The Corona Virus Pandemic has been a “wake-up” call for most businesses all around the world. Earlier this year, nearly every country faced the same challenge of moving their workforce out of traditional offices and into a virtual space.
Because of the Corona Virus, businesses had to make important decisions like this in the interest of keeping their workers safe. Big moves can be problematic and it wouldn’t have been possible if not for digital technology or hardware infrastructure.
As it worked out, the move was disruptive but reasonably trouble free. So much so that the organizations doing the move are beginning to ask questions about the practicality of centralized offices and whether there’s a better way to do things in the post corona virus world.
Whichever way you look at it, one thing’s clear – technology has been the driving force holding everything together and it’s the pandemic that’s helping us challenge the way we work, collaborate and do business with customers.
First, we need to define what we mean by technology and transformation.
Technology in this instance means two things – 1. hardware infrastructure, such as fiber optic cables and cell towers and 2. Software, such as the applications and tools we connected to and work with on PC’s, Smartphone’s or Tablets.
Meanwhile, transformation is the process of integrating the technology into all aspects of daily life making us work better and more efficiently.
Technology and the transformation go hand-in-hand and it empowers people. Empowerment allows us to see things differently and solve many of the same problems through a different lens.
Between January and late March, internet traffic increased by around a quarter in many cities around the world and especially in the US, according to Cloudflare (a US company that provides network infrastructure to businesses around the world)
Demand has sky rocked for certain online services in particular – such as video calls, which have replaced face-to-face interaction with colleagues, friends and family etc ...
More people have started using video conferencing services like “ZOOM” in the first two month of 2020 than for all of 2019. Stay-at-home entertainment is also booming.
With people and organizations becoming more digitally minded - more and more interactions with employees, suppliers, customers and partners will take place on a screen rather than in person.
Since the start of the Corona Virus Pandemic, we’ve seen a marked increase in the use of Digital Technology. It’s happening all around us and its redefining how we do things.
For Example:
Good examples were Twitter, Microsoft and other large organizations encouraging their employees to work from home.
Some institutions are going virtual, leaving teachers and administrators to make sure all children have access to the technology and tools they need to keep learning from home. The transition to digital education is certainly disruptive, but it should make educators and educational institutions better prepared for the immediate future.
Some companies are trying to bridge the gap between in-person events and virtual ones with platforms that combine them with video, networking, and virtual tools.
The virus outbreak has pushed organizers of conferences and business owners to think outside the box to provide compelling alternative options in the public safety interest. This push could also lead to innovations for the future that will virtually improve how people meet and interact better.
In particular, grocery delivery services, have been in high demand. Consumers can choose their groceries, pay online, and leave feedback all on one convenient app. Businesses are blending the physical and the digital to provide for their customers through delivery methods such as curbside pickup and contactless delivery. Physical-digital integration is more important now than ever before.
For example - the fitness industry has shifted to holding virtual classes on streaming services, both live and pre-recorded. Almost every school, from elementary schools through graduate programs, have shifted to online courses. Large-scale conferences and events are being held virtually.
While some businesses will revert to their traditional models when the crisis is over, others may opt for this hybrid approach as users and in particular the organizers recognize the efficiency and cost benefits of virtual platforms.
Frontline Service and Support Teams should have an easier time communicating with customers electronically, but they need the right connectivity tools and applications so they are empowered not only to deal immediate problems but capable of managing the deeper relationships between the organization and its base.
Lately Cloud-based technology is getting more of our attention. Of course, it’s being helped by corona virus, giving us the flexibility to do more with less and from anywhere. And because of this people are weighting up the benefits and credibility technology solutions offer.
Organizations rely on Technology Companies to provide the software services to perform administrative, financial and many other complex jobs that go into running a business. These services can be stand-alone or productivity solutions.
Typically, the software services were licensed and made available on one or more computers kept in a local area network. Today, software vendors have moved their software into the digital cloud. This means you no longer needed to be sitting at one computer to access the information you want work on or share it with colleagues around the world.
The Corona Virus Pandemic is redefining the meaning of Cloud Computing.
Even for us at Hoteliers Guru, in the last 5 months we’ve been able to run our business from remote locations throughout Thailand.
Our experience developing and providing cloud-based solutions was one of the reasons we were able to move into the virtual space quickly. Lately, it’s also one of the reasons a number of customers approached us about cloud-based productivity solutions for business.
New problems require new solutions. Rather than develop an entire suite of services, we needed a quick-easy solution to help customers. So, we decided to do some research into 3rd party (cloud-based) productivity solutions.
With easy setup and feature rich productivity tools – the Google Cloud seemed like an ideal candidate and one we recently signed up to as collaborative resellers. Why ??... Because the Google Cloud offers G-Suite and G-Suite addresses many of the fundamental day to day challenges businesses deal with from an operational perspective. Also, it goes without saying, that G-Suite is a recognized brand within the Google flagship and is a credible and trusted platform.
Formerly, Google Apps, until it was re-branded in late 2016 - G Suite is ideal for customers needing more than just and email host for their business. G-Suite does it all and is much more than an email service. It includes a number of apps that can come as standard – which many users may already be familiar or using including:
Additional features (G Suite for Business) include:
If you’d like to take your business to the next level in the Post Pandemic World – check out what G-Suite has to offer. As a Google Reseller, Rest Easy knowing Hoteliers Guru has already done the hard work in finding you the best cloud- based productivity solutions available for your business. Want to know more? .. please get in touch with us today.
