If there’s anything the COVID-19 pandemic has taught the world, it’s that just about anything is possible with the use of technology.
Consumers are shopping online more than ever, and businesses are on Zoom and teleworking to remain operational. Some experts are even claiming this will become the new norm for years to come.
Because of this, tech companies are scrambling to meet the new demands of the world and possibly gain a competitive edge in the process.
Here’s a closer look at how CV-19 and technology are transforming lives (possibly for the long-term).
1. Virtual Tools Are Now the Norm for Everyday Life
Over the past several months, families went from typical public school attenders to home-schooling households. It’s a major shift, but a necessary one to keep little ones safe. This is all made possible with online schooling using tablets and laptops.
At the same time, consumers are changing how they’re engaging with businesses. Take, for example, banking — apps and AI tools are being promoted heavily by financial institutions to cut down on in-person visits and prevent bottlenecks in their phone lines.
Now, there’s an adoption of touchless biometric tech for customers to check out with. Soon, eye scanners may begin replacing fingerprint and chip card readers.
But what’s most notable is how people now work. Roughly 50% of Americans are currently working from home full-time. Anyone who doesn’t perform manual labor is now operating from their home office, dining room table, or patio. Thanks to tech companies like Zoom, GoToMeeting, and Asana, these companies were able to transition their workforce into a remote staff.
2. Telehealth Platforms Take Over the Health Industry
Patients who don’t need emergency medical care are finding themselves face-to-face with their physicians via webcam. Telehealth platforms are making it possible for doctors and their patients to continue their visits without exploiting themselves to possible COVID-19 infection.
This includes various medical industries, such as physical therapy, primary care, and psychiatric therapy.
Having sessions from the comfort of your couch could become the preferred method in the future.
3. Tracking Tools Will Diminish Individual Privacy
Contact tracing — it’s the phrase of the new decade, thanks to COVID-19. And because of it, individuals may lose more privacy than they’re comfortable with.
In case you haven’t heard — contact tracing is the government’s attempt to put together a task force (and apps) to keep track of who interacts with who. All in the name of hunting down who may have been exposed to those infected by CV-19.
Smartphones will be the main source of this information, and tech companies are jumping on the gravy boat. Companies like Safer and SwipedOn already have smartphone apps ready to go for business use.
4. Virtual Reality Becomes a Necessity (vs. a Luxury)
The emergence of VR technology was long-awaited by older generations who grew up watching sci-fi movies like Total Recall and Demolition Man.
Now that it’s here, it’s become a luxury tool to enjoy video games, movies, and social interactions in a whole new way. But now, with a pandemic at everyone’s doorstep, virtual reality is becoming more of a necessity.
Today, VR headsets and AR (augmented reality) are being used to view virtual tours of homes, shop for home goods, and to travel the world (since many are still stuck at home). It’s also being used for education, medical care, and employee training.
5. Drone Deliveries Will Become the Norm
It was always inevitable that drones would one day become the delivery drivers of e-commerce purchases. But it was COVID-19 that sped up the process.
Now, there’s an expectation that federal regulators will streamline the process of delivery drone adoption. Even if it means cutting red tape faster than usual.
These drones will be implemented in lifesaving efforts, which include delivering medicine to the elderly and sick, or even test kits to households.
You can already see drones used for surveillance and monitoring by local police across different counties.
6. Remote Work is Likely to Stay
You have roughly 80% of remote workers saying their happier operating from home. Another 43% are even hoping they can continue working remotely after the pandemic ends.
If businesses pay attention to the needs and demands of their workforce, then you may see remote work here for the long-term.
The paradigm is also shifting for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Those in need of workers who are affordable and flexible are using platforms like Fiverr to find top talent.
Some are looking for web developers to transform their brick-and-mortars into virtual stores. Others are looking to expand their website services to include chatbots to meet the increasing demand for digital sales, customer service, and tech support.
Tech Isn’t the Future—It’s Here & Now
Those who successfully avoided technology in the past won’t be able to do so any longer. Tech is now ingrained into everyday lives and it doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon.
The question now is, how will you adopt it for personal and business purposes? Or maybe you already have — tell us all about it in the comments!
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