In this article, ESCO predicts intriguing changes that will most likely happen in Post-COVID-19 period and how these changes will impact our lifestyle and behaviours. The predictions has led us to introduce a few softwares and equipment that will help to ease people in adapting to the new norm. Follow Batrisyia Nadhirah, Marketing Executive, as we dive into the world of Post-Covid-19.
‘’COVID-19 will reshape our world. We don’t yet know when the crisis will end. But we can be sure that by the time it does, our world will look very different,’’ – Josep Borrell, Representative of the European Union.
The COVID-19 pandemic that has shocked the world, causing massive damage to the economy, has changed the way people live and work. It is no doubt that certain behaviors and lifestyle during the pre-COVID-19 period will change and become a new normal after the whole situation dies down. For example, the habit of giving handshakes when meeting friends and family or even colleagues may no longer be normal in post-COVID-19. Some of the other behaviors that are more likely to become a new norm are social distancing, remote working and even increased temperature and security checks in public places.
1) Social Distancing and Face Masks
Before the pandemic started, large social gatherings such as conferences, festivals, parades, weddings and other type of assemblies were often held regularly and were considered a norm. However, gathering in large groups might no longer be a norm in the post-COVID-19 period. This is because people are slowly adopting to social distancing practices during the pandemic, thus making it an emerging norm. For example, the practice of standing at least 1 metre apart when people are queuing to buy food or even to shop will be a norm. In addition, F&B outlets that has dine in option might reopen with more space allocation between tables and retail stores might limit the number of people in their stores to avoid overcrowding.
When social distancing was being introduced, many IT companies were afraid that it would affect their business ecosystem, specifically the customer service sector. This is because employees in the customer service line are often required to interact with customers face to face to solve any technical issues. Thus, many companies are finding solutions to move from the traditional face to face customer service to a more digitalised approach. In the light of the situation, ESCO partners with Teleportivity to provide a platform for customers and customer service team to interact with one another virtually. For example, in the event where there are technical issues that arise from the customer side, the customer service representative will proceed to give instructions to the customer to solve the issue through a live video chat. As such, it does not require any face to face meeting and helps to reduce labor cost. Other than that, customers can easily contact the customer service representative through scanning the QR code placed nearby or on the item itself. With that being said, the solution provided by both ESCO and Teleportivity could herald a new normal for the customer service sector.
Other than social distancing, the government too has made it mandatory for everyone to wear face masks when heading out of the house to in order to reduce the transmission of the virus. Thus, with the fear of contracting any diseases in the future, people would be accustomed to the use of face mask, making it an emerging norm.
2) Remote Working
In order to reduce the transmission of the COVID-19 virus, the government has introduced several measures and one of them is remote working. This means that it is necessary for companies to allow their employees to work from home in order to slow the spread of the COVID-19. The sudden transition to working from home has given companies confidence to facilitate remote working fully. As companies start to adapt to the new mode of working, it could eventually become a norm even after the pandemic ends.
With most employees started working from home, companies start to provide necessary equipment and software for their employees to facilitate remote working. For example, instead of the usual face to face meetings that employees have with their clients and colleagues, meetings are now held virtually on video conferencing software such as Zoom. Other than small meetings, Zoom also offers video webinar services which is great for marketing events and town hall meetings. With having the capabilities to host over 1,000 video participants and 10,000 viewers, many companies have opted to use Zoom as their daily video conferencing software.
With the ease of communication and collaboration, it is to no doubt that video conferencing software such as Zoom has made remote working easier. Thus, remote working might be here to stay even after the pandemic ends.
3) Temperature Checks and increased Personal Hygiene
Temperature checks and increased personal hygiene are bound to be norms in post-COVID-19 period. In most places such as malls and even offices, temperature checks are often done at the entrance of any premises to detect if anyone has high temperature. In addition, sanitizer dispensers are also made available at the entrance in order to cultivate the practice of personal hygiene. Other than temperature checks that are being done at the entrance of the any premises, people are now required to sign in and out in order to facilitate ease in contact tracing in the event if someone contracted the virus in the same premise.
With these measures in place, many companies are looking for necessary devices that helps facilitate the measures more efficiently. ESCO has recently entered into partnership with manufacturers that uses AI to create devices that can be used for safety and security. For example, a device that uses AI-based multi-sensory analytics capabilities to detect if someone in the crowd has a fever even if he or she has a mask on. This device can be placed at any premises that has a large crowd, thus increasing efficiency of temperature and security checks.
All in all, behaviors and lifestyle of people will certainly change during the post-COVID-19. The pandemic has allowed us to realise that we are able to adapt quickly to change and to take more precaution on our personal hygiene. Furthermore, it has given most of us confidence in using technology for anything and everything. It would not be a surprise that in the future, everything is digitalised.
One thing that the COVID-19 has taught us is that the things that are normal now might not be normal in the future. In the meantime, we must ensure that we adhere to the measures prescribed in order to stay safe and do our part in the battle against the virus.
Contact ESCO now for more information about Teleportivity, Zoom and Safe Work Solutions at esco@esco.com.sg.