Businesses must focus on tech for revival
Is the new normal still new? I don’t think so. Even though there are still lockdowns in several countries, these are also no longer ‘new’ restrictions. It is tried, tested and one of the most effective ways to reduce spread of Covid-19. What’s new is the technology that is invented and upgraded in times of crisis, and not just utilising the already available solutions that might not be as effective as the ones introduced specially to meet current and evolving requirements.
The pandemic has given an opportunity to businesses to innovate since consumers are apprehensive, and reluctant to make shopping trips and return to office buildings. Consumer behaviours towards purchases have changed to not only placing online orders and preferring digital payments, but also towards the technology used by retailers to store products.
Attention to detail
As per the recent Emerson survey, 80 per cent of respondents in the UAE are paying high attention to whether the fresh food is properly kept at safe temperatures during transportation and storage, which has indeed pressured retailers to adapt to changing consumption patterns. This has given an opportunity to technology providers to introduce connected technologies that assist in the supply of fresh food and build trust for retailers in the long run. The recent surveys have also shown that 60 per cent of shoppers are afraid of grocery shopping, with 73 per cent making fewer trips to physical stores.
Returning to office is also causing unease among some people, as 66 per cent report feeling uncomfortable after the outbreak. However, it is important for the government to open up the economy and get businesses back on track to avoid any impact on their sustainability.
One big advantage we have is the adequate technological resources. The optimum use of new technologies is necessary, as well as updates to sanitation protocols and interior architecture to reduce the transmission of Covid-19. Smart security technologies have been, and will continue to play an essential role in helping organisations minimise the spread, while ensuring business continuity. Companies started responding by developing technologies, such as our automated production lines for making protective face masks.
The recent surveys have shown that 60 per cent of shoppers are afraid of grocery shopping, with 73 per cent making fewer trips to physical stores.
Think smart
All new health regulations can be taken into consideration by equipping video security cameras, which can detect elevated skin temperatures with AI-driven image analysis capabilities to the existing security and IoT infrastructure itself. In difficult times, innovations like the video analytics algorithms become an important asset as open security camera platforms promise new opportunities. Businesses can easily add functionalities to their video security cameras by securely installing apps that meet varying needs. The flexibility to go beyond their basic functionality, gives business customers a quick and simple way to customise security solutions. Technological benefits should always be towards keeping people safe, minimising contact, increasing efficiency, reducing costs, and ensuring highest security of the consumers using strong encryption and certificates on the device — and in the cloud.
With the UAE being listed among the top 10 countries in the global Covid-19 safety rankings just after three months of the World Health Organisation declaring it a pandemic, it goes on to prove technologies like these are already put to use for quite some time now. Do you still think we are living a new normal? We are rapidly evolving; and this time, technology has proven to be of great help to our front-line workers and will positively support us overcome these difficult circumstances.