While it is time to look ahead and prepare for new opportunities, professionals still share the same concerns – how has COVID-19 affected different industries? What does the future of work look like?
Many industries have been pushed to adapt rapidly to the new normal - working from home. The economy has significantly been impacted with some being more affected than others. Yet some industries are more likely to recover faster than others. Let’s take a look at some of them.
Telecommunications.
This industry has been at the forefront to help save lives through the power of accessible communication. The shift of the work environment has brought a rise in demand for connectivity which adds pressure to various networks causing a strain in their system. However, with the use of good cloud computing data centers it will make it easier for their agents to work remotely. The joint World Health Organization and International Telecommunication Union initiative builds on efforts to circulate health messages. With the support from UNICEF they are set to work with telecommunication companies to text people directly on their mobile phones with vital health messaging to help protect them from COVID-19. These text messages will reach billions of people that aren’t able to connect to the internet for information.
Now more than ever, technology must ensure that everyone can access the information they need. The collaboration will start in the Asia Pacific region and then roll out globally. The goal is to reach everyone with vital health messages, whatever their connectivity level. An estimated 3.6 billion people remain offline, with most people who are unconnected living in low-income countries, where an average of just two out of every ten people are online.
Healthcare.
The increasing number of covid-19 cases has led many physicians and hospital systems to rely on technology to bridge the gap. People are using their phones for just about everything, from shopping online to banking. Now the same device can be used to get healthcare services via telehealth. Telehealth is the "delivery of health care services, where patients and providers are separated by distance. Telehealth uses ICT for the exchange of information for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of health professionals. Telehealth can contribute to achieving universal health coverage by improving access for patients to quality, cost-effective, health services wherever they may be. It is particularly valuable for those in remote areas, vulnerable groups and ageing populations. "
This will help achieve a universal health coverage by reaching more patients while still cutting costs.
E-commerce
During the pandemic, many have depended on online retail and shopping. Amazon: https://amzn.to/2WrVTAW Alibaba and Jumia just to name but a few are some of the e-commerce sites that are trying to meet the demand. https://amzn.to/3jdcPon Many online shoppers have raised fears about the safety of receiving their online orders. However, according to experts there’s a very low risk of spread from packaged products. The increase in demand has led to job vacancies and growth in revenue. In the recent case, the covid-19 pandemic has greatly affected consumer behavioral patterns, and the companies that will conquer the storm are the ones who will formulate marketing and production strategies in response to consumers’ existing fears and arising needs.
Even though the uncertainty of the crisis triggered bulk buying in the midst of lockdown fears and curfews, most of the purchases were for essential commodities. This is as result of the incomes lost during the pandemic. Thus to ensure survival, tough choices had to be made. This is when the consumers had to distinguish between life and lifestyle. Even so, restriction in movements has accelerated digital consumption. The consumers have shifted to a digital and Omni-channel platform where they can shop online, and their purchases delivered at the comfort of their homes.
The economy as it is now is more of a health focused economy than a wealth creation economy. Consumers are more likely to conduct their businesses with a company that treats health safety as a priority. This means that there is a need for companies to install equipment for sanitization and observe the necessary guidelines to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
There is no absolute doubt that some of these behavior patterns will form part of consumers’ routine as we adjust to our post covid-19 new normal. There has been an upsurge in digital consumption, which in the end will affect the advertisement strategies of a company, since companies involved in E commerce will have raw data on consumer behavior.
However, the success of a company to revamp its operations will not only be based on how fancy their brand is advertised across digital platforms but also on how well a consumer can relate to a company’s brand. During the pandemic, consumers have faced looming fears and felt new desires. This has seen the consumers involved in trying out new brands that respond to their immediate needs.
Technology.
Honestly, this is one of the industries that will definitely be thriving post covid-19. We are heading to a future that will require the use of technology and the virus has just shown us how crucial it is. Whether it’s from online learning to contact-tracing apps, tech has been essential during this pandemic. Many people have relied on virtual gaming and streaming of movies as a way to be entertained. More innovations are set to be made.
Delivery and logistics.
The success experienced in the E-commerce sector consequently caused the delivery and logistics sector to boom. There has been increased demand in B2C delivery services, for example, food take-out and grocery delivery. As soon as the pandemic is over, consumers will have become accustomed to on-demand logistics services.
Conclusion.
These are a few examples of the industries that have been able to thrive and stay afloat during COVID-19, there are many more. This is the best time to work on your CV and update it to get noticed by employers who are preparing to hire talent especially those who had been laid off as a result of Covid-19 negative economic impact on businesses. During this economic downturn, job seekers are looking for long term job security and opportunities that allow growth in their career and make consistent earning. Click the link: https://bit.ly/2VGQVzk and https://bit.ly/3qr27hM online training to raise your earnings. See also this link: https://bit.ly/36J3Hnk
No one can dispute the fact that money is a huge part of our lives. That’s why we work so hard to get it. Everyone wants to earn some extra money. Because money can buy you freedom in more ways than one. And financial freedom can be a source of real happiness, so in a way, it's the plain truth, money does buy happiness! But you should also know there’s more to happiness in life than just money. However, you will find it hard to argue that, when you do not have enough money in your bank account, life gets a little bit harder without any source of income, true or not?