As we enter the 11th month since the outbreak of the first cases in China and the dramatic spread of the pandemic across the planet, with almost 1.4 million victims, 56 million sickened and 600 thousand cases per day (World Health Organization – WHO, 19.11.2020 report), dozens of countries in lockdown, businesses and the public sector in semi-operation, millions of students in distance learning or without education, and hospitals in saturation, one wonders what will be left of this story.
Here are some thoughts.
First, the pandemic has demonstrated how easily the developed world of the 21st century can be turned upside down, simply because we failed to identify and limit a global danger in its infancy. It is certain that after its end, globally connected early warning systems based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data Analytics technologies in Real Time will be installed, on smart devices, which everyone will be “obliged” to implement. I would not be surprised in the future if a country does not implement the “system”, is excluded from international transport and is isolated. If we statistically consider that every 100 years a pandemic of this size occurs, while every 10 years a smaller scale, letting what happened with China happen again would be conscious suicide.
Secondly, the global economy and society will not be the same after the pandemic, as the economic and physical situation and behavior of individuals will change. Transportation, office rental, education, banking, public relations, work that does not require physical presence, trade, entertainment and spectacles (see the excellent online performances of Covent Garden or the National Opera) and dozens of other ordinary activities will be replaced by functions through computers, smart devices, IOT devices and robotic devices.
Third, businesses and economic activities, after going through a period of complete upheaval (where a significant number will disappear, including large companies and banks) will rearrange their forces and with new and renewed models of organization and management, in full application of new productivity and control technologies, Business Intelligence and Decision Models, will replace old and obsolete methodologies of production, packaging and distribution, sales and technical support, organization and payments, perhaps even in bitcoin.
Fourth, teleworking and teleconferencing as well as telelearning will constitute the new and essential model for the development of the labor market and the development of communication and skills, regardless of region or country, while workplaces will shrink – large multinationals are already talking about a 30% reduction in office workers – while a boost will be given to security systems, blockchain, identity management, endpoint detection and identification processes, management and control tools, Fiber to the home, WiFi 6 or new generation, as well as 5G technology, while the hybrid cloud, as well as the public and distributed cloud will change the technological structure established to date.
Fifth, state services from simple tax returns to the provision of health services and education will almost automatically move into the new digital era, even if by necessity, as it will be a need and a requirement of society to be provided everywhere and at a 7X24 level. (I honestly did not understand some unionists who are opposed to videotaping the lesson and the student’s ability to re-watch some parts of the lecture from his laptop, when colossal professors of global scope offer their lectures in asynchronous transmission…).
In conclusion, as happens after global disasters, a new world emerges, more mature and with integrated experiences. The current global “conflict” without cannons or atomic bombs, but with similar victims in human material and economic disasters, will be the cause of a rapid and accelerated transition to a new, wonderful digital world.
I do not know if we will like it more or less, but it will certainly be different!