What You Need to Know about Coronavirus and the Future of Business
During a global pandemic, it can be difficult to move forward with work and business like normal, and certainly our world is changing in fundamental ways. We may be looking at the start of a new normal, never again returning to how things used to be, particularly for businesses.
The changes we’ve seen are likely to have a profound impact on the future of work. How will stores, businesses, and offices make changes in the future and what could those changes look like? We may be seeing a glimpse of that shift as many areas begin reopening with new policies in place. Here’s a look at some of the changes the business world, from retail and food service to healthcare, might experience in a post-coronavirus world.
An Increase in Contactless Interfaces
As a contagious virus spread like wildfire across the globe, people became suddenly hyper aware of how many surfaces we touch each day and how many people we casually come into contact with on a regular basis. It wasn’t too far in the past that touch screens were the new best thing, but with a crisis like this, more people are becoming interested in contactless interfaces of all kinds. Touchless payment options via mobile phones have been available well before the coronavirus pandemic. However, with the concerns about contact and the virus lingering on surfaces touched by multiple people during the course of a day, it is likely that people will expect more contactless payment options and come to use them much more regularly in the future.
Contactless pickup has also become a common feature in many stores since the pandemic began, and it is likely that things like curbside or quick in-store pickup and contactless delivery will become a staple as we move on to a new future. Stores ranging from clothing retailers to grocery stores to bookshops have tried the contactless pickup option all over the nation, with a good amount of success. These options can only improve in the future as technology continues to advance alongside demand. Facial recognition, voice activation, and machines that recognize gestures are likely to show up more and more now, in order to increase the contactless options available to consumers in stores.
Online Shopping Options
Though many businesses may have felt comfortable with their online shopping options, a crisis like this pandemic forced many to reassess what they offered and stretched a number of businesses to their limit. Those that did not have online shops faced the potential failure of their business when stores across the globe were forced to close their doors for an indeterminate amount of time. Many had to scramble to provide some online options as quickly as possible in the aftermath of the shutdowns, with varying degrees of success.
It’s no question that online shopping options will likely improve for a number of different businesses in the future. Grocery stores across the world will improve their pickup and delivery options, retail stores will likely improve their online shopping infrastructures, and many other businesses will also likely add an online component to complement their in-store offerings. Now more than ever, it’s clear that a business needs to be online, at least in part, to achieve success.
The Rise of Telemedicine
Telemedicine has been around for some time now, but patients have had relatively little interest in taking advantage of its options, in part due to insurance companies refusing to reimburse providers for telehealth visits at the same rate as in-person visits.
The coronavirus pandemic was the surprising and sudden test telemedicine never knew was coming. Healthcare providers all around the world have suddenly had to increase their telemedicine capabilities, while insurance companies have increased the range of telemedicine services for which they will reimburse providers.
The elderly and other at-risk individuals were suddenly afraid to see a doctor in person because of the significant risk coronavirus posed to their health. Who wants to visit a doctor for a minor problem when you might leave with a deadly virus? As a result, doctors, dentists, and other healthcare providers were forced to change their procedures and increase the telemedicine offerings, allowing patients to consult with a doctor from the comfort of their own home via their desktop computer or smartphone.
Even the mental health sector has seen a huge increase in telemedicine. The isolation of remote work and sheltering in place has put extra strain on individuals suffering from mental health issues, and even people who didn’t have trouble before were feeling the stress and anxiety of a global pandemic. As a result, virtual therapy suddenly became the new normal.
COVID-19 marks a break from the past, and we have good reason to believe that many of the changes we’ve seen since March will endure as we recover and reopen the economy—especially considering this virus is still very much with us. With no vaccine or guaranteed effective treatment, and no certainty as to the virus’ seasonality, we may have to shelter in place again, perhaps even repeatedly, in the future. These changes discussed above and many more may soon become our new normal.