Pandemic Pace - 5 Ways COVID-19 Is Accelerating Digital Transformation
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed us as people and has even transformed how we carry out our daily errands. However, a more noticeable change has been in technology. Much of the technology we’re utilizing now has been around for some time, but there has never been such urgency to adapt to the digital transformation as there is now.
As overwhelming as new technology can be, there’s no denying it has made life much easier for many people over the last couple of years. If you’re curious about how advanced we have become, take note of the following information.
Work Locations
One of the quickest and most dramatic changes has been where we work. World leaders encouraged us to work from home, so anyone who was able to do so quickly took their office supplies home and transformed their spare room or kitchen into an office. Many also started using virtual office services, which leads us to our next point.
A Professional Online Presence
Most business owners knew that professionalism could be lacking if employees had to share their personal addresses with clients to deliver goods. Adding a home address to a business card was also not advisable.
Fortunately, virtual office services solved that problem by allowing businesses to take advantage of a professional business address, call and mail forwarding services, and even a receptionist. No one even had to know that an entire business was being run from a residential address.
Communication Methods
As the COVID-19 situation evolved, people found themselves being ordered to isolate at home for months on end. That’s months of not seeing friends or family, which many people found challenging.
Fortunately, we overcame this barrier through video technology. Rather than sending a message or making a phone call, we were able to use video conferencing and social media platforms to see and communicate with our loved ones as if we were in the same room with them.
This same technology was also used in workplaces, leading to some of the more dominant conference software companies experiencing massive growth in just a few months.
Shopping Opportunities
Not everyone loves shopping in stores, especially when they lack the time or are overwhelmed by large crowds of people. Therefore, long before the pandemic, a growing cohort of shoppers purchased as many goods as they could online.
When businesses were forced to close their doors to walk-in customers, those who hadn’t yet converted to online shopping quickly worked out how to do it, leading to a surge in sales for many businesses.
Digital Administration
Once, when we had to sign formal documents, we were encouraged to visit an office and do so in person. It was frustrating for those who didn’t have the time, but it was a formality. Now, more and more people are being encouraged to create digital signatures on documents that have been emailed to them rather than printed out. This is a win for efficiency and for the environment.
Payment Methods
Over half of Americans now use contactless payment methods, and the COVID-19 pandemic has even prompted some businesses to go fully cashless to keep themselves safe. While cash still has its place, paying for something with a card that hovers over a payment processor is far more popular than ever before and will likely be a practice that remains long after the pandemic has waned.
Our society is a whole new world compared to just a few years ago, and the changes are noticeable in how we act. However, it’s fair to say that out of all changes, those involving technology and the internet have been the most prominent.
Daily Bulletin