Digital trends that came in handy in recent years

As technology progresses at an astounding rate, our everyday routines have grown increasingly digital during the last few decades, especially after the advent of smart devices. However, this was greatly accelerated during the COVID-19 outbreak, when people complying with lockdowns and social distancing had to resort to a number of technologies to work, shop, and even socialize; and digitization is projected to accelerate further in the coming years.

According to recent research, almost 90 percent of US individuals considered the internet was crucial to their everyday life throughout the epidemic. The reliance on digital media has had a huge impact on simple daily tasks like grocery shopping, communicating with family and friends, and even conducting business. 

The epidemic just accelerated the process of digital adoption, with repercussions that are projected by specialists to reverberate across many organizations for many years to come.

Several technological developments, such as remote work and online entertainment, exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic and played an important role in preserving functionality through periods of lockdowns, quarantines, and social distancing. Therefore, these technologies, whose acceptance was hastened by the pandemic, may have long-reaching consequences well beyond COVID-19.

Remote work

Workplace flexibility and remote work were important considerations used by firms to attract employees in 2019 amid record low unemployment rates in the United States. As social distancing measures have restricted individuals to their homes, these tendencies have become even more necessary.

As a result, many businesses have requested their staff to work from home. Technologies such as virtual private networks (VPNs), voice over internet protocols (VoIPs), virtual meetings, cloud technology, and work collaboration applications are some of the advancements that enabled remote work. Remote work not only prevents the transmission of infections, but it also saves commuting time and gives employees more flexibility.

While popular productivity tools were widely used and expanding before the Covid-19 outbreak, teleconferencing technologies such as Skype and Zoom were seen as optional by most businesses. However, the implementation of remote work policies as part of sheltering in place expedited the usage of these instruments significantly.

Over the next five years, video conferencing is predicted to account for half of the remote work market, up from 10 to 15 percent now. Companies in every industry have to adjust to the demands of a suddenly dispersed workforce.

Companies are also modifying their services to reduce interruptions in the remote working experience. In response to user input gathered since the start of the pandemic, Microsoft is creating an automated noise-reduction feature for Teams that mutes ambient sounds during meetings.

While teleconferencing applications are almost surely going to be part of the “new normal” once the epidemic is over, the similarities of the offerings may make it unlikely that one business will emerge as the market leader.

Online entertainment

The online entertainment business was one of the few that thrived during the pandemic. Although the availability of digital services like streaming platforms and online gaming is not new, quarantines and lockdowns have significantly influenced their acceptance, drawing billions of new users in 2020 and 2021.

Aside from that, various new, one-of-a-kind entertainment options arose during this time period, including live broadcasts on social media and streaming platforms like Twitch, online streaming of concerts, cloud parties, and even virtual tours of museums and art galleries.

The introduction of augmented and virtual reality has also resulted in the birth of new entertainment platforms, while the endeavor into the metaverse appears to be closer than ever.

However, the online gaming sector grew the most rapidly, owing to the introduction of a new generation of home consoles and the burgeoning popularity of esports.

Furthermore, the approval of new online gambling legislation in several states across the country prompted iGaming companies to begin expanding their operations in the United States, creating a new landscape of gaming alternatives that allow players to enjoy classic casino games, place wagers on major sporting events from around the world, and even play on live gaming platforms.

Telehealth

The Covid-19 outbreak has forced health-care providers to go online. To deal with tight hospital capacity and the danger of infection, patients and healthcare professionals have had to quickly adopt telehealth services and remote health monitoring. Due to social distancing and lockdown measures, mental health services and gyms have also been compelled to become remote.

While remote technologies in healthcare and related fields may have previously encountered opposition, this appears to be changing in light of the coronavirus pandemic. For years, industry supporters have argued that telehealth has the potential to cut costs, relieve strain on overburdened healthcare systems, and make treatment more accessible in rural and underserved regions.

In 2018, for example, 18 percent of American doctors reported using telemedicine to treat a patient. According to a recent poll, 48 percent of all US physicians treated patients remotely throughout the epidemic. Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, 60 percent of American consumers claimed they were more inclined to explore telehealth services.

Telehealth technology, continuous and remote diagnostics, remote mental healthcare, virtual fitness, and aging-in-place technologies may continue to expand long after the epidemic is over, as infrastructure improves and these services become more known.