COVID-19 has shown the value of digital preparation, which enables businesses and the lives of individuals to continue as normal during the pandemic too. The government has put lockdowns in place to curb the spread of the deadly virus. For many businesses, work from home is a new reality, as they struggle to operate during these uncertain times. Schools and colleges are conducting online classes to complete their syllabus; social distance is the new norm in grocery stores and e-commerce companies are delivering their customers with COVID-safe deliveries.
This pandemic is the biggest catalyst for digital transformation which will significantly intensify many big developments that are already well underway before the pandemic. This would be applicable to innovations that reduce human-to-human contact, automate processes, and increase productivity amid social distancing. Here are some of the tech trends that have higher demand in future as well:
“Virtual” meetings, presentation and conferences
Hurdles of face-to-face meetings and conferences will need to be redefined with lockdowns and travel restrictions. The industry will experience greater numbers of virtual meetings. Applications such as Zoom and Google Meet have also seen a sudden spurt of usage. From meetings with just 4-5 participants to massive international seminars and conferences with thousands of participants, everyone has read and moved online. This trend is likely to continue in the post COVID world as people would like to maintain social distancing etiquette.
For those who are involved in retail and supply chain industries, Artificial Intelligence will be particularly useful. Through machine learning and advanced data analytics, AI will help these businesses detect new buying patterns and provide online customers with a greater personalized experience.
AI will increasingly contribute in forecasting the behavior of consumers, which has become hardly predictable, and to helping companies organize effective logistics. Chatbots will provide 24/7 assistance to customers, which is one of the ‘must-have’ during and after the lockdown.
Online classes are conducted through videoconferencing by schools, colleges and coaching centres. Dedicated education apps have seen massive growth spurt as students learn concepts on their cell phones. A few colleges have also started conducting online tests and exams.
Some of these trends are expected to continue also in the post Covid period. Many universities and school boards have suggested that schools and colleges continue to complete some portion of the online curriculum, long after the situation is normal.
The proliferation of “smart” devices that are connected to the internet has been rapid. Post Covid-19, there will be a bigger growth in these devices as a result of social distancing norms. We’ll see how “Smart” devices are used in “Smart” homes. “Smart” refrigerators, for example, can take stock and order groceries online.
IoT will also allow us to predict and treat people’s health problems even before any symptoms appear, with smart drug containers, IP for every vital part of your body that the doctor can hack. To smart forks, it can tell whether the food is safe or not.
Travel slowdown will ultimately lead to remote sensor proliferation and monitoring solutions. These sensors and monitoring devices will be installed in remote areas, such as farms, oil rigs, remote factories and warehouses, mines, etc. They could be controlled from a central location, and monitored. Wireless fixed access systems can be used to provide connectivity between the central location and the remote locations.
There will be an increase in remote asset tracking solutions in many locations across the country where mobile network connectivity is patchy. This is because in these regions, movable objects like cars, buses, fishing boats, etc. travel continuously. In the absence of mobile network connectivity, data will be sent and received via satellite connectivity and will be used to send and receive data from a central control location.
All these trends indicate that these technologies will play a great role in reshaping a post Covid-19 world. It would be better for companies and businesses to adapt these changes which will later help them alot.
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