloud (ARC), a novel external metaverse technology can bridge this gap. ARC stands out by enabling real-time interactions, fostering contextual awareness, ensuring high content flexibility, promoting social engagement, and delivering personalized experiences. We present a conceptual model that juxtaposes ARC with established metaverse augmentation technologies, such as lifelogging and augmented reality. Our discussion focuses on the transformative impact of ARC on the value co-creation process, emphasizing the enhanced well-being outcomes-both hedonic and eudemonic-that arise from ARC-powered service interactions. We conclude by charting a course for future research on ARC, touching upon its attributes, potential moderating variables, its role in sustained value co-creation, and the potential service outcomes it could support. Graphical Abstract