We’ve been talking about the future of work for some time now. For years, business professionals have fantasized about a future workplace that respects work/life balance, supports productivity, and keeps employees happy at the same time. More recently, we’ve discovered that better workplaces aren’t just some far off dream. Technology is the answer, and it’s delivering more benefits by the day.
Even before 2020 hit, business leaders were beginning to report on the benefits of letting employees work from home and using video conferencing instead of travel. Teams were tapping into the advantages of AI, and we started to see a future where everyone could have their own virtual assistant.
When the pandemic struck, it brought millions of businesses to their knees. The organisations that hadn’t considered a more “modern” style of work before suddenly had to change their entire structure overnight. Even some of the more forward-thinking brands struggled with the rapid shift to digital.
However, disruptive as it was, COVID also gave companies an opportunity to see first-hand, just how effective the digital economy could be.
Adapt, Improvise, Overcome
2020’s impact on the world was drastic, to say the least. Consumers and businesses alike were thrown into turmoil, and even now, we’re still feeling the shockwaves in everything from the economy to the way that we work. Many traditional industries that had previously looked at the future of work as something to consider “one day”, are under some serious pressure.
Aviation companies, transportation groups, hospitality, and even businesses in the retail sector have discovered that their failure to go digital yesterday is having a massive impact today.
So, why didn’t everyone see this coming? The internet and digital transformation have been around for decades now. Every year, more of our lives become connected. If it’s not a new smartphone that’s changing the way we live, it’s a smart-assistant in a speaker, extended reality tools, and the arrival of new communication trends. Even remote working has been around for a lot longer than most people realise – it just wasn’t an option for everyone.
Looking back now it seems that all businesses should have seen the inevitability of digital future years ago. Yet, as stubborn human beings, we somehow managed to continue resisting the clear change coming our way – even despite its benefits. It took a global event to force us into something new.
True Transformation: Accelerated
Throughout history, great people have always said that crisis is often a catalyst for innovation. In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, we can see that the events of 2020 didn’t cause our shift to the new way of work. However, what they did do, is force the world to step out of the comfort zone that had stopped transformation from happening at the right pace.
