Innovations and new technologies that allowed the world to function in 2020

The year 2010 doesn’t seem like that long ago, but technology moves fast. A decade ago, Tinder, Uber, and Instagram didn’t exist. No one was using wearables, no one was talking to their devices at home, and the Tesla car was just an idea. Now we are facing an atypical year in which 2020 has led us to “press the accelerator” of new technologies.

Just to monitor the spread of the pandemic, an unprecedented supply of innovations has been unleashed. For example, in areas like digital health. Thus, successful solutions for tracking infection outbreaks using our smartphones have been revealed.

New technologies that help us during changing times

The COVID-19 pandemic will have a lasting effect not only on our economy but also on the way we go about our daily lives. Proof of this is found in the following fields with new technologies such:

Online shopping and robotic deliveries

The pandemic became a great opportunity for the implementation of new technologies. Delivery app Meituan Dianping launched a “contactless delivery” initiative in China, starting to use autonomous vehicles. This to send food orders to customers in the Shunyi district of Beijing.

Similarly, COVID-19 has made the online shopping process a must around the world. Another example is found in the bars in Beijing that offer happy hours through online orders thanks to the CRMs making their door-to-door deliveries.

Online shopping today requires being backed by a solid logistics system. Many businesses and restaurants in the United States, China, and the United Kingdom launched contactless delivery services. To better understand that, let’s take Milton Keynes buyers as an example.

In this case, people were suddenly served by a small army of 80 delivery robots. These robots are operated by the Estonian company Starship. In this way, they brought purchases to homes without the need for human contact thanks to the use of new technologies.

Contactless and digital payments

Contactless payments have also become an essential solution for all businesses. The reason is that it allows them to boost their business and ensure more security. According to a survey by RTi Research (2020), around 30% of respondents have started using contactless payments since the pandemic began.

Besides, according to a report published by Research Dive (2020), the global contactless payments market is expected to generate revenues of $ 20,340.3 million by 2026. Fear of infection has led people to opt for payment with no contact. For example, nearly 79% of MasterCard users prefer contactless payments during the pandemic period.

Remote work

A new study of pandemic-induced remote workers and their employers by Harvard Business School researchers (2020) suggests that at least 16% will remain, remote workers, even after the COVID-19 crisis has receded. Remote work is enabled by technologies including virtual private networks (VPN). Also through the use of voice protocols (VoIP) such as AlloCovid, virtual meetings, and cloud technology. As well as collaboration tools at work and even facial recognition technologies.

In addition to preventing the spread of viruses, remote work is also saving millions of dollars in carbon gas emissions into the atmosphere. While reducing travel times, trips and provides more flexibility.

Telemedicine

The need for new technological innovations and digital capabilities accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. This underscores the importance of data and virtual monitoring to serve all patients who can also make an appointment online. This while hospitals focus on patients with the virus.

New technologies, such as the use of artificial intelligence chatbots that provide patients with essential communication, have grown amid the pandemic. It has also spurred innovation in remote monitoring platforms in hospitals and healthcare systems around the world.

To continue caring for patients who do not require hospitalization, engineers at the University of California, San Diego built a remote monitoring program.

Generally speaking, it automatically transmits data from patients’ wearable devices. It then uploads them to a dashboard that health servers can monitor and use to intervene when needed.

Defeating future pandemics using new technologies

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance of digital readiness through new technologies. Its use in all aspects allows business and life to continuing as usual. Building the infrastructure necessary to support a digitized world and stay nourished with new technologies will be essential for any company or country. Consequently, the best-prepared countries will remain competitive in a post-pandemic world. As well as to adopt an inclusive and people-centered approach.