10 technology trends to watch in the COVID- 19 pandemic

10technology
trendstowatch
intheCOVID-19
pandemic

OnlineShopping
andRobot
Deliveries

▪ Online shopping needs to be supported by a robust
logistics system. In-person delivery is not virus-
proof. Many delivery companies and restaurants in
the US and China are launching contactless delivery
services where goods are picked up and dropped off
at a designated location instead of from or into the
hands of a person. Chinese e-commerce giants are
also ramping up their development of robot
deliveries. However, before robot delivery services
become prevalent, delivery companies need to
establish clear protocols to safeguard the sanitary
condition of delivered goods.

Digitaland
Contactless
Payments

▪ Cash might carry the virus, so central banks in
China, US and South Korea have implemented
various measures to ensure banknotes are
clean before they go into circulation. Now,
contactless digital payments, either in the form
of cards or e-wallets, are the recommended
payment method to avoid the spread of COVID-
19. Digital payments enable people to make
online purchases and payments of goods,
services and even utility payments, as well as to
receive stimulus funds faster.

▪ Many companies have asked employees
to work from home. Remote work is enabled
by technologies including virtual private
networks (VPNs), voice over internet protocols
(VoIPs), virtual meetings, cloud technology,
work collaboration tools and even facial
recognition technologies that enable a person
to appear before a virtual background to
preserve the privacy of the home. In addition to
preventing the spread of viruses, remote work
also saves commute time and provides more
flexibility.

▪ As of mid-April, 191 countries announced
or implemented school or university
closures, impacting 1.57 billion students.
Many educational institutions started
offering courses online to ensure education
was not disrupted by quarantine measures.
Technologies involved in distant learning
are similar to those for remote work and
also include virtual reality, augmented
reality, 3D printing and artificial-
intelligence-enabled robot teachers.

▪ In countries where medical costs are high, it's
important to ensure telehealth will be covered
by insurance. Telehealth also requires a certain
level of tech literacy to operate, as well as a
good internet connection. And as medical
services are one of the most heavily regulated
businesses, doctors typically can only provide
medical care to patients who live in the same
jurisdiction. Regulations, at the time they were
written, may not have envisioned a world where
telehealth would be available.

▪ Although quarantine measures have
reduced in-person interactions
significantly, human creativity has brought
the party online. Cloud raves and online
streaming of concerts have gain traction
around the world. Chinese film production
companies also released
films online. Museums and international
heritage sites offer virtual tours. There has
also been a surge of online gaming
traffic since the outbreak.

▪ The COVID-19 pandemic has created
disruptions to the global supply chain. With
distancing and quarantine orders, some
factories are completely shut down. While
demand for food and personal protective
equipment soar, some countries have
implemented different levels of export bans on
those items. Heavy reliance on paper-based
records, a lack of visibility on data and lack of
diversity and flexibility have made existing
supply chain system vulnerable to any
pandemic.

▪ Core technologies of the Fourth Industrial
Revolution, such as Big Data, cloud
computing, Internet-of-Things (“IoT”) and
blockchain are building a more resilient
supply chain management system for the
future by enhancing the accuracy of data
and encouraging data sharing.

▪ 3D printing technology has been deployed
to mitigate shocks to the supply chain and
export bans on personal protective
equipment. 3D printing offers flexibility in
production: the same printer can produce
different products based on different
design files and materials, and simple parts
can be made onsite quickly without
requiring a lengthy procurement process
and a long wait for the shipment to arrive.

 Intellectual property issues
 Production of certain goods, such as surgical
masks, is subject to regulatory approvals,
which can take a long time to obtain
 The place of origin and impact on trade
volumes and product liability associated with
3D printed products.
3D printing faces a few obstacles
23

▪ COVID-19 provided a strong push to rollout
the usage of robots and research on
robotics. In recent weeks, robots have been
used to disinfect areas and to
deliver food to those in quarantine. Drones
have walked dogs and delivered items.

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5G andInformation
andCommunications
Technology(ICT)

▪ All the aforementioned technology trends rely
on a stable, high-speed and affordable internet.
While 5G has demonstrated its importance in
remote monitoring and healthcare consultation,
the rollout of 5G is delayed in Europe at the
time when the technology may be needed the
most. The adoption of 5G will increase the cost
of compatible devices and the cost of data
plans. Addressing these issues to ensure
inclusive access to internet will continue to be a
challenge as the 5G network expands globally.

Theimportanceofdigitalreadiness
COVID-19 has demonstrated the importance of
digital readiness, which allows business and life
to continue as usual – as much as possible –
during pandemics. Building the necessary
infrastructure to support a digitized world and
stay current in the latest technology will be
essential for any business or country to remain
competitive in a post-COVID-19 world, as well as
take a human-centred and inclusive approach
to technology governance.
29

Theimportanceofdigitalreadiness
As the BBC points out, an estimated 200
million people will lose their jobs due to
COVID-19. And the financial burden often falls
on the most vulnerable in society. Digitization
and pandemics have accelerated changes to
jobs available to humans. How to mitigate the
impact on the larger workforce and the most
vulnerable is the issue across all industries and
countries that deserves not only attention but
also a timely and human-centred solution.
30

reference
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-technology-trends-coronavirus-covid19-
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10 technology trends to watch in the COVID- 19 pandemic

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