The pace at which technology has permeated every aspect of our work and lives over the past decade has been breathtaking. 2020 was supposed to be a year of consolidation of cutting edge technological advancements in AI, AR, VR, wearables to name just a few.

But, with the spread of COVID-19, everyone’s priorities have been reset. As a species, this viral outbreak could cause havoc socially, culturally and economically, if it is not addressed globally.

According to the United Nations, the COVID-19 pandemic has already impacted 4 out of 5 working people - 2.7 billion worldwide.

All industries have been impacted. Innovators have fared best and will emerge from the pandemic stronger and more competitive. Those who have automated their processes and systems and whose people can adhere to social distancing while performing their work are more secure. Conversely, the most impacted industries are the ones where automation is the least, requiring physical presence for effective management supervision.

Whereas we’ve embraced Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp and Twitter in all aspects of our social lives, there are still industries that lack this technological sophistication and are now suffering because of it.

Inevitably, these industries will need to quickly digitize, so that work can be resumed and the impact be reduced significantly. It can be expected that resumption of normal economic activity will be staged to reduce the risk of further outbreaks. Digitization will be key to this transition, enabling us to continue social distancing at work while maintaining effective communication between the organisation, its suppliers and its clients.