The world is never the same after the coronavirus pandemic. With the “new normal” in place, people have become more dependent on new technologies. These have allowed us to study and work from home.
The Internet of Things (IoT) plays a big part for businesses to thrive in 2021 and the succeeding years. IoT utilizes connectivity so that we can work together even if we are socially distant from our coworkers and clients. To get the ultimate benefits of IoT, businesses have to know the trends that will work for their industry. Here’s how the business world will move forward, thanks to IoT.
We will transition to a paperless society.
Your printers and filing cabinets may not be of much use as paperless transactions will dominate the business world. As most people transact through their phones, computers, or tablets, papers will soon be a thing of the past.
In the past, we duplicated receipts with carbon paper. At present, we can scan documents, so we can have copies of documents and receipts online. Although paper will not be phased out anytime soon, online transactions will continue to be a norm.
Major transactions will be done through online platforms.
In the past years, we have gotten used to using our phones for food delivery, online shopping, and ride-sharing. We can even monitor our bank accounts and file taxes online. Soon, major transactions will be done with only a few clicks. Imagine buying cars and houses through an intuitive property buying app.
Your business will thrive if you allow your customers to place transactions online. Investing in online platforms will help you automate tasks for ease of operations. Moreover, online transactions are faster and more convenient for you and your customer.
Consumer transparency will be a priority.
Customers appreciate transparency, but soon, they will demand it. In previous years, customers would fill out forms in person and would not expect a receipt as they know their documents will not get lost after submitting it to a counter. But with proximity limitations, people are forced to learn how to sign and submit forms online.
Providing information in real-time will help establish a trusting relationship between your company and your customers. When they see their successful transactions, they will know that they put their money to good use. They can simply take a screenshot or download a file that serves as a transaction receipt. Moreover, disputes will be handled faster and better with a transparent platform.
Training will continue to be done online and on-demand.
Some industries are heavy with training. As the pandemic is still in place, these learning sessions are usually done via video conferencing apps. However, setting a common schedule can be tedious for you and your customer.
While live video conferencing is still a viable option, many businesses are moving towards offering recorded training sessions that customers can access on-demand. This option is convenient for off-shore clients. Moreover, your trainers won’t be swamped with multiple calls a day. This will help them accomplish more during the workday.
Businesses will have smarter supply chains.
Supply chains will accelerate in the coming years, thanks to AI and IoT. The pandemic has forced many businesses to use smart devices in their manufacturing spaces. This will continue even with the presence of vaccines and other medical advancements.
For example, quality control and inspections can be done through smart automated processes. By incorporating IoT into workshops and factories, businesses are doing more with a few clicks. Other tasks are hard to monitor with the human eye. Hence, by automating these tasks, staff members will have more time to do other work.
While these technologies can be intimidating, they are cost-effective in the long run. Some advancements that will benefit manufacturing would be safety scanning, holographic visualizations, real-time design blueprints, and smart sensors. With these in place, your staff members can productively work remotely.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many businesses to rely on technologies. As we see digital transformations on a bigger scale and at a faster speed, the transition will not be perfect. As technology is incorporated into business operations and transactions, connectivity and transparency will be important.
These smart technologies will not replace human capital but will make things easier for employees and businesses. These will allow for a more productive work environment. As we move forward, we learn how to work around technologies.