* By Eduardo Almeida
The global advancement of the coronavirus has caused a rupture in the traditional way of producing in the corporate world. If in the early 2000s companies were concerned with the advancement of the internet, it is safe to say that, in 2020, remote work has been a matter of similar proportions - capable of causing headaches even in leaders of consolidated companies .
The fact is that, from manufacturing to the health sector, all sectors are reevaluating the modes of production and customer service. To survive in the midst of the crisis, it is necessary to think creatively and act effectively in order to guarantee the relationship with customers and the health of employees. The task is far from easy: amid doubts about the best solutions and how to use them in the day-to-day operation, structural challenges must be overcome, sometimes using technology as an essential driver for this transformation.
At this very sensitive and crucial point, lies an unprecedented opportunity for IT companies. In addition to offering entertainment or solutions that directly serve consumers, the B2B world brings to light the importance of terms that were previously seemingly distant for many companies, such as operational efficiency, RPA robotization processes and robust e-commerce solutions.
Even from the point of view of advanced technologies, there are new opportunities. News points, for example, to the use of Blockchain as a tool to track the global progress of the disease and collaborate in the provision of statistics.
Still in terms of health, another point deserves attention, especially in the Brazilian market: the use of telemedicine. In use in Europe for the longest time and regulated in Brazil recently, the tool should collaborate for the accelerated diagnosis of the disease while reducing the number of people in hospitals, also collaborating jointly for the quarantine imposed across the country.
In the consumer sector, on the other hand, the rise of e-commerce is a point that can be clearly seen in all regions. Supermarkets are adapting logistical efforts to meet high demand, a clear reflection of the need to respond to customers through virtual platforms in an effective manner.
Even the means of payment sector is undergoing transformations that require the use of technology. In the USA and England, data point to an expressive growth in the use of contactless media to replace the traditional credit card - still so used in Brazil. On the other side of the world, in South Korea, money received from local banks is expected to be quarantined for two weeks to ensure that banknotes do not carry the virus, according to news agencies.
In other words, few sectors are going through this moment without changes. And everyone, without exception, is now able to understand the importance of qualified professionals and technology companies as an essential factor to get through this very turbulent period. Companies that manage to go through this successfully should certainly have more IT support and reinforcement not only now, but for the next few years, clearly understanding the benefits that digital processes can offer - in terms of productivity and cost savings , to name a few.
From the consumers' point of view, the transformation should not end anytime soon either. E-commerce is expected to gain even more followers after that period and telemedicine is expected to gain strength over the next few years as an effective service model. Once the barrier with the digital world is overcome and the day-to-day facilities are conquered, the trend is that the path will be followed from there, with more and more people involved with the digital environment.
In the scope of public services, the impulse to digital technologies must also be leveraged by the impacts of the current moment. Citizens who have not yet used digital channels to interact with the public administration, have been forced to do so as a result of the imposed social isolation and are certainly developing habits that should not recede, once the coronavirus is overcome. These people are discovering a new way of relating to the services offered by municipalities, states, traffic departments, courts, among others, and surely the new digital culture acquired by citizens will foster the advancement of digital transformation in the public spheres.
For all of this to happen again, the role of IT companies is essential. It is necessary to be attentive to offer the right solutions at the right time and collaborate to improve people's lives through digital services. Companies that know how to take advantage of this moment, will certainly achieve positive results not only now, but for the next years.
* Eduardo Almeida, CEO of Indra in Brazil
Warning: The opinion presented in this article is the responsibility of its author and not of ABES - Brazilian Association of Software Companies
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