Pandemic rocks civilization. Access to basic needs are limited or nonexistent and scared faces peek from behind curtains with worry in their eyes of what tomorrow will bring. Although it sounds like the beginning of a Hollywood movie, this is the current state of the world we live in and the future holds questions we can't truly answer yet. What happens when life goes back to “normal”? Will the life we lived just 4 short months ago be replaced by a life of remote work, social distancing, and xenophobia?
The impact of a global crisis such as this will shape interactions on a personal and professional level for months, even years to come. No one will be seen as “paranoid” or “strange” having a mask on at all times or continuously using hand sanitizer. Venues, where people gather in mass, will take every precaution to protect visitors or will be shunned. The anxiety of a post pandemic era will force society to accept restraints on mass consumer culture as a reasonable price to pay to defend ourselves against future contagion related disasters.
Business and business owners are entering uncharted territory. Today's companies, now more than ever, need to adapt to changes in the landscape if they wish to survive. The food and beverage industry, for example, has taken one of the most significant blows due to government-mandated quarantine. The home delivery service industry has proven a new essential service keeping people home and reducing the crowds in restaurants, grocery stores, and shopping malls. Mankind, being a social animal, has increased the demand for virtual connections, content, and communal interaction, with creators and marketers putting out more content than ever in an attempt to promote staying socially connected while physically distant. Business leaders will be under pressure to ensure that their companies can withstand shocks like Coronavirus more effectively in the future. The hot topic for business leaders in 2020 will be how do we move forward in a rapidly evolving marketplace?
While all companies will be forced to adapt in order to survive, some industries will see a rise in their value as consumer needs shift. Delivery systems for food, goods, and even medicine will now not only have customer service in mind but also have added benefit of preventing the transmission of disease. Virtual medical consultation conducted via video chat keeps patients off of mass transit systems and keeps beds open in medical facilities for those experiencing a true medical emergency. Interactive technology will also see a rise, as voice-activated doors and “touchless” interactions will be preferred. The expansion of AI and automation will be delicate, reflecting concerns of automation's potential to reduce contamination by reducing human workers versus eliminating jobs when the average family needs the income most.
As we move forward into uncertain times, prevention of the spread of disease through the general population and protection of frontline medical staff will become the new “normal”. The stage is set with the current struggle of providing critical medical equipment, basic necessities, and services we have taken for granted for so long. Eliminating the charlatans of industry and the posturing of politicians will allow us to cut through the noise and focus on getting these essential items into the right hands, at the right time, and at the right price.
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