As earnings loom, Big Tech to highlight pandemic efforts
Top firms helping research, protecting workers and easing pains of consumers
WASHINGTON, DC: Big Tech firms set to report quarterly results in the coming days are facing the challenge of spotlighting their roles battling the coronavirus pandemic without seeming as though they are cashing in on upheaval from the health crisis. The normal talk on profits and revenue projections are likely to be replaced by discussions on how the world’s most powerful companies are helping research for a COVID-19 treatment, protecting workers and easing the pains of lockeddown consumers.
Quarterly updates are due this week from Google parent Alphabet, Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon and Apple, all of which will see an impact from the pandemic. “We’ll see is a big portion of their earnings presentations about what they’ve done to fight COVID-19,” said Patrick Moorhead, analyst with Moor Insights & Strategy. “It’s important not to talk about new share buybacks. If they haven’t made huge investments in trying to help COVID victims or find a cure, they may be announcing more about that.”
The novel coronavirus crisis has disrupted operations at tech powerhouses known for disrupting traditional businesses. Fewer people are buying new smartphones; more people are online and using social platforms but online advertising is slumping; cloud computing needs are growing; and more consumers are relying on delivery of essential goods from Amazon.
Shareholders vs consumers
The tech companies will be highlighting their social responsibilities but also sending a message to shareholders and investors, said analyst Jack Gold of J. Gold Associates. “They will tell people how many jobs they are creating, how many local businesses they are powering, they will talk about their charitable contributions,” he said.
They need to reassure consumers that they are not exploiting the situation, highlighting their free and discounted services, Gold noted. Amazon will get special scrutiny because of its importance for essential goods, and because of employee safety concerns for its warehouse, store and delivery personnel.
While Amazon has faced protests over safety in its logistics network, it has also unveiled plans to test its employees for the virus, and has announced it is hiring some 175,000 new workers as millions of other jobs disappear. Gold said the pandemic is a doubled-edged sword for Amazon: it is likely to boost sales, but also heighten concern about its dominance in electronic commerce. “Do people trust Amazon to be the sole provider of everything I need?” he said. “Amazon will have to do something to show they are helping the community.”
Building goodwill
Some tech firms are building goodwill with their efforts, such as the Google-Apple collaboration to help virus “contact tracing” by enabling their smartphones to communicate across platforms. But it also shows the companies “are penetrating more profoundly into our lives,” said David Bchiri of the consultancy Fabernovel. “This is increasing our personal and professional dependency on them.” Google has also offered free access to its Stadia gaming service and online meeting services, while Apple has given consumers free access to some of its streaming television content.
Microsoft, likely to see gains in cloud computing services, has been spearheading artificial intelligence use in virus research and has offered free services to nonprofit organizations.
The online advertising market dominated by
Google and Facebook is in disarray due to economic conditions and the reluctance of marketers to place messages alongside the grim content about the pandemic. “You can see three weeks in, how advertising has changed,” said David Sidebottom of Futuresource Consulting. The costs for online ads has dropped, which will likely mean lower revenues for firms like Facebook and Google. Sidebottom said these firms have “big cash reserves (and) will be able to withstand this.” — AFP