I’ve started seeing COVID influences on technology and how it’s being used. A sure sign that this plague is dramatic, disruptive, and consequential. And, therefore, it’s relevant when thinking about strategy.
I see COVID influences in three areas:
The last Digigram explored “COVID Tech,” which helps us stay productive during COVID. Perhaps the biggest surprise is that 100% remote work works reasonably well. Not for creative work, where serendipitous strokes of genius don’t happen as often when apart, but it’s OK for the other 80% of our work. And companies took advantage. They’re saving money by moving jobs to lower-cost regions, attracting new talent by offering 100% remote jobs, and slashing expenses by not renting and offering a workplace. Good tactical moves! Once COVID is over, will we go back to normal? With office cubicles, the water cooler, and all? Or will we build on what we got used to and move on to what comes next—virtual-working? Remote workers could benefit from an additional layer, such as augmented reality. It doesn’t have to be a full-blown holodeck, but AR could improve the working experience, create a team atmosphere, and spark more of those “lightbulb” genius moments. I predict that after a year of acclimatization to Zoom, going entirely virtual is not a big …
